Christian Faith and the Earth Current Paths and Emerging Horizons in Ecotheology

Christianity has often been accused for being complicit in ecological destruction. In response, Christian ecotheology offers both a Christian critique of environmental destruction and an ecological critique of Christianity. It thus encourages an ecological reformation of the Christian tradition for the sake of the whole earth. This volume focuses such a dual critique on the content and significance of the Christian faith in order to confront those aspects that may undermine an environmental praxis, ethos and spirituality. Each of the essays explores one of the core Christian symbols, seeks to capture the current state of the debate in this regard, identifies emerging horizons for such an ecological reformation and invites conversation on the road ahead.

This volume includes essays on the trinity, Christology, pneumatology, creation, anthropology, natural suffering, providence, sin and salvation, the nature, governance, ministries and missions of the church, eschatological consummation, a Christian ethos, the role of liturgy, religious plurality andunderlying methodological problems. It thus complements several other discourses in ecotheology on biblical hermeneutics, a retrieval of particular traditions, environmental ethics, animal studies, ecclesial praxis, Christian missions and religion and ecology.

The volume captures insights emerging from a collaborative research project on 'Christian Faith and the Earth' in which more than one hundred leading ecotheologians from six continents participated since 2007. It builds on the culminating conference of this project held in Cape Town in August 2012.It extends the conversation on the road ahead through inputs from contributing authors and various respondents.

Ernst M. Conradie is Professor in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Sigurd Bergmann is Professor of Religious Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Celia Deane-Drummond is Director of the Centre for Religion and the Biosciences at the University of Chester, UK.


Denis Edwards is Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology in the School of Theology of Flinders University, Australia.

1. Editors' Introduction - Ernst M. Conradie, Sigurd Bergmann, Celia Deane-Drummond, Denis Edwards
2. Where on Earth is the Triune God? - Denis Edwards
3. Who on Earth is Jesus Christ? Plumbing the Depths of Deep Incarnation- Celia Deane-Drummond
4. Where on Earth does the Spirit "take place" today? - Sigurd Bergmann
5. What is the Place of the Earth in God's Economy? Creation, Salvation,Consummation - Ernst M. Conradie
6. Does God really care about the Suffering of all Creatures? Providence amidst the problem of natural evil - Christopher Southgate
7. Are humans at Home on Earth? Anthropology and cosmology - Peter Scott
8. Where on Earth is the Church? The Nature, Mission, Governance and Ministry of the Church - Clive Ayre
9. What are the Resources for Building a Christian Ethos in a Time of Ecological Devastation? - CeliaDeane-Drummond
10. Where may the praise of God's creatures still be heard? Liturgy,Life and Land - Christina M. Gschwandtner
11. Without a Vision the People Perish: Where do we go from here? - Heather Eaton
12. Postscript: An Asian Faith Response to the Plight of All Living Beings on Earth? - Kim Yong-Bock

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