Eco-justice and Christian Faith

Instructor: Dr. Janet Parker
Chicago Theological Seminary
Summer intensive
June 30-July 4, 2003

Course Description:

"Eco-justice and Christian faith" leads students into an encounter with various voices from the Christian tradition as well as selected voices outside the tradition that are wrestling constructively with the current interlinked crises of nature and culture. These crises have led us to a point of severe environmental degradation worldwide with destructive consequences for human communities, affecting different human groups inequitably. In response, theological and social movements combining concern for environmental health and human justice have arisen which deserve the serious attention of theologians, ministers and faith communities. This course will explore contemporary work in eco-justice theology, ecofeminism, Native American and third world scholarship, and the sustainability movement. Questions concerning the place and role of human beings within creation, understandings of God and Christ, economic globalization, conflicting uses of public lands, environmental racism, classism and sexism, and the struggle for nurturing sustainable and just communities will be considered. The emphasis will be upon constructive theological and ethical reflection upon the global problematic of environmental degradation and injustice.

Course Readings .

*Adams, Carol J., ed.. Ecofeminism and the Sacred (Continuum, 1993).
Read Introduction, chapters 2, 3, 11, 17.
**Barnhill, David Landis, ed. At Home on the Earth: Becoming Native to Our Place (University of California Press, 1999).
Read Introduction, chapters by Durning, Snyder ("The Place, the Region, and the Commons"), Starhawk.
**Bullard, Robert D., ed . Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices from the Grassroots (South End Press, 1993).
Read Foreword, Introduction, chapters 1, 4, 11.
**Burton, Lloyd. Worship and Wilderness: Culture, Religion, and Law in Public Lands Management (University of Wisconsin Press, 2002).
Read chapters 1, 7.
**Grinde, Donald and Bruce Johansen. Ecocide of Native America: Environmental Destruction of Indian Lands and Peoples (Clear Light Publishers, 1995).
Read Introduction.
**Gottlieb, Robert. Forcing the Spring: The Transformation of the American Environmental Movement (Island Press, 1993).
Read chapter 8
*Hessel, Dieter and Larry Rasmussen, eds. Earth Habitat: Eco-Injustice and the Church’s Response (Fortress, 2001).
Read Introduction, chapters by Cone, Abu-Rabi, Conclusion.
**Hessel, Dieter and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds. Christianity and Ecology (Harvard, 2000).
Read chapters by Berry, Hiebert.
**Kidwell, Clara Sue, Homer Noley, and George E. "Tink" Tinker. Native American Theology (Orbis Books, 2001).
Read chapter 8.
*McFague, Sallie. The Body of God: An Ecological Theology (Fortress, 1993).
Read Introduction, chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
*Moe-Lobeda, Cynthia. healing a broken world: Globalization and God (Fortress, 2002).
Read chapters 1, 3, 5, 6.
**Plumwood, Val. Feminism and the Mastery of Nature (Routledge, 1993).
Read Introduction, chapter 1.
*Rasmussen, Larry. Earth Community, Earth Ethics (Orbis, 1996).
Read Preface, Introduction; From Part I: "A Slow Womb," "Three Revolutions or Four?" "Environmental Apartheid," "Ecumenical Earth," "The Big Economy and the Great Economy," "Message from Chiapas," "Message from Geneva," "Conclusions;" From Part II: "Adam, Where Are You?" "ReBeginnings," and all of Part III.
**Schor, Juliet B. and Betsy Taylor, eds. Sustainable Planet: Solutions for the Twenty-First Century (Beacon Press, 2002).
Read chapters by Anderson and Cavanagh, and Taylor.
**Shiva, Vandana and Maria Mies. Ecofeminism (Zed Books, 1993).
Read chapter 5.
**The Worldwatch Institute. State of the World 2002 (W.W. Norton, 2002).
Read Preface, chapter 1.
**Weaver, Jace, ed. Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice (Orbis, 1996)
Read "Introduction: Notes from a Miner’s Canary."

Course Requirements (see requirement due first day of class in italics below):
1) Class participation (20%)
2) Reading journal, including questions for discussion in class (20%)
Write two pages of reflection, including several questions to be used in class discussion, on the set of readings assigned for each theme or session of the course. *The first five entries for Monday through Wednesday are due on the first day of class. The last four entries for Thursday and Friday are due on Thursday morning. See attached schedule of sessions and readings.
3) Philosophy of Eco-justice Ministry (15%)
This assignment will be explained in class.
4) Final Paper: (45%)

Choose one of themes of the course and develop further, incorporating your philosophy of eco-justice ministry into your reflection on this theme and its implications for your current or future ministry. Further research and reading beyond course reading assignments is required. Due date to be announced.