1st Edition
Systematic Theology and Climate Change Ecumenical Perspectives
This book offers the first comprehensive systematic theological reflection on arguably the most serious issue facing humanity and other creatures today. Responding to climate change is often left to scientists, policy makers and activists, but what understanding does theology have to offer? In this collection, the authors demonstrate that there is vital cultural and intellectual work for theologians to perform in responding to climate science and in commending a habitable way forward. Written from a range of denominations and traditions yet with ecumenical intent, the authors explore key Christian doctrines and engage with some of the profound issues raised by climate change. Key questions considered include: What may be said about the goodness of creation in the face of anthropogenic climate change? And how does theology handle a projected future without the human? The volume provides students and scholars with fascinating theological insight into the complexity of climate change.
1. Introduction Michael S. Northcott & Peter M. Scott 2. Triune God Timothy Gorringe 3. Christology Niels Henrik Gregersen 4. Spirit Michael S. Northcott 5. Creation Celia Deane-Drummond 6. Creatures Rachel Muers 7. Humanity Peter M. Scott 8. Sin and Salvation Neil Messer 9. Church Tamara Grdzelidze 10. Eschatology Stefan Skrimshire
Biography
Michael S. Northcott is Professor of Ethics in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Peter M. Scott is Samuel Ferguson Professor of Applied Theology and Director of the Lincoln Theological Institute at the University of Manchester, UK.
"This exemplary work cuts new roads through a dense and intractable global problem: human destruction of our planetary environment. Here sharp minds venture into scientific complexities where most systematic theologians fear to tread. Their collective depth, range, and sophistication -- both scientific and theological -- opens the way to profound re-appropriations of Christian doctrine. Both faithfully traditional and highly innovative, the volume is a tour de force in both ecological ethics and Christian theology." – Lisa Sowle Cahill, Boston College, USA
"Climate change is not just one issue among others, and theology is not just one way to approach the problem of climate change. The authors of this volume make the case that the roots of the climate crisis are theological, and so we need more than a technical response. We need a response that engages the way people imagine God, the creation, and the place of humans and others within it. It's time we stop regarding climate change as just a matter of policy. This book is an important and sophisticated contribution to that effort." - William T. Cavanaugh, DePaul University, USA
"This volume contributes to a growing corpus of literature on climate change from the perspective of Christian theology... The essays are all excellent, well-referenced and contain a wealth of insights. The volume therefore makes a welcome contribution to current discourse." - Ernst Conradie, University of the Western Cape, Republic of South Africa
"The intertwining of systematics and climate change in this volume will challenge readers to think theology and ethics together as one complex entity. The authors are united in their determination to present us with theology that has an urgently practical bent, and that correspondingly attempts to transform our ways of imagining the world and living in it, so that we may better do our parts to care for the creation that has been entrusted to us. For this, we can be very thankful." - Brian Curry, Duke Divinity School, USA
