TL4310: EARTH THEOLOGY -- ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES ON CREATION, REDEMPTION AND SPIRITUALITY
Fall Semester 2007
Instructor: Faye E. Schott
Course Goals:
To investigate the recent history of theological attention to the earth and its ecological systems, human impact on the environment, and biblical and spiritual resources for addressing the present crisis of global development and sustainability.
To become acquainted with some prominent Christian theologians who are addressing environmental concerns
To explore connections between theological reflection and ethical action
To become better equipped to address environmental issues in a pastoral setting
Format:
1 three hour seminar per week
Textbooks:
Hessel, Dieter T and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds. Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans. Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions, 2000.
Articles on reserve in the library
Requirements:
Assigned reading – furnish 3 discussion questions for each class referring to readings
Participate in two field trips
Research paper (10-12 pages on topic to be decided in consultation with instructor)
Ministry project (worship service, adult forum series, devotions for church council, youth retreat, etc.) utilizing print and media resources
Weekly journal (1/2 to 1 page) of observations and theological reflections about some specific hands-on experiences in relation to readings and class discussions (track use of utilities, grow a plant, visit a landfill, follow a news story, etc.)
Grading:
Grades are pass/fail, but will be calculated on a point system of 100 with 70 being considered passing. All written assignments are due on the day indicated in the syllabus, and 2 points will be deducted from the grade for the assignment for every day that work is past due. No written work will be accepted after the end of the semester unless an extension form has been requested by the student, signed by the student’s advisor, and submitted to the instructor by the last class day. Journal 25%, research paper 40%, ministry project 25%, discussion questions and participation 10%.
Some Helpful Resources:
BOOKS
The Austin Environmental Directory: A Guide to Environmental Products, Services and Organization. Austin, TX, 1995.
Ball, Ian, Margaret Goodall, Clare Palmer and John Reader, eds. The Earth Beneath: A Critical Guide to Green Theology . London: SPCK, 1992.
The Earth Bible . Sheffield Academic Press, 2001-
Barkey, Michael B. Environmental Stewardship in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: Jewish, Catholic and Protestant Wisdom on the Environment . Washington, DC: Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship, 2000.
Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. 2d ed. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
Fowler, Robert Booth. The Greening of Protestant Thought. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
Gebara, Ivone. Longing for Running Water: Ecofeminism and liberation. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.
Granberg-Michaelson, Wesley. Redeeming the Creation: the Rio Earth Summit – Challenges for the Churches. Geneva: World Coucil of Churches, 1992.
Hallman, David G., ed. Ecotheology: Voices from South and North. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis, 1994.
Jung, Shannon. We Are Home: A Spirituality of the Environment. New York: Paulist Press, 1993.
Mortensen, Viggo, ed. Concern for Creation: Voices on the Theology of Creation. Tro & Tanke 1995:5. Uppsala: Svenska kyrkans forskningsrad, 1995.
Rasmussen, Larry L. Earth Community, Earth Ethics. Geneva: WCC Publications, 1996.
Robbins, Paul, comp. and ed. The Austin Environmental Directory: A Guide to Environmental Products, Services and Organization.
Santmire, H. Paul. Nature Reborn: The Ecological and Cosmic Promise of Christian Theology. Theology and Science Series. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.
PERIODICALS
The Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture (until 2007, Ecotheology)
WEBSITES [links to all these are available on course web site]
National/international/ecumenical:
ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living – began as offering alternatives to commercial Christmas http://www.simpleliving.org
Eco-Justice Ministries – has useful list of links http://www.eco-justice.org
Forum on Religion and Ecology – site for conference related to course textbook http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/index.html
Greenfaith: Interfaith Partners in Action for the Earth http://www.greenfaith.org
National Religious Partnership for the Environment – ecumenical organization http://www.nrpe.org
“Nature and Thou” – articles from the journal Cross Currents on ecotheology http://www.crosscurrents.org./nature.htm
Network Alliance of Congregations Caring for the Earth – ecumenical organization http://nacce.org/index.html
Religious Thought about Animals – compiled by Dr. Ron Epstein http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Religion/religionanimals.html
United Nations Environment Program – sponsoring the “Billion Tree Campaign” http://www.unep.org
Web of Creation – a Lutheran-oriented site on faith and the environment http://www.webofcreation.org
Local:
City of Austin Water Utility Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend – home of “Dillo Dirt” http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/cer2.htm
Ecology-Action – central Texas recycling effort http://www.ecology-action.org
The Environmental Directory – information for Austin and Houston http://environmentaldirectory.info
Environmental Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin – has some interesting “educational mini sites” http://www.esi.utexas.edu
Schedule:
Tues. 9-11: Introduction: History of theological concern for the earth
Tues. 9-18: Creation
Read: Christianity and Ecology, xxxiii-xlvii, 3-27; Mortensen, “From a Liberated to a Reconstructed Creation” and Bettenhausen, “Creation,” in Concern for Creation, 25-37, 97-101: Sittler, “Called to Unity”; White, “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis”
Due: journal entry
Tues. 9-25: Hebrew perspectives – importance of land, commandments, Sabbath, jubilee
Read: Bruggeman, The Land, ch. 1
Due: journal entry and research proposal
Tues. 10-2: Christological perspectives – Incarnation and Redemption (salvation out of the world or salvation of the world, salvation of humans and other creatures)
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 29-50; Westhelle, “Cross, Creation and Ecology,” in Concern for Creation, 159-167; Santmire, “Toward a Christology of Nature”
Due: journal entry
Tues. 10-9: Pneumatological perspectives – Spirit and Life
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 51-96
Due: journal entry
Tues. 10-16: NO CLASS
Tues. 10-23: Ecclesiological perspectives – earth as space for relationship
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 97-124, 127-154
Due: journal entry
Tues. 10-30: Ecumenical perspectives - justification and justice for the earth
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 155-182; Cardoso, “Empire and Religion”
Due: journal entry
Tues. 11-6: Human and other creatures – ecological systems and balance
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 227-361
Due: journal entry
Tues. 11-13: Eschatology – end of earth
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 183-224
Due: research paper (no journal entry due this week)
Tues. 11-20: NO CLASS
Tues. 11-27: Practical aspects – witness: ethics of global economy and sustainability
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 365-511
Due: journal entry
Tues. 12-4: Practical aspects – stewardship: use and conservation of resources
Read: Christianity and Ecology, 515-613
Due: journal entry
Tues. 12-11: Practical aspects – worship
No reading assignment
Due: ministry project (no journal entry due this week)
RESERVE READINGS FOR TL4310: EARTH THEOLOGY
Fall Semester 2007
Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. 2d ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002. Pp. 1-13
Cardoso, Nancy. “Empire and Religion: Gospel, Ecumenism and Prophecy for the 21 st Century.” Presentation at 9 th Assembly of World Council of Churches, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February, 2006.
Mortensen, Viggo, ed. Concern for Creation: Voices on the Theology of Creation. Uppsala: Svenska kyrkans forskningsråd, 1995. Pp. 25-37, 97-101, 159-167.
Santmire, H. Paul. “Toward a Christology of Nature: Claiming the Legacty of Joseph Sittler and Karl Barth.” Dialog 34, no. 4 (Fall 1995): 270-280.
Sittler, Joseph A. Sittler. “Called to Unity.” The Ecumenical Review 14 (January 1962): 177-87.
White, Lynn Jr., “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis.” Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 21, no. 2 (1969): 42-46.
|
|
|