Report on Faith and Ecology Courses in North American Seminaries
Transcript of Report on Faith and Ecology Courses in North American Seminaries
REPORT ON FAITH AND ECOLOGY COURSES IN NORTH AMERICAN SEMINARIES
ReportonFaithandEcologyCoursesinNorthAmericanSeminaries
ByTheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopmentJanuary,2016
WearegratefulforthegeneroussupportoftheJuliaBurkeFoundation,whichmadepossibletheresearch,writing,printing,publication,anddistributionofthisreport.
TheReportwasresearched,written,andeditedbyRabbiYonatanNeril,JoyAuciello,LucyAtkinson,AndrewDeutsch,RachelWinner,RickiSilber,JasonDamon,ChelseaRevell,AnnieFortnow,AdinaHeistein,DaliaGladstein,SarahLyons,KarenWolberger,andShirelleWeingarten.
Thisthird,expandedversionoftheReportfollowsversionsreleasedinJuneandSeptember,2015.Secondprinting:December2016.Copyright©2016TheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment.Coverphoto©MarkLeibowitzPhotography,takeninAspen,Colorado.CoverdesignbyChayimMescher
PrintedEcologically:PaperisFSC®(ForestStewardshipCouncil)Certified,SFI®(SustainableForestryInitiative)Certified,SourcingandRainforestAllianceCertified™,with10%postconsumerpaper.ProcessedChlorineFree(PCF)andlignin-freefiber.MadewithTotalChlorineFree(TCF)andElementalChlorineFreeCF)Pre-consumerfibercontent.Manufacturedunderalkaline(acid-free)conditions.
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TableofContents
Report Introduction and Summary of Key Findings......................................................................................3
Report Methodology.................................................................................................................................................6
Highlighting Twenty-Nine Seminaries in Faith and Ecology Curricula.........................................................8
List of Highlighted Seminaries..................................................................................................................................8
List of 58 Seminaries Offering Courses on Faith and Ecology...............................................................................18
Seven Selected Courses on Faith and Ecology..............................................................................................19
Selected Courses on Faith and Ecology..................................................................................................................19
Instructors of Note........................................................................................................................................23
Concentrations in Faith and Ecology............................................................................................................25
Descriptions of 190 Courses on Faith and Ecology.......................................................................................27
Appendix 1 – Pontifical Universities in Rome Offering Courses on Faith and Ecology...............................68
Author Biographical Information.................................................................................................................70
About the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development...........................................................................71
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ReportIntroductionandSummaryofKeyFindings
Researchundertakenforthisreportindicatesthattherearemorethan190coursesonfaithandecologyat58institutionstrainingseminariansintheUnitedStatesandCanada1inthepastnumberofyears,outofmorethan250seminariesinvestigated.2Itisencouragingtoseereligiousinstitutions–inparticularseminaries–increasingeducationabouttheenvironmentalcrisisbasedonfaithteachingsThisreportfollowsthereleaseofPopeFrancis'sEncyclical,LaudatoSi:OnCareforourCommonHome,whichhassignificantlyincreasedglobalawarenessofthestronglinkbetweenfaithandecology.IntheEncyclical,PopeFrancisstates:"AllChristiancommunitieshaveanimportantroletoplayinecologicaleducation.Itismyhopethatourseminariesandhousesofformationwillprovideaneducationinresponsiblesimplicityoflife,ingratefulcontemplationofGod’sworld,andinconcernfortheneedsofthepoorandtheprotectionoftheenvironment."3ThisisthefirstPapalstatementthatcommentsonseminaryeducationandtheenvironment.WhilePopeFrancissinglesoutChristiancommunitiesinthisparticularcalltoaction,theEncyclicalitselfisaddressedtoallpeople.AstheEncyclicalstates,youngpeoplearedemandingchange,4andthetrainingofemergingclergycanhelpcatalyzethe‘ecologicalconversion’forwhichthePopeiscalling.Theencyclicalcallsforattentiontoabroadspectrumofenvironmentalissuesincludingclimatechange.
A2014surveybythePublicReligionResearchInstituteandtheAmericanAcademyofReligionfoundthat"mostAmericanswhoattendreligiousservicesatleastonceortwiceamonthhearlittlefromtheirclergyleadersabouttheissueofclimatechange.Justoverone-thirdofAmericanssaytheirclergyleadersspeakaboutclimatechangeoften(11%)orsometimes(25%).Morethan6-in-10Americanssaytheirclergyleadersrarely(29%)ornever(33%)referenceclimatechange."Thesurveyalsofoundacorrelationbetweenclergyspeakingaboutclimatechangeandcongregantswhobelievethatclimatechangeisoccurringandhumancaused:"AmericanswhosaytheirclergyleadersspeakatleastoccasionallyaboutclimatechangearemorelikelytobeclimatechangebelieversthanAmericanswhotendnottohearaboutclimatechangeinchurch(49%and36%,respectively).AmericanswhosaytheirclergyleadersspeakatleastoccasionallyaboutclimatechangealsoscorehigherontheClimateChangeConcernIndex."5
ThelowincidenceofAmericanclergyteachingonclimatechange,andbyextension,environmentalissuesingeneral,isreflectedinhowAmericancitizensviewtheissueofclimatechange.AccordingtoarecentpollbyYaleandGeorgeMasonuniversities,asdetailedintheBloomberggraphbelow,thevastmajorityofAmericansdonotviewclimatechangeasamoralorreligiousissue.6
1WhilethisreportfocusesmainlyonNorthAmerica,itisnoteworthythatcoursesonfaithandecologyarealsoofferedatseminariesinRome,Australia,India,Israel,Italy,NewZealand,andelsewhere.2Thereare200-250additionalseminariesinNorthAmericathatwerebeyondthescopeof,orexcludedfromthisstudy,manyofthemwithlowstudentenrollment.3Paragraph214,onlineathttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2105301-laudato-si-inglese.html4 Paragraph135"Believers,Sympathizers,andSkeptics:WhyAmericansareConflictedaboutClimateChange,EnvironmentalPolicy,andScience,"Nov.21,2014,onlineathttp://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-Climate-Change-FINAL1.pdf6 HowthePopeCouldTurnU.S.ClimatePoliticsUpsideDown,EricRoston,June12,2015,BloombergBusiness.Thearticleisonlineat: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-12/how-the-pope-could-turn-u-s-climate-politics-upside-down
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Whilemanyhavesoughttoaddressclimatechangeandotherglobalenvironmentalchallenges,activistshaveyettosucceedincatalyzingacollectiveglobalresponsecommensuratewiththechallenge.Thisstemsinpartfromthefailuretoengagethosepeoplewiththegreatesttrackrecordofinspiringbehaviorchange:faithleaders,clergy,andteachers.Twenty-fiveyearsago,agroupofprominentscientistswroteanopenlettercallingforfaithcommunitiestosupporttheminaddressingclimatechange:“Problemsofsuchmagnitude…mustberecognizedashavingareligiousaswellasascientificdimension...wescientistsurgentlyappealtotheworldreligiouscommunityinwordanddeed.”7OneoftheearlyresponsestothiscallwasthetenHarvardconferences(1996-1998)andteneditedbooks(1997-2004)examiningviewsofnatureintheworld’sreligions.ThisresultedintheForumonReligionandEcologynowatYale(www.fore.yale.edu).
Muchoftheworld'spopulationisinvolvedwithareligiousorspiritualcommunity.Therefore,itis
7SaganUrgesClericstoJoinToSaveGlobe,PeterSteinfels,January16,1990,TheNewYorkTimes.Thearticleisonlineat: http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/16/science/sagan-urges-clerics-to-join-to-save-globe.html
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imperativethatemergingclergylearnhowtheirfaithrelatestoenvironmentalbalanceinordertoaidtheircongregationsinthehealingofhumansociety.Seminariesinfluencethereachandimpactoffuturefaithleaders.Manyfaithsunderstandtheecologicalcrisistobeaspiritualcrisis,andtheeducationofemergingclergyinthisareaisthereforecriticallyimportant.Themanymillionsofpeoplewhosufferfromecological,politicalandreligiousconflictsoftenturntotheirfaithforsupport.Heighteningtheskillsoffutureandcurrentreligiousleadersandlinkingthemtogetherwithacommonmoralpurposeandagreaterunderstandingwillinspireactiontowardapeaceful,just,andsustainablefuture.Improvingemergingclergy'secologicalawarenesswillinspirecommunities,congregations,andleadersofothersectorsinimprovinghuman-environmentrelations.
SeminarieshaveembarkedonahostofgreeninginitiativesoncampusesthroughoutNorthAmerica.Partofthisinvolvesgreeningofthephysicalinfrastructureofthecampus–installingrenewableenergygenerationandcomposting;sourcingfoodlocally;andexpandingandrenovatingbuildingswithaLEEDgreen-buildingcertification.Anothersignificantaspectofgreeningseminariespertainstothelevelatwhichecologyandcreationcareisintegratedintocurricula.Thisismanifestedviacoursesthatrelatetofaithandecology,aswellasintegratingecologicalcomponentsintoexistingcoursesonothertopics.Thisreportfocusesprimarilyoncoursesofferedthatrelatetofaithandecology.
Inresearchingthisreport,TheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment(ICSD)examinedmorethan231NorthAmericaneducationalinstitutionsthattrainseminarianstobecomereligiousclergy.Theinstitutionssurveyedincludeabroaddiversityoffaithsanddenominations,includingCatholic,Evangelical,SouthernBaptist,andJewish,amongmanyothers.
ToprovideasummaryofdatafromtheReport:
• 252seminaries,divinityschools,andtheologicalschoolsinNorthAmericaweresurveyed• Withinthissamplegroup,58seminaries,or22%ofthesamplegroup,offeredcoursesonfaithand
ecology.• Amongthese58seminaries,190coursesthatrelatetofaithandecologyhavebeenofferedin
recentyears• Amongthese58seminaries,thisReporthighlights28seminariesthatoffermultiplecourseson
environmentaltheology.
These28institutionswereselectedbasedonthenumberofcoursesonfaithandecologyofferedateachone.Thefollowingtheologicalschoolsrepresentdiversepathstoexcellenceinfaith-basedenvironmentalcourses,withsignificantdifferencesininstitutions’size,resources,andenrollment.Significantly,theschoolsofferingthemostnumberofcoursesinthisareawereindiversegeographicregions,includingConnecticut,NewJersey,Kentucky,Tennessee,andOntario,Canada.Therefore,seminariesofferingcoursesonfaithandecologyisoccurringwithinadiversityofregions,includingtheU.S.South.
Despitetherapidgrowthofsuchcoursesinreligiouseducation,thepercentageofseminariesofferingfaithandecologycoursesremainslow.Furthermore,coursesonfaithandecologystillrepresentonlyasmallfractionofoverallseminaryeducationatmostseminaries.Duringthemulti-yearformationperiodofseminarians,astudentwhoattendsoneofthe22%ofseminariesthatofferacourseonfaithandecologywouldlikelyonlytakeoneortwosuchcoursesduringhisorherformationperiod.
Bycomparison,a2009studybytheAuburnTheologicalSeminaryanalyzedinterfaithexposureand
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courseworkinseminaryeducation.Auburn"found1208academiccoursesaboutotherfaithsbeingofferedbythe150institutionsinthestudy"8;overseventimesmorecoursesthanwerefoundinourreportonfaithandecology.AuburnSeminaryalsohadasmallersamplesizeofseminaries.Bycomparison,multifaitheducationisfarmoreprevalentinNorthAmericanseminariesthanfaithandecologyeducation.TheAuburnreportprovidedamodelforresearchingandwritingthisreportonseminaryeducation,andweacknowledgeDeanRabbiJustusBairdforhisassistance.
ICSDacknowledgesDrewTheologicalSchoolandtheSoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminaryfortheirleadershippositionsintheGreenSeminariesInitiative(GSI)andSeminaryStewardshipAlliance(SSI),respectively.Inadditiontobeingleadersinthisfield,theGSIandSSIgenerouslysharedthesyllabiontheirwebsitewithICSDinordertoenabletheexpansionofoursyllabuscollectiononfaithandecology.
ItisanaspirationoftheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopmenttohelpdramaticallyincreasethenumberoffaithandecologycoursesthroughthepublicationofthisreport,whichwillserveasatoolforadvocacyandresourcecirculation.ICSDhasalsocreatedafree,searchablecollectionoffaithandecologysyllabiandreadinglistsonitswebsite,www.interfaithsustain.com,whichservesasaresourceforseminaryinstructorsinterestedinexpandingtheirteachingonfaithandecology.ICSDalsooffersconsultingservicestoseminarydeansandfacultytofacilitateexpandedteachinginthisarea.
ReportMethodology
Thisreportexaminesmostoftheapproximately250accreditedChristianseminariesinNorthAmericalistedontheAssociationofTheologicalSchools(ATS)website(http://www.ats.edu/).Thereareapproximately100additionalChristianseminaries,mostlynon-ATSinstitutions,onwhichnodatawascollected.9Intotal,252seminarieswereresearchedforthisreport,includingthe39schoolslistedintheGreenSeminariesInitiative(GSI)syllabusproject,the38SeminaryStewardshipAlliance(SSA)memberschoolsandthe50largestUSseminariesbystudentpopulation.WhiletheprimaryfocusofthisreportisChristianseminaries,datafromnineJewish,threeBuddhist,andtwoMuslimschoolsisalsoincluded.
Faithandecologycourseshavebeendefined,intheresearchforthisreport,ascoursesthatareprimarilyfocusedonenvironmental,ecological,creation-careornature-basedthemesandtheirrelationtofaithteachings,asevidentinthecoursedescription.Coursesthatincludeecologyasanancillarytheme–asonelectureamongtenduringasemester-longcourse,forexample–arenotincluded.Somecourseswiththeword'Nature'inthetitle,like'PhilosophyofNature'or'TheologyofNature,'havenotbeenincludedinthisreportifthecoursedescriptiondoesnotindicateanenvironmentalfocus,ascommonlyunderstood,butratherpertainingtoquestionsoftheologyorphilosophy.Coursesthataddressfoodethicsand/oranimalwelfarehavebeenincludedamongthe
8 "BeyondWorldReligions:theStateofMultifaithEducationinAmericanTheologicalSchools,"byDr.LucindaMosherandRabbiJustusBaird,TheAuburnTheologicalSeminaryCenterforMultifaithEducationreport,December20099EstimatesvaryontheprecisenumberofChristianseminariesinNorthAmerica.While300mightbeacloseapproximation,theremaybeasmanyas500.ThenumberofJewishandBuddhistschoolsaresignificantlylowerandthereareonlytwoIslamicclericalschoolscurrentlyinNorthAmerica.ThelargestSeminaryinNorthAmericahasover3,000students;thesmallesthasfewerthan15.
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courseslistedinthereport.
Forthepurposesofthisreport,‘seminaryeducation’isbroadlydefinedtoincludeanyeducationalinstitutionthatinstructsstudentstrainingtobecomeclergyintheirchosenreligion.Theterm‘seminarians’usuallyreferstoallthosestudyingtobeclergy,whetherinseminariesoratreligiouscollegesoruniversities.AsoneCatholicpriest,consultedinthewritingofthisreport,noted,"BishopsofDioceseoftenprefertheirseminarianstostudyinseminaries;religiouscommunitiesoftenhavetheirseminariansstudyatCatholiccollegesoruniversitiesandhavearesidencenearbyfortheirownstudents.”ChristianseminariesincludeschoolsthatawardaMastersorDoctorofDivinitytotheirstudents.Insomecases,aGraduateSchoolofTheologyisapartofalargeruniversity,thelatterofwhichofferscoursesonfaithandtheologythatseminariansintheGraduateSchooldoorlikelyattend.Forotherreligions,thereportfocusesoninstitutionsthatexpresslytrainrabbis,imams,andBuddhistleaders.Christianseminariesofalldenominations,includingRomanCatholic,Mennonite,Episcopal,Evangelical,andMethodist,wereincludedintheresearch.
TheaforementionedAuburnTheologicalSeminaryCenterforMultifaithEducationreportonmultifaitheducationmadeadistinctionaboutinstitutionsthattrainreligiousleaders:"Inamultifaithcontext,nosinglewordorphrasecapturesallsuchinstitutions,whicharevariouslyreferredtoasseminaries,theologicalschools,divinityschools,andrabbinicalschools.Thephrase‘theologicalschool’andtheword‘seminary’willbeusedinterchangeablyinthisreportandareintendedtorefertoinstitutionsthattrainreligiousleaders."Suchisthecaseinthisreportaswell.
Theauthorsrecognizethatgapsexistbetweenpublishedcourseinformationandactualcourseofferings.However,onlinecoursecatalogsrepresentapublicstatementbyaseminaryregardingtheircourseofferingsandserveasanaccesspointforpublicinformation.Infindingoutdatedcourses,ICSDresearchersreachedouttoseminarycontactstoattainupdatedinformationasconsistentlyaspossible.
Eachseminaryinthisreportwascontacteddirectlytoattainmoreinformationaboutitsfaith-basedecologycourses.Insomecases,ICSDstaffconductedin-personandtelephonemeetingswithseminaryfacultytoascertainwhatcoursesarebeingoffered.Inmanycases,thein-person,telephone,andemailcommunicationsledtoanexpansionandclarificationofthecourselist.However,manyrequestswentunanswered.ICSDintendstoupdatethisreportforfuturecyclesascourseschangeanddevelopeveryyear.Toprovideupdatedcourseandinstitutionalinformationforfutureeditions,pleasecontactICSDatthefollowingemailaddress:[email protected].
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HighlightingTwenty-NineSeminariesinFaithandEcologyCurricula
Thissectionhighlightstwenty-eightseminariesinNorthAmericathatexcelinofferingcoursesonfaithandecology.Theyhavebeenselectedforthislistbasedonthenumberofcoursesofferedinthisarea.Note:StudentpopulationquotedforaseminaryincludesFTE(Full-TimeEquivalent)andnon-FTEstudents.
ListofHighlightedSeminaries
• MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio,Delaware,OH
• DrewUniversityTheologicalSchool,Madison,NJ
• YaleDivinitySchool,NewHaven,CT• UnionTheologicalSeminaryoftheCityof
NewYork,NY• TorontoSchoolofTheology,Toronto,ON,
Canada• LexingtonTheologicalSeminary,Lexington,KY• CenterforReligionandEnvironment,
Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouthSchoolofTheology,Sewanee,TN
• GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary,Portland,OR
• WakeForestUniversitySchoolofDivinity,Winston-Salem,NC
• FullerTheologicalSeminary,Pasadena,CA• CatholicUniversityofAmerica:Schoolof
TheologyandReligiousStudies,Washington,DC
• Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary,Evanston,IL
• AnabaptistMennoniteBiblicalSeminary,Elkhart,IN
• BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology,Boston,MA
• CatholicTheologicalUnion,Chicago,IL• ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege,
Wyncote,PA• AustinPresbyterianTheologicalSeminary,
Austin,TX• CandlerSchoolofTheology,Atlanta,GA• ChicagoTheologicalSeminary,Chicago,IL• ChristianTheologicalSeminary,Indianapolis
IN• DukeDivinitySchool,Durham,NC• HarvardDivinitySchool,Cambridge,MA• LutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg,
Gettysburg,PA• MeadvilleLombardTheologicalSchool,
Chicago,IL• ZieglerSchoolofRabbinicStudies,Los
Angeles,CA• SoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminary,
WakeForest,NC• ConcordiaSeminary,SaintLouis,MO• DenverSeminary,Littleton,CO• WesleyTheologicalSeminary,Washington,
DC
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MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio,Delaware,OH
StudentPopulation:201;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://www.mtso.edu/
TheMethodistTheologySchoolinOhio(MTSO)isoneoffourtheologicalschoolsundergoinggreencertificationthroughtheprocessoftheGreenSeminaryInitiative(GSI),andin2017itwilllaunchtheSeminaryEnvironmentalLeadershipInitiative,incollaborationwithGSIandtheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment.
MTSOhasofferedeightdistinctfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesincluding“ConnectionsinEcologyandReligiousEducation,”“TheOikosofGod:EconomyandEcologyintheGlobalHousehold,”“Worship,EcologyandSocialJustice”and“ResistingBiocide:EnvironmentalEthicsforDiscipleship.”TheyalsoofferedaspecializationinEcologyandSocialJusticefortheirMastersofDivinityprogram.Inthedescriptionforthisspecialization,MTSOstates:
“Outofloveandrespectforfuturegenerations,religiousleadersneedtoprovidethosetheyservewithatheologicalframeworkforresistinggreed,gluttonyandthedestructionofresources.”
MTSOhasaSustainabilityandLandInitiative,whichincludesSeminaryHillFarm,acertifiedorganicfarmthatincorporatesenvironmentallearningintostudentlife.ThisfarmfeaturesheavilyintheEcologyandSocialJusticespecialization.TheSustainabilityandLandInitiativeseekstofurthertheMTSOaspirationto“prepareandinvigoratetransformationalleaderstoengagethechurchandtheworldinleadershipandservice”bycreatinga“sustainablecampusplanwhichestablishesamodelfortheologicaleducationthroughthecultivationofsustainableteachingandlearningcommunitiesonourland.”
DrewUniversityTheologicalSchool,Madison,NJ
StudentPopulation:435;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://www.drew.edu/theological/
Inadditiontothefourteencoursesfromfivedifferentprofessorsonfaith-basedenvironmentaleducation,DrewoffersaconcentrationinEcologyandReligion,whichisconsideredamajordrawforstudents.Drewcourseshaveincluded:“TheTheologyandEcologyofCommonGround,”“Nature,God,andtheNewCosmology,”“SpiritualFoundationsforSustainableandEcologicalInitiatives,”and“ReligiousIdentityandSocialAction.”Dr.LaurelD.Kearns,AssociateProfessorofSociologyofReligionandEnvironmentalStudies,wrotetoICSDaboutfaith-basedenvironmentaleducationatDrew:"OvertheyearswehaveofferedcoursesonEco-Justice,Eco-Spirituality,ReligionandAnimals,EnvironmentalJustice,ReligionandClimateChange,Salim:AnAsianPost-colonialEcofeminism.StudentscandointernshipsatGreenFaith,orsuperviseministrywith‘green’churches."
DrewTheologicalstudentscantakeEnvironmentalStudiescoursesatDrewUniversity,resultinginover90%ofgraduatestakingagraduationpledgeofsocialandenvironmentalresponsibility.
AsDrewnotesaboutitsworkinthisarea,“Facultyandstudentsfromtheschoolhavebeenpartofthe
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sustainabilityeffortsoftheuniversitysincetheearly1990s,including…anefforttonaturalizethecampusandplantnativespecies,integratedpestmanagement,sociallyresponsibleinvesting,signingtheUniversityPresident'sclimatechangecommitment,andasubsequent20%reductionofgreenhouseemissionsrelatedtoenergyefficiency.”Furthermore,DrewTheologicalSeminaryisaleaderandhostoftheGreenSeminariesInitiative,which“fosterseffortsbytheologicalschoolsandseminariestoincorporatecareforcreationintotheidentityandmissionoftheinstitution.”(http://www.greenseminaries.org).
UnionTheologicalSeminary,Manhattan,NY
StudentPopulation:232;Denomination:MultiDenominational
https://utsnyc.edu/
UnionTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedatleastfourcoursesinrecentyearsonfaithandecology,including"IdolMeatandVegetables:TowardsaNewTestamentTheologyofFood;""IndigenousVoicesonColonization,EcologyandSpirituality;""BeyondGDP:Ethics,SpiritualityandtheNewUNDevelopment;"and"Eco-FeminismandEarthSpiritualityaroundtheWorld."ThesecoursesareofferedincollaborationwiththeCenterforEarthEthicsatUnion,whichisdirectedbyKarennaGore.Throughthesecourses,studentsexploretherootcausesofecologicaldestructioninconsumerismanddisregardofplace-basedspiritualities,aswellasdivingdeeplyintoaspectsofeco-systemssuchasfoodandwater.UnionalsohasprofessorsofChurchHistory,Bible,PracticalTheology,Inter-religiousDialogueandSocialEthicsincorporateecologicalthemesinthemajorcoursestheyalreadyteach,especiallytherequiredones.
YaleDivinitySchool,NewHaven,CT
StudentPopulation:398;Denomination:MultiDenominational
http://divinity.yale.edu/
YaleDivinitySchoolhasoffered13coursesinreligionandecology,including“IntroductiontoReligionandEcology,”WesternReligionsandEcology,”“ChristianityandEcology,““ChristianityandEnvironmentalEthics,”“EastAsianReligionsandEcology,”“SouthAsianReligionsandEcology”,“IndigenousReligionsandEcology,”“AmericanIndianReligionsandEcology,”“Law,Environment,andReligion:ACommunionofSubjects,”“AmericanEnvironmentalHistoryandValues,”“Religion,Ecology,andCosmology,”“TheWorldviewofThomasBerry,”and“JourneyoftheUniverse.”TheDivinitySchooloffersajointdegreeprograminReligionandEcologywiththeYaleSchoolofForestryandEnvironmentalStudies.ThisprogramisthefirstofitskindinNorthAmericaandisaparamountexampleoftherangeofwaysthatseminariesareworkingwithaffiliateschoolsordepartmentsandincorporatingenvironmentalagendasintotheiracademicframework.
YalealsohostsconferencesonecologicalissuesthroughtheForumonReligionandEcology,whichisdirectedbyMaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim.Thisisaninternationalandmulti-religiousforumthathasorganizedsome30conferencesexploringreligiousworld-viewsandcurrentenvironmentalconcerns.“Inallworldreligionswehaveenvironmentalethicsandprofoundspiritualresourcesthatcanholdpeopletogetherinthemidstoffuturesuffering–theimmensechallengeofenvironmental
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refugees,risingseas,moreKatrinasandSandys,”Dr.Tuckersaid.TheforumonReligionandEcologyalsohostsamajorwebsitehighlightingtheresourcesoftheworldreligionsonecology(www.fore.yale.edu).Since2013theNourishNewHavenconference,hasbecomeanannualeventfocusingontherelationshipbetweenYale,thelocalcommunityandenvironmentalconcerns.
CatholicUniversityofAmerica:SchoolofTheologyandReligiousStudies,Washington,DC
StudentPopulation:275;Denomination:RomanCatholic
http://trs.cua.edu/
TheCatholicUniversityofAmerica’sSchoolofTheologyandReligiousStudieshasofferedfivecoursesbyatleastthreedifferentinstructorsinvolvingfaith-basedenvironmentalism.Coursesinclude“Religion&Ecology,”“EthicsandTheEnvironment,”“TheologyandEcology,”“FrancisofAssisi:ProphetofPeaceandofCreation”and“Spirituality,ReligionandSocialTransformation.”ThelattercoursesexploreFrancisofAssisi’spursuitofpeaceandthepreservationoftheenvironmentandanexaminationofwaysinwhichprominentspiritualandreligiousauthorshaveaddressedissuesofslavery,globalpoverty,environmentaldegradation,andethnicviolence.InMarch2017itwillhostaconferenceonFaithandEcologyforSeminaryFacultyandDeans,incollaborationwiththeWashingtonTheologicalConsortiumandtheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment.
TorontoSchoolofTheology,Toronto,ON,Canada
StudentPopulation:1500;Denomination:Ecumenical,Inter/Multidenominational
http://www.tst.edu/
TheTorontoSchoolofTheologyoffersawiderangeoffaithandecologycourses,namely“SpiritualityandEcology:IntegrationandImplications,”“EcologyandtheWorldReligions,”“AnIntroductiontoEco-Theology,”ApproachestoEcologicalEthics,”“Eco-TheologyFaithandPractice”.ItistheleadingSchoolofTheologyinCanadainregardstothenumberanddiversityofcourseofferingsfromseminariansonfaithandecology.
LexingtonTheologicalSeminary,Lexington,KY
StudentPopulation:81;Denomination:ChristianChurch(DisciplesofChrist)
https://www.lextheo.edu/
TheLexingtonTheologicalSeminaryaddressesquestionsoffaithandecologyinonerequiredcourseandinseveralelectivecourses.Therequiredcourse‘Church,SocietyandtheEthicsofGlobalWarming’focusesonstewardshipoffinancialresources,buttheconceptualfoundationsembraceenvironmentalstewardship.Thefiveelectivecoursesare“Church,SocietyandtheEthicsofGlobalWarming”,“Consumed:EthicalTransactionsinConsumerCulture”,“SallieMcFague’sEnvironmentalTheology”,“EnvironmentalTheology”,and“FlourishingTogether:CreationandtheHumanCommunity”.
CenterforReligionandEnvironment,Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouth,SchoolofTheology,
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Sewanee,TN
StudentPopulation:1700;Denomination:EpiscopalChurch
https://cresewanee.wordpress.com/
TheCenterforReligionandEnvironmentoffersahostofcoursesonreligionandecology,including"GodandNature","ManySidesofSustainability","ReadingsinContemporaryEco-Theology,""BuddhismandtheEnvironment",and"Creation,Evolution,andGod".Italsoofferstwocoursesin"EnvironmentalEthics":onewhichlooksatmoralresponsibilitiesofhumanbeingstowardthenaturalenvironment,andtheotherwhichisanintroductoryseminartosurveyethicsonenvironmentalproblemsandtoexaminethecentralmoralquestionssuchproblemsraise.TheCenteralsooffersaMinorinReligionandEnvironment.
GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary,Portland,OR
StudentPopulation:358;Denomination:MultiDenominational
http://www.georgefox.edu/seminary/
GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary'sdeclaredfocusisonitsstudents’relationshipwithGod,theChurchandtheWorldthroughholisticevangelicaleducation.GeorgeFoxSeminaryteachessevencoursesinfaith-basedecologyincludingtwoseries:“TheologyandStewardshipofCreation”and“Eschatology,NewCreation,andCommunalEthics.”TheGeorgeFoxcurriculumalsoincludesaconcentrationin“ChristianEarthkeeping,”whichhasoptionsformulti-dayretreatsconsideringNativeAmericanlandethicsandtherelationshipsbetweenstewardship,globalsystems,andsocietalissuessuchassexism,racism,andpoverty.Additionally,GeorgeFoxemploysmultipleprofessorsinEcotheologywholinktheenvironmentalcrisistotheologicalideas.
WakeForestUniversitySchoolofDivinity,Winston-Salem,NC
StudentPopulation:116;Denomination:MultiDenominational
http://divinity.wfu.edu/
WakeForest’ssevencoursesonfaith-basedecologyincludefivethatfocusontheecologicalandspiritualroleoffood:“Faith,FoodJustice,andLocalCommunities,”“Field,Table,Communion:FoodandtheWorkofMinistry,”“ThrivingNourishment:ChristianSpiritualPracticesandFood,”“DailyBread:Food,Faith,Mercy,andJustice,”and“Food,Faith,andHealth:NavigatingtheIntersectionsinCommunity.”Theschoolalsoofferstwoenvironmentalspecializationsfortheirstudentsin“Sustainability”and“FoodandFaith.”Inconjunctionwiththeseclassesandacademicspecializations,WakeForesthoststheFood,Faith,andReligiousLeadershipInitiative,preparing“faithleadersandcongregationstobecomechangeagentsinfoodsecurity,communityhealth,andresilientfoodeconomies”viaeventsandconferencesthroughouttheyear.
FullerTheologicalSeminary,Pasadena,CA
StudentPopulation:3,382;Denomination:MultiDenominational
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http://fuller.edu/
FullerTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedsixcoursesintegratingecologicalideasintoreligiousteaching,including“CreationCareandtheSabbathEconomics.”Theinstructorsofthesecoursesalsomakeanefforttointegrateecologicalteachingsintotheirotherclassesas“oneofthemajorissuesofourtimes,”accordingtoHakJoonLee,ProfessorofTheologyandEthics.RichardMouw,ProfessorofFaithandPublicLife,notesthattheintegrationofecologyinreligiouslearningisnotamatterof“addingcourses,butofintegratingcreation-careconcernsthroughoutthecurriculum.”
FullerTheologicalSeminaryisoneofthefoundersoftheBlessedEarthProject,whichwastheprogenitoroftheSeminaryStewardshipAlliance.TheschoolisanactiveparticipantinbothTheSeminaryStewardshipAllianceandTheGreenSeminaryInitiative.Fullersupportsanactivesustainabilitygroupthatiscurrentlyworkingonacommunitygardenoncampus.
Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary,Evanston,IL
StudentPopulation:399;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://www.garrett.edu/
Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedfivecoursesincorporatingecologicalteachingsintofaith-basedlearningtaughtbyDr.TimothyEberhart,AssistantProfessorofTheologyandEcologyandDirectoroftheCourseofStudySchool.SinceDr.EberhartjoinedthefacultyatGarrett-Evangelical,theSeminaryhasjoinedinanagreementwithMethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhiototeachcurriculathatwillfosterecologically-mindedleadersforthechurchandtheacademy.
Garrett-EvangelicalhasbeenaleaderinenvironmentaleducationinseminariesbyhelpingtofoundtheSeminaryStewardshipAlliance(SSA).“Garrett-Evangelicaliscommittedtointegratingecologicalperspectivesandsustainablepracticesthroughoutthecurriculum,worshipandspirituallife,programming,buildingsandgrounds,andadministrativeoperationsoftheSeminary,”PresidentLalleneRectorsaidinanarticleontheSSAwebsite.(http://seminaryalliance.org/).“Itisimportanttosupportthepreparationofourgraduatesforeffectiveleadershipintheincreasinglyurgentmattersofsustainablelivingandcreationcare.”
AnabaptistMennoniteBiblicalSeminary,Elkhart,IN
StudentPopulation:101;Denomination:MennoniteChurchUSA
https://www.ambs.edu/
TheAnabaptistMennoniteBiblicalSeminary(AMBS)hasofferedfourfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesfortheMasterofDivinitystudents.Threeofthesecourseofferings,“Eco-Justice:AVisionforaSustainableCity,”“ThinkingEthically”and“CreationCare:Theology,Ethics,andSpirituality,”canfulfillrequirementsforgraduationeitherinChurchandMinistryorHistory,TheologyandEthics.Thefourthcourse,“SpiritualPractices:WaterofLife,”“[weaves]togethercareforcreation—specificallytheresourceofwater—withstudyofbiblicaltextsaboutwater,reflectionontheroleofwaterinChristianfaith,[and]practiceofspiritualandconservationdisciplines.”
InSeptemberof2014,AMBShostedtheRootedandGroundedconferenceco-sponsoredbyBlessed
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Earth’sSeminaryStewardshipAllianceandtheInstituteforEcologicalRegenerationofMerryLeaEnvironmentalLearningCenter.Theconferencecenteredontheideathat“manypeoplearebecomingincreasinglyawareoftheintimateconnectionbetweentheenvironmentalcrisisandhumanity’sdetachmentfromtheland...[And]perceivingtheprofoundlinkbetweenthe(un)healthofthelandandtheinnerdisorderofourWesternsociety.”
BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology,Boston,MA
StudentPopulation:307;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://www.bu.edu/sth/
AtBostonUniversitySchoolofTheology,Dr.JohnHartconnectssocialandenvironmentalethics,liberationtheologyandethics,andscienceandChristianity,workingwithstudentsbothinandoutoftheclassroom.
Heteachesfourfaith-basedenvironmentalcourses,including“ChristianEcologicalEthicsandPoliticalIssues”and“SacredEarth:IndigenousPeoples'EcologicalTraditions”andhasworkedwithnativepeoples’spiritualleadersandhumanrightsactivists.HealsoservedasaMemberoftheDelegationoftheInternationalIndianTreatyCouncil(aNon-GovernmentalOrganizationaccreditedbytheUnitedNations).
Dr.HartisnottheonlyenvironmentalleaderatBUSchoolofTheology.DeanMaryElizabethMooreisinvolvedintheHebrewideaoftikkunolam,translatedas“repairoftheworld.”“Thisphraseembracestheidealsofjustice,compassion,peace,andecologicalintegrity,”shesays.“Imeasurethevalueofmyresearchandwritingbyitscontributiontotikkunolam,andwhiletheSchoolofTheologydoesnotholdthephraseatthecenterofitsvision,Iknowithopestocontributetothosesamevalues.”
CatholicTheologicalUnion,Chicago,IL
StudentPopulation:344;Denomination:RomanCatholic
http://www.ctu.edu/
TheCatholicTheologicalUnionhasthedistinctionofbeingthefirstRomanCatholicseminarytojointheGreenSeminaryInitiative.Theinstitutionhasofferedfourfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesfromtwodifferentfacultymembersincluding“Ethics,Spirituality,andGlobalClimateChange”and“CatholicEnvironmentalEthics:Sources,Norms,andIssues,”thedescriptionforwhichsays:
“CarefortheEarthismorethananEarthDayslogan.CatholicdoctrineandCatholicmoraltheologyprovidearichgroundingfordealingwiththecomplexandoftenperplexingissuesthatconstitutetoday'senvironmentalcrisis.”
TheCatholicTheologicalUnionalsohasaconcentrationinEthicsandaMasterofArtsJusticeMinistrydegree.TheconcentrationinEthicsrequiresstudentstotakeatleastoneof21ethicscourses,sevenofwhichincludetheenvironmentintheirdescriptions.TheMAJusticeMinistryincludesaconcentrationinEnvironmentalJusticebutisnotconsideredaMasterofDivinity.
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ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege,Wyncote,PA
StudentPopulation:Under100;Denomination:JewishReconstructionist
http://www.rrc.edu/
ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege(RRC)hasofferedtwofaith-basedenvironmentalcourses:“FoodJustice”and“RabbisasActivistLeadersforEnvironmentalSustainabilityandJustice,”taughtbyRabbiMordechaiLiebling.TheCollege’sspecializationprogramtitledSocialJusticeOrganizing“trainsrabbistoleadincreatingasociallyjust,environmentallysustainableandspirituallyfulfillingsociety.”
RRC’sDirectorofStudentLife,RabbiNathanMartin,hasbeendedicatedtofosteringadeepconnectionbetweenJudaismandenvironmentalsustainability.Theschoolalsohastwostudent-ledenvironmentalcommittees:theGreenCommittee,whichcoordinatesstudentenvironmentalinitiatives,andtheTikkunOlamCommittee,which“[reflects]RRC’scommitmenttoeducatingrabbiswithasocialconscience.”
AustinPresbyterianTheologicalSeminary,Austin,TX
StudentPopulation:191;Denomination:PresbyterianChurch
http://www.austinseminary.edu/
AustinPresbyterianTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedthreefaith-basedenvironmentalcourses:“EnvironmentalEthics,”“Nature,Theology,andEthics:ChristianSpiritualityandCreationCare,”and“ChristianCreationandSpirituality.”ThesecoursesaretaughtbyDr.WilliamGreenway,AssociateProfessorofPhilosophicalTheology.DuringhistenureatAustin,Dr.Greenwayhastaughtseveralotherfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesincluding"Nature,Theology,andEthics"andanexperientialcoursetitled"AnAdventureinWildernessandSpirituality."
CandlerSchoolofTheology,Atlanta,GA
StudentPopulation:441;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://candler.emory.edu/
CandlerSchoolofTheologyhasofferedthreecoursesontheenvironmentinafaithcontext:“TheBibleandCareoftheEarth,”“ReligiousEducationandOurEcologicalContext,”and“NaturalScienceandtheDoctrineofCreation.”AffiliatedwithEmoryUniversity,CandlerhasthebenefitofbeingpartofoneofthemostsustainableschoolsintheUnitedStateswithaGoldSTARS(SustainabilityTrackingandRatingSystem)ratingfromtheAssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityinHigherEducation(AASHE).
ChicagoTheologicalSeminary,Chicago,IL
StudentPopulation:234;Denomination:UnitedChurchofChrist
www.ctschicago.edu
ChicagoTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedthreefaithandecologycourses:“Animals,Ecology,andBiblicalInterpretation,”“CreationThemesintheHebrewBible,”and“EarthandItsDistress:Ecological
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EthicsinChristianPerspective,”taughtbytwodifferentfacultymembers.
ChristianTheologicalSeminary,Indianapolis,IN
StudentPopulation:163;Denomination:ChristianChurchDisciplesofChrist
http://www.cts.edu
ChristianTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedthreefaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesfromDr.CarolF.Johnston,AssociateProfessorofTheology&CultureandDirectorofLifelongTheologicalEducation.Thesecoursesare“Ecojustice:FosteringHumanWellbeingonaThrivingEarth,”“EnvironmentalEthics,”and“TheBibleandtheEarth.”
DukeDivinitySchool,Durham,NC
StudentPopulation:657;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
http://divinity.duke.edu/
DukeDivinity’sthreeenvironmentalcourses,“ToWorkandWatch:TowardaBiblicalEcology/TheologyofLand,”“Food,Eating,andtheLifeofFaith,”and“CaringforCreation,”eachofferadistinctnarrativeontherelationshipamongnature,humanity,andGod.
HarvardDivinitySchool,Cambridge,MA
StudentPopulation:324;Denomination:Multifaith
http://hds.harvard.edu/
ThethirdIvyLeagueschoolinthisreportisHarvardDivinitySchool.Theschool’sthreecourses,“IntroductiontoReligionandEcology,”“GreenBuddhism:Faith,Ecology,andActivism,”and“Religion,EcologyandHumanRights,”lookattheintersectionoffaithandtheenvironment.HarvardDivinity’smission,“Tohelpinbuildingaworldinwhichpeoplecanliveandworktogetheracrossreligiousandculturaldivides,”encouragesaholisticapproachtoreligiousteachingwithexposuretointerreligiousandecologicallyconsciouseducationalcontent.
LutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg,Gettysburg,PA
StudentPopulation:167;Denomination:EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica
http://www.ltsg.edu/
Inadditiontothe“EcologyandStewardship”courseatGettysburg,whichhasbeenofferedsince1994,ReverendDr.GilsonA.C.Waldkoenighasoffered“EcologyandReligion,”“EcoTheologyinNorthernAppalachia(animmersionseminar),”and“PlacesofFaith:EthnographyofReligion.”Inadditiontocurricula,GettysburghasinvestedinasustainableinfrastructureworkingtoloweritscarbonfootprintandupdatingtheSchmuckerHallresidencebuildingwithLEEDgreenbuildingcertification.
MeadvilleLombardTheologicalSchool,Chicago,IL
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StudentPopulation:Under100;Denomination:UnitarianUniversalist
http://www.meadville.edu/
ThedescriptionfortheMeadvillecourse,“CosmosandEthos:ReligiousNaturalismandtheClimateCrisis”states,“Totheextentthatprogressivereligiousleadersarecommittedtojusticeandcompassion,thenweshouldbeactivelycommittedtothestruggleforclimatejustice.”Thephilosophyofthiscourse,whichistaughtbyProfessorMichaelS.Hogue,holdstruethroughoutMeadville’seducationalvaluesaswellasitscommitmenttosustainablebuildingandfinancialpractices.Atthetimeofthisreport’srelease,MeadvilleLombardTheologicalSchoolhasthreefaith-basedecologycoursesinitscatalogue:“TheBigBlueMarble:TheologyandGlobalization,”“EcologyandTheology”and“EcotheologicalEthics:Bios,Anthropos,Theos.”
ZieglerSchoolofRabbinicStudies,LosAngeles,CA
StudentPopulation:Under100;Denomination:JewishConservative
http://ziegler.aju.edu/
Zeiglerisanexampleofarabbinicalschoolthatintegratesenvironmentalthemesintomanycoursesthatithasoffered,includingits“IntroductiontoHalakhah(JewishLaw)"course.The“ScienceandReligion”courselooksatancientandcontemporarythoughtandphilosophyontherelationshipbetweenscienceandreligionwithconsiderationofenvironmentalandecologicalissues.Andthe“IntroductiontoJewishPhilosophy”devotesoneclasssessiontoreadingsonJudaismandtheenvironmentandadiscussionofthoseperspectives.RabbiBradleyShavitArtson’sarticleonbiodiversitystates,“SinceJudaismunderstandsnatureasGod’screation,cultivatingmarvelattheteemingabundanceoflifeandthediversearrayoflivingthingsisfoundationaltoourreligiousexperience.Indeed,theexperienceofholinessthroughnaturehasinspiredmostoftheworld’sreligioustraditions.”
SoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminary,WakeForest,NC
StudentPopulation:1876;Denomination:SouthernBaptist
http://www.sebts.edu/
InadditiontohostingtheSeminaryStewardshipAlliance,SoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminaryhasofferedthecourse“EthicsandEnvironmentalResponsibility,”whichanalyzesthemoralityofcreationcareinaChristiancontext.Moreover,Southeasternhostslectures,conferences,andsymposiaonenvironmentalstewardshipeveryyear.
ConcordiaSeminary,SaintLouis,MO
StudentPopulation:662;Denomination:LutheranChurch
http://www.csl.edu/
ConcordiaSeminaryhasofferedtwocoursesthatmergeenvironmentalissueswithfaith-basedlearning.Thesecoursesare“CareofCreation”and“TheCareofGod’sCreation.”Thefirstofthese
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examines"thebiblicalnarrativeofcreationandhowitprovidesaframeworkforChristianlifeandasustainableenvironmentalethic.”ThesecondcourseismoreconcernedwiththeroleofhumanitywithinGod’screationandtheneglectofcreationcarewithrespecttopresent-dayecologicalissues.
DenverSeminary,Littleton,CO
StudentPopulation:990;Denomination:MultiDenominational
http://www.denverseminary.edu/
DenverSeminaryhasofferedacoursecalled“StewardshipinCreation:TheologyandOutdoorPractice,”whichintroducesstudentstoabiblicallyinformedtheologyofcreationanditsstewardshippracticeswithrespecttocontemporaryenvironmentalissues.Anothercourse,“SystemsThinkingandDecision-Making,”examinesdecisionsaspartofafullsystem,includingtheenvironment.
WesleyTheologicalSeminary,Washington,DC
StudentPopulation:700;Denomination:UnitedMethodistChurch
https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/
WesleyTheologicalSeminaryofferscoursesthatspecificallylookatrolesoffaithleadersinenvironmentalstewardship,withclasseslike“GreeningYourCongregation”and“TheChurchandtheEcologicalCrisis.”BothcoursespertaintoChristianstewardship,firstwithinthelocalchurchsettingandindividualresponsibility,andthenasaninstitutionconfrontingbroaderenvironmentalconcerns,respectively.Othercoursesinclude“Liturgics:EcologyandWorship”and“SpiritualityinNature.”
Dr.BethNorcross,aWesleyadjunctprofessorandleaderintheGreenSeminariesInitiative,saysoftheschool’sextracurricularenvironmentalefforts:“Wesleyhasofferedecologically-orientedimmersionexperiences,suchasarecenttriptoYellowstoneNationalParktostudyclimatechange,aswellascommunityforumsonavarietyofenvironmentaltopics.[TheschoolpartnerswithvariousenvironmentalinitiativessuchasInterfaithPowerandLightandtheCenterforSpiritualityinNatureinitsPracticeinMinistryprogram.]Facultymembersalsoroutinelyintegrateecologicalthemesintotheirteachingofcorecoursesaswellaselectives.”
Listof58SeminariesOfferingCoursesonFaithandEcology
1. AnabaptistMennoniteBiblicalSeminary2. AsburyTheologicalSeminary3. AshlandTheologicalSeminary4. AustinTheologicalSeminary5. BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology6. CandlerSchoolofTheology7. CatholicTheologicalUnion8. CatholicUniversityofAmerica:Schoolof
TheologyandReligiousStudies9. ChicagoTheologicalSeminary
10. ChristianTheologicalSeminary11. ClaremontSchoolofTheology12. ColumbiaTheologicalSeminary13. ConcordiaSeminary14. DenverSeminary15. DrewTheologicalSchool16. DukeDivinitySchool17. EasternMennoniteSeminary18. FullerTheologicalSeminary19. Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary
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20. GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary21. Gordon-ConwellTheologicalSeminary22. TheGraduateTheologicalUnion23. HarvardDivinitySchool24. HebrewCollege25. HebrewUnionCollege,NewYork26. HolyApostlesCollege27. LexingtonTheologicalSeminary28. LutherSeminary29. LutheranSchoolofTheology30. LutheranSeminaryPrograminthe
Southeast31. LutheranTheologicalSeminaryat
Gettysburg32. LutheranTheologicalSeminaryandthe
ZygonCenter33. McCormickTheologicalSeminary34. MeadvilleLombardTheologicalSchool35. MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio36. NorthParkTheologicalSeminary37. OblateSchoolofTheology38. PayneTheologicalSeminary39. PrincetonTheologicalSeminary40. ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege
41. RegentCollege42. SaintPaulSeminarySchoolofDivinityat
SaintThomasUniversity43. SaintPaulSchoolofTheology44. SanFranciscoTheologicalSeminary45. SantaClaraUniversity46. SeattleUniversitySchoolofTheologyand
Ministry47. CenterforReligionandEnvironment,
Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouthSchoolofTheology
48. SoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminary49. TorontoSchoolofTheology50. TruettTheologicalSeminary–Baylor51. UnionSeminaryandPresbyterianSchoolof
ChristianEducation,RichmondCampus52. UnionTheologicalSeminary53. VancouverSchoolofTheology54. WakeForestUniversitySchoolofDivinity55. WartburgTheologicalSeminary56. WesleyTheologicalSeminary57. YaleDivinitySchool58. ZieglerSchoolofRabbinicStudies
SevenSelectedCoursesonFaithandEcology
Thereareamyriadofwaysinwhichschoolshavechosentorepresentandteachonfaith-basedenvironmentalideas.Whilemanyhavechosentoapproachenvironmentaltopicsasethical,othershavedugdeeplyintoreligioustextandstoriestofindtheconnectionbetweenthespiritualandthenaturalworld.Herearesevencoursesthatstoodouttousasthemostinterestingintersectionofthesefields.Commentaryfromthereportauthorsabouteachcourseappearsinitalicsfollowingthesummary.
SelectedCoursesonFaithandEcology
1. FrancisofAssisi:ProphetofPeaceandofCreation2. TheTheologyandEcologyofCommonGround3. MoralTheologyTopics:OikosofGod:EconomyandEcologyintheGlobalHousehold4. RabbisasActivistLeadersforEnvironmentalSustainabilityandJustice5. TheChurchandtheEcologicalCrisis6. SacredEarth:IndigenousPeoples'EcologicalTraditions7. SystemsThinkingandDecision-Making
FrancisofAssisi:ProphetofPeaceandofCreation
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CatholicUniversityofAmerica:SchoolofTheologyandReligiousStudies:Rev.RegisJ.Armstrong,O.F.M.Cap.,Ph.D.
Inthepursuitofpeaceandthepreservationoftheenvironment,FrancisofAssisiisuniversallyproposedasapatron,intercessor,andmodel.InadditiontoexaminingthelifeofFrancisandthestrugglesofhistime,thiscoursewillexamineindepththeportraitofFranciswrittenbySt.Bonaventure,whounderstoodFrancistobeamodelofeveryChristiancalledtobeaninstrumentofpeaceandacatalystinrespectingcreation.
St.FrancisbecamethepatronsaintofnatureandtheenvironmentbasedonhisconcernforalloftheCreator'sinhabitants.PopeFrancischosehisownnameinpartduetotheecology-relatedwritingsofSt.Francis,andtitledhisEncyclicalonclimatechange,"BePraised,"basedonaSt.Francisteaching.
TheTheologyandEcologyofCommonGround
DrewTheologicalSchool:Dr.LaurelKearnsandDannaKnowleFewell
Thiscoursefocusesontheroleofcamp/retreatministryininspiringleaderswhoshapesocietybyengagingcommunitiesandcongregationsinministriesofearthcareandsocialjusticeasexpressionsofholycommonground.StudentswillstudybiblicalandtheologicalperspectivesonthelinkbetweenfaithinGodandlovinginterdependenceamongpeopleandallofcreation.
ThisisonecourseinaseriesatDrewthatlooksattheroleofcommongroundandcommunityinreligiousstudies.Therelationshipbetweencommunityandecologyisanexpandingareaofinterestwithinacademiccircles.
MoralTheologyTopics:OikosofGod:EconomyandEcologyintheGlobalHousehold
Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary:Dr.TimothyEberhart
Thiscourseisanintroductiontotheologicalreflectiononeconomyandecologyinaglobalizedworld.TheGreekwordforhouseholdisoikos,whichmeansthewordsecology(oikos-logos,thestudiedknowledgeofourplanetaryhousehold),economy(oikos-nomos,themanagementofthehousehold),andecumenicity(oikou-menikos,anopennesstotheworldwidehousehold)allshareabasicorientationto“home.”Thereisgrowingawarenessthattheinterconnectedhouseholdsweinhabitareincreasinglymarked,notbythekindofsustainingrelationsonwhichhomelifedepends,butbyvariousformsofinjusticeanddegradation.Thereisalsoagrowingrecognitionthattheecologicalandeconomiccrisesfacingpeopleworldwidearemutuallyconstitutiveandthatsingular,disconnectedresponsesarethereforeinadequate.Thegoalofthiscourseistodrawupondiversetheologicalandethicalresourcesinthinkingcriticallyabouttheeconomicandecologicalcrisesfacingourcommonglobalhouseholdandconstructivelytowardamorecharitable,just,andsustainablefuture.
LiketheSystemsThinkingcoursefromDenverSeminarydescribedbelow,thiscourseisincludedherebecauseitlooksatmorethanethicsandtext,exploringtheinterconnectednessofhumanityandnature.BasedonthepremisethattheworldisaunitedresidenceunderGod,thecourseisimportantandinterestingforitsecologicalallusionstouniversality.
RabbisasActivistLeadersforEnvironmentalSustainabilityandJustice
ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege:RabbiMordechaiLiebling
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Thecoursewillcombinetext,experientialexercisesandactivistinvolvement.ItwillcoverfundamentalteachingsonJudaismandtheenvironment,adeepeningofourpersonalconnectiontotheearthandthebasicsofnonviolentdirectaction.Auniqueandinfluentialcomponentwillbeactivism.Duringthecourseofthesemester,allmatriculatedstudentswillberequiredtodevoteatleasteighthourstoanenvironmentalcampaign.
Notonlydoesthiscoursediscussthedirectroleofreligiousleadersasactivistleaders,butitalsoholdarequirementforitsstudentstodevotetimetoenvironmentalwork.Thiscourseacknowledgestheroleofspiritualleadersinthepoliticalsphere,which,inpart,relatestoenvironmentalactivism.Thecoursepositsthatreligiousleadersarealsoactivistsgiventhatmanycampaignscomeaboutduetomoralandethicalissues.
TheChurchandtheEcologicalCrisis
WesleyTheologicalSeminary:Dr.GregHitzhusenandDr.BethNorcross
Churchleadersaroundtheworldarecallinguponthefaithfultoaddressthemoraldimensionsofecologicaldegradation,andagrowingcommunityoftheologiansclaimsthatthedestructionoftheearthisthe“centralmoralimperativeofourtimes.”Accordingly,thiscourseseekstoexploretheroleofthechurchinaddressingecologicalconcerns,andtoequippastorsandotherChristianleaderswiththetheological,spiritual,andpracticaltoolstheywillneedtoleadtheircongregationsinfaithfullyrespondingtothismoralimperative.
Themoralityoftheecologicalcrisishaslongbeendiscussedbyphilosophersandtheologians.Byfocusingontheecologicalcrisisasthe“centralmoralimperativeofourtimes,”HitzhusenandNorcrossarerefocusingthecrisisfromoneofscientificknowledgetooneofhumanmorality,atopiccentraltomodernreligion.Thiscoursestandsoutforitsversatility.Itsabilitytofitintoanyreligiouscurriculumislaudable.
SacredEarth:IndigenousPeoples'EcologicalTraditions
BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology:Dr.JohnHart
Astudyofindigenouspeoples’traditionalteachingsabouttherelationshipofspirituality,ecology,andcommunitywell-being.Aparticularfocuswillbethewordsandworksofrepresentativetwentiethcenturywritersandspiritualleaders,andincludethelifeandteachingsofLakotaelderBlackElk;MuskogeeelderPhillipDeere;WanapumelderDavidSohappy;andDakotascholarandactivistVineDeloria,Jr.
DespitetheacknowledgementthatmanyindigenousculturesincorporaterelianceuponandreverenceoftheEarth,thestudyofindigenoustraditionsisveryrarelyincludedineitherreligiousorenvironmentaleducation.Byoverlookingindigenouscultures,weoverlookboththespiritualrootsofmodernreligionsand,perhapsmoreimportantly,thewaysinwhichthesepeopleusespiritualbeliefsandingenuitytoworkinpartnershipwiththenaturalworld.
SystemsThinkingandDecision-Making
DenverSeminary
Providesanintroductiontosystemstheoryandhelpsleaderstodevelopaholisticapproachtogatheringandorganizinginformation,solvingproblems,makingdecisions,andimplementingplans.
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Thiscourseisuniqueinlookingoutsideoftherealmofboththepurelyethicalapproachandthetext-basedapproach.Systemsthinkingisacomplexideaabouttheinterconnectednessofallthings.Insystemsthinkingandsystemstheory,everysituationispartofatleastoneinterconnectedsystem.Bylookingatallissuesassystems,ratherthanisolatedproblems,thesystemsthinkerisabletoproblemsolvefortheworld,ratherthanjustforhumanity.Systemsthinkingthereforerelatesdeeplytoecologicalconcepts.10
10Toreadmoreonthisconnection,seehttp://www.ecoliteracy.org/essays/systems-thinking
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InstructorsofNote
Thefollowinginstructorshavemadesignificantcontributionstothefieldoffaithandecologyeducation,includingwithrespecttothenumberofdifferentcoursestheyteachonthesubject.
Dr.TimothyEberhart,AssistantProfessorofTheologyandEcologyandDirectoroftheCourseofStudySchool,Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary
Onhisbiographypage,Dr.Eberhartstatesthathis“vocationasamoraltheologianordainedinTheUnitedMethodistChurchisbasedinthecommitmenttoguideothers--asIseekmyself--tobetterunderstandandmorefaithfullyparticipateinthisdivineworkofredemption,justice,reconciliation,andhealinginrelationtothemanysocio-political,economic,andecologicalperilsfacingustoday."Dr.EberhartisanordainedelderintheDakotasConferenceoftheUnitedMethodistChurch.Hewasinvitedtoserveonthenationalplanningcommitteeforthe2014CongressonUrbanMinistryandwaselectedNorthAmericansecretaryfortheOxfordInstituteofMethodistTheologicalStudies.Heteachesfivefaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesatGarrett-Evangelical.
MoreinformationonDr.Eberhartcanbefoundat:https://www.garrett.edu/academics/faculty/timothy-eberhart
Dr.WilliamGreenway,AssociateProfessorofPhilosophicalTheology,AustinPresbyterianTheologicalSeminary
Dr.Greenway’sprofiledetailshisacademicinterestsin“contemporaryconversationsamongtheologyandphilosophyandchurchandsociety.Heisespeciallyinterestedintheologyandecologyandspirituality.Hespeaksregularlyatchurches,academicconferences,andpublishesinjournalslikeTheChristianCentury,TheJournalofReligion,andTheologyToday.”Dr.GreenwayhasservedasateachingfellowatthePrincetonTheologicalSeminaryaswellasavisitinglectureratPrincetonUniversity.HehasservedvariouschurchesintheUnitedStatesaswellasinthePhilippines.Heteachesfourfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesatAustinPresbyterian.
MoreinformationonDr.Greenwaycanbefoundat:http://www.austinseminary.edu/cf_directory/dirprofile.cfm?p=2575&id=10
Dr.JohnHart,ProfessorofChristianEthics,BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology
Accordingtohisbiographicalpage,“Dr.Hart’steachinginterestsareintheareasofsocialethics,environmentalethics,liberationtheologyandethics,andscienceandChristianity.Hisresearchinterestsandwritingarefocusedparticularlyonissuesofsocialandecologicaljustice,andonecologyasabridgebetweenscienceandreligion.”Testifyingtohisexpertiseinhiscoursetitled,SacredEarth:IndigenousPeoples’EcologicalTraditions,“Dr.Harthasworkedwithnativepeoples’spiritualleadersandhumanrightsactivists,includingasaMemberoftheDelegationoftheInternationalIndianTreatyCouncil(aNon-GovernmentalOrganizationaccreditedtotheUnitedNations)totheU.N.InternationalHumanRightsCommission,Geneva,Switzerland(1987,1990),andasaninvitedObserverattheWorldConferenceofIndigenousPeoples,RiodeJaneiro,BrazilwhileparticipatingintheUnitedNationsEarthSummit(1992).”Heteachesfourfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesattheBUSchoolofTheology.
MoreinformationonDr.Hartcanbefoundat:http://www.bu.edu/sth/profile/john-hart/
Dr.LaurelKearns,AssociateProfessorofSociologyandReligionandEnvironmentalStudies,DrewTheologicalSchool
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Dr.Kearnshasresearched,published,andgiventalksaroundtheglobeonreligionandenvironmentalismforover20years.Inadditiontoco-foundingtheGreenSeminaryInitiative,shehasbeenaboardmemberofGreenFaithsince1995,andnowservesontheSustainabilityCommitteesofbothDrewUniversityandtheAmericanAcademyofReligion.ShehasalsopublishedarticlesrelatingfaithtothenaturalworldinacademicworkssuchasTheEncyclopediaofWomenandWorldReligionandJournalfortheScientificStudyofReligion,NatureandCulture.
MoreinformationonDr.Kearnscanbefoundat:http://users.drew.edu/lkearns/
Dr.BethNorcross,AdjunctProfessor,WesleyTheologicalSeminary
Dr.NorcrosshastaughtmyriadcoursesconnectingfaithtotheenvironmentandpublishedarticlesinpublicationssuchasSojournersMagazineandEARTHletter.Furthermore,shehasworkedasprofessionalstafffortheU.S.SenateNationalParksandForestsSubcommitteeandasVicePresidentofConservationforAmericanRivers,aconservationorganizationdedicatedtotheprotectionofriversandriverinehabitat.Herspecializationisineco-theology.Sheisaco-founderandactiveleaderintheGreenSeminaryInitiative.
MoreinformationaboutDr.Norcrosscanbefoundat:http://www.centerforspiritualityinnature.org/#!biography/c1r0d
Dr.MatthewRiley,LecturerinChristianityandEcology,YaleDivinitySchoolandYaleSchoolofForestryandEnvironmentalStudies
Dr.RileycurrentlyservesasaLecturerinChristianityandEcologyatYaleDivinitySchoolandtheYaleSchoolofForestryandEnvironmentalstudieswhereheteachescourseson“ChristianityandEcology”and“ChristianityandEnvironmentalEthics.”Dr.Rileyalsoteaches“EnvironmentalEthics”and“ReligionandEcology”intheSummerprogramoftheYaleInterdisciplinaryCenterforBioethics.Whileteachingandresearching,heisengagedinbuildingonlinecoursesinReligionandEcologyattheYaleSchoolofForestryandEnvironmentalStudiesandworksasaResearchAssociateattheForumonReligionandEcologyatYale.Dr.RileyalsocurrentlyservesastheBookReviewEditorforthejournalWorldviews:Environment,Culture,Religion(Brill).InthepasthehasservedasaSteeringCommitteeMemberfortheReligionandEcologyGroupattheAmericanAcademyofReligion,heworkedfortheGreenSeminaryInitiative,hetaughtbiologyintheNewYorkCitypublicschoolsystem,andhedesignedthecurricularmaterialsfortheJourneyoftheUniverseproject.HiscurrentresearchfocusesonthelegacyofLynnT.White,jr.
MoreinformationaboutDr.Rileycanbefoundat:https://environment.yale.edu/profile/matthew-riley/
Rev.Dr.TimothyVanMeter,AssociateProfessorintheAlfordChairofChristianEducationandYouthMinistry,MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio(MTSO)
Accordingtohisbiography,Rev.Dr.VanMeter’s“teachingandresearch[is]relatedtothespiritualandvocationalaspirationsofyouthandyoungadultsincludingyouthcultures,popularculture,spiritualpractices,ecology,justiceandpeacemovements,communalmovements,alternativeformsofchurchandeducationaltheory.”Rev.Dr.VanMeterteachessevenfaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesatMTSO.
MoreinformationonRev.Dr.VanMetercanbefoundat:
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http://www.mtso.edu/about-mtso/faculty-directory/timothy-l-van-meter/
Rev.Dr.GilsonWaldkoenig,ProfessorofChurchinSocietyintheB.B.MaurerChairinTownandCountryMinistry,LutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg
Accordingtohisprofile,“Waldkoenigworksinecologicalethics,ethnographyofreligion,andthechurchinruralsociety.”HehaspublishedseveralpapersabouttheconnectionbetweenfaithandtheenvironmentandisworkingwiththeWashingtonTheologicalConsortiumandmultipleotherfaith-environmentprogramstointegratestewardshipintoacademicvaluesandsharedresources.Heteachesthreefaith-basedenvironmentalcoursesatGettysburg.
MoreinformationonRev.Dr.GilsonWaldkoenigcanbefoundat:http://www.ltsg.edu/about-us/faculty-staff-directory/waldkoenig-gil
ConcentrationsinFaithandEcology
Concentrationsrefertoatrackorclusterofcoursesinwhichstudentscanfocustheirstudiesand,insomecases,receiveacertificateofcompletion,somewhatlikeamajororminorintraditionalhighereducation.Theschoolslistedbelowoffervaryingformatsforsuchprograms.
GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary
Concentration:ChristianEarthkeeping
Themissionstatementofthisconcentrationis:Toformevangelicalleaderswhocultivatethecareofcreationintheircommunities.
ChristianEarthkeepingistheChurch’sresponsetotheecologicalcrisisandtoGod’scommandto“keep”theearth(Genesis2:15).Whyarewedoingthis?Theearthisendangered.TheevangelicalChurchhasbeensilent.TheBiblespeakstoourrelationshipwiththeCreatedOrder.TheChurchmustrespondtoGod’scommandto“keep”theearth(Gen2:15).ChristianleadersneedatheologicalandbiblicalbasisforEarthkeeping.
MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio
Specialization:EcologyandJustice
Outofloveandrespectforfuturegenerations,religiousleadersneedtoprovidethosetheyservewithatheologicalframeworkforresistinggreed,gluttonyandthedestructionofresources.Thisspecializationequipsstudentstoleadothersindevelopingeconomic,political,social,andtechnologicallifestylesforamoreecologicallyequitableandsustainableworld,leadingtoahigherqualityoflifeforallofGod’screation.
ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege
Specialization:SocialJusticeOrganizingProgram
TheSocialJusticeOrganizingProgramtrainsrabbistoleadincreatingasociallyjust,environmentallysustainableandspirituallyfulfillingsociety.ItisthefirstspecializedacademictrackataJewishseminarytofocusonjusticeorganizing.AndthevaluesandgoalsoftheprograminformacademicandcommunitylifethroughoutRRC.RabbiMordechaiLiebling,'85,alongtimeleaderinJewishsocial
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justice,directstheprogram.
WakeForestUniversity
Concentration:FoodandFaith
TheWakeForestUniversitySchoolofDivinityhasofferedaconcentrationwithintheM.Div.degreedesignedtoequipreligiousleaderswiththeknowledge,skills,andpastoralhabitsnecessarytoguidecongregationsandotherfaith-basedorganizationsintocreatingmoreredemptivefoodsystemswhereGod’sshalombecomesvisibleforahungryworld.
Concentration:Sustainability
TheWakeForestCenterforEnergy,Environment,andSustainability(CEES)andtheSchoolofDivinityprovidestudentswithexposuretosustainabilityissuesthroughtheGraduateCertificateinSustainability.Thecertificaterequiresthecompletionof12credithoursincourseworkrelatedtonaturalscience,socialsciencesandhumanities,businessmanagement,andlawandpolicy.
YaleDivinitySchool
JointDegree:ReligionandEcology
TheYaleSchoolofForestry&EnvironmentalStudies(FES)andYaleDivinitySchooloffersajointMaster’sdegreeprograminReligionandEcology.Itisaimedatstudentswhowishtointegratethestudyofenvironmentalissuesandreligiouscommunitiesintheirprofessionalcareersandforthosewhowishtostudytheculturalandethicaldimensionsofenvironmentalproblems.Thejointdegreeisstronglysupportedbyco-appointedfacultyandbytheForumonReligionandEcologyatYale(www.fore.yale.edu).
WashingtonTheologicalConsortium
CertificateinEcologyandTheology:ACourseofStudyforSeminariansandthePublic
TheWashingtonTheologicalConsortiumisacommunityoftheologicalschoolsintheMid-AtlanticregionoftheUnitedStatesthatsharesresources,opportunitiesforfacultyenrichment,studentcoursesandprogramming,andeducationalmaterials.Thereareoveradozenmemberschools,manyofwhicharehighlightedinthisreportforexemplaryleadershipinthisfield.
Forthe2015-16academicyeartheWashingtonTheologicalConsortiumlaunchedanewcertificateofstudyinEcologyandTheologyinresponsetogrowingchurchcommitmentstoaddresstheecologicalcrisis.Collegesanduniversitieshavebeendevelopingprogramsinecologyandintegratingecologicalstudiesacrosstheircurricula.Churchorganizationsandcongregationshavebeendevotingincreasingattentiontotheologyandministrypertainingtoenvironmentalsustainabilityandtheintegrityofcreation.Theologicalschoolsandotherfaith-basedgroupsareincreasinglyrecognizingtheimportanceoftheroleofreligiousleadersinhelpingthepublictofaceecologicalchallengesfromafaithperspective.AttheConsortium,agroupoffacultywhoteachattheintersectionoftheologyandecologyhavedesignedacertificatetoencourageourstudentsandmembersofthepublictoexplorefurthertheirowninterestinthestudyoftheologyandecology.
CenterforReligionandEnvironment,Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouthSchoolofTheology
Concentration:MAwithconcentrationinReligionandtheEnvironment
Themissionstatementofthisconcentrationis:Furthergraduateeducationintheologyoritscognate
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disciplinesorthosewhoseekadditionaldepthofknowledgeinaparticularfieldofstudy
AfterabasicgroundinginthetoolsofBiblicalstudies,theology,andethics,distributionrequirementsguidestudentssotheyareexposedtoavarietyofperspectivesonenvironmentalissues,rangingfromthe“hardsciences”topolicystudies.Furtherelectiveworkwithintheconcentrationallowsthestudenttopursuespecificinterests,andaresearchprojectservesasthecapstoneintheconcentration.
Concentration:ReligionandEnvironmentMinor
Offeredbyinterdisciplinaryfaculty,inconjunctionwiththeEnvironmentalStudiesProgramandtheCenterforReligionandEnvironment
Thewaysweinteractwiththenaturalworldreflectthedeep-seatedvaluesofthesocietytowhichwebelongandtheexperiencesofnaturewehaveasindividuals.Religion,andthespiritualexperiencesofindividualsthatinformreligiousthought,provideprofoundinsightsintohowweperceivetheworldaroundusandguidanceastohowtointeractwithit.TheMinorinreligionandenvironmentencouragesstudentstointegratereligiousinsightsandspiritualexperiencewiththenaturalandsocialsciencestobetterunderstandhowreligionandthenaturalworldaffectoneanother.Accordingly,theMinorincludescourseworkinnaturalandsocialenvironmentalsciencealongwithcourseworkinreligion.BecausetheMinorencouragesstudentstoreflectontheirownspiritualexperienceandbeliefsastheyrelatetotheenvironment,itculminatesinacapstoneexperientialcourseinvolvingenvironmentallyrelatedserviceoractionalongwithreflectiononthemeaningofthatengagement.
Descriptionsof190CoursesonFaithandEcology
Belowisthecollectionofcourses,descriptions,andinstructorswhenavailable.Thefullandcontinuallyupdatedspreadsheetcanbefoundat:http://www.interfaithsustain.com/green-seminaries/
TheonlinespreadsheetalsocontainsinformationaboutseminariesoutsideoftheU.S.andCanadathathaveofferedcoursesonfaithandecology,includingIsrael,Italy,andIndia,whicharenotcontainedinthelistbelow.
AnabaptistMennoniteBiblicalSeminary
Elkhart,Indiana,USA|http://www.ambs.edu
CreationCare:Theology,Ethics,andSpirituality;Dr.MalindaBerry,Dr.TedKoontz&Dr.LukeGascho
StudentswillengageinunderstandingtheirconnectiontoGodandcreationthroughfourmajorthemes:(1)theintersectionofplaceandspirituality,(2)thetheologicalcontextofcreationcare,(3)theethicalandeconomicframeworksofeco-justice,and(4)creationcarepracticesinthechurch.SomesessionswillbeheldatGoshenCollege’sMerryLeaEnvironmentalLearningCenterinWolfLake,Indiana;otherswillbeontheAMBScampus.
Eco-Justice:AVisionforaSustainableCity;Dr.ClintonStockwell
Thecoursewilldevelopaholisticvisionforasustainablecityasanoutworkingoftheconceptofshalom,ajustpeace.Thecoursewillevaluatethethreecomponentsofsustainablecommunitydevelopment:thethreeE’sofeconomics,environment,andequity(orsocialjustice).Participantswillexplorethecoursetopicviareadings,paneldiscussions,andsitevisits.Studentswillhavetheoptionofexploringkeyissuessuchasenergypolicy,foodproduction,environmentaljusticeandpollutionand
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howthesechallengesrelatetothecentralcoursethemes.Centraltothecourseisthequestion,“Whatdoesitmeantobeasustainableurbancommunity?”
SpiritualPractices:WaterofLife;PastorJaneenBertscheJohnson
Thisseminarwillweavetogethercareforcreation—specificallytheresourceofwater—withstudyofbiblicaltextsaboutwater,reflectionontheroleofwaterinChristianfaith,practiceofspiritualandconservationdisciplines,andfieldtrips.Participantswillalsoconsiderhowtoleadthefaithcommunityinitsresponsetowaterissues.Themesincludethewatercycle,usesandmisusesofwater,impactofclimatechangeandpollution,conservation,andrestoration.
ThinkingEthically;Dr.JustinHeinzekehr
HowshouldChristiansrespondtoviolence,healthcareandcreationcareissues?Whatchoicesfaceusregardingsexualityandsystemicracism?Todeepenabilitytothinkethically,studentswillexaminemajorapproachestothemorallifeanddecisionmakingthatdrawupontheresourcesofChristianfaithandtheology,especiallytheroleofScripture,Jesus,andthechurchinethics.
AsburyTheologicalSeminary
Wilmore,Kentucky,USA|http://www.asburyseminary.edu
ChristianMissionandTheologyofCreation;Dr.HowardSnyder
Thiscoursestudiesthebiblicaltheologyofcreation,particularlyasitrelatestothemissionofGodandthustheroleofthechurch.WefocusontheplaceofthecreatedorderinGod'sredemptiveplan,onearthstewardship,andonthemeaningof"therestorationofallthings"intheNewCreationbytheSpiritthroughthesavingandhealingworkofJesusChrist.
Thecoursedrawsonbiblical,historical,andsystematictheology,cross-referencingtocontemporarymissiological,ecological,andenvironmentalissues.
AshlandTheologicalSeminary
Ashland,Ohio,USA|http://seminary.ashland.edu/
GlobalEthics
Weliveinaworldofcompressedinterdependenceandinteractionbetweenlocalandglobalcontextssothatethicalissuesimpactallwhosharethisplanet.Thiscourseprovidesbiblical,theologicalandmissionalframeworksforfosteringglobalmoralconcernbytheChurchfortheworld.Wewillanalyzemacro-ethicalissues,suchascareforcreation,economics,poverty,disease,religiousviolenceandterrorism,anddeveloppracticalstrategiesofresponseforlocalcongregations.
AustinTheologicalSeminary
Austin,Texas,USA|http://www.austinseminary.edu/
ChristianCreationSpirituality;Dr.WilliamGreenway
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Thiscourseexploresthetheological,spiritual,andethicalaspectsoftherelationshipofhumanbeingstonature.MajorChristiantheologicalapproachestonaturearecontrastedbothtooneanotherandtootherapproachesinfluentialintheWest(e.g.,scientific,NativeAmerican).Correlativespiritualitiesareconsideredandkeybiblicaltextsinvestigated.Additionally,theclassdelvesintoethicalquestionsregardingthestatusandtreatmentofanimals,biodiversity,theideaandsignificanceof“wilderness,”andissuesofsustainabledevelopmentandconservation.
EnvironmentalEthics;Dr.WilliamGreenway
ThiscoursefocusesonissuesinenvironmentalethicsfromaChristianperspective.Issuesthatmaybeconsideredincludeclimatechange,distributionandaccessibilityofpotablewater,preservationofhabitat,valuingandtreatmentofnon-humananimals,endangeredspecies,geneticengineering,environmentalracism,population,conservation,wilderness,aswellastheuse,preservation,anddistributionoflimitedresources.ThecourseattendsbothtomajorcontemporarysecularethicalandlegalapproachestoissuesandtomajorChristianethicalapproaches.
Nature,Theology,andEthics:ChristianSpiritualityandCreationCare;Dr.WilliamGreenway
Thiscourseexploresthetheologicalandethicalaspectsofourrelationshiptocreation.MajorChristiantheologicalapproachestocreationarecontrastedbothtooneanotherandtootherapproachesinfluentialintheWest(e.g.,scientific,NativeAmerican).Correlativespiritualitiesareconsideredandkeybiblicaltextsinvestigated.Additionally,wedelveintoethicalquestionsregardingthestatusandtreatmentofanimals,biodiversity,theideaandsignificanceof“wilderness,”andissuesofsustainabledevelopmentandconservation.
BostonUniversitySchoolofTheology
Boston,Massachusetts,USA|http://www.bu.edu/sth/
AdvancedTopicsinEthics:Ecology;Dr.JohnHart
Anin-depthstudyofcross-disciplinary,cross-religiousandcross-culturalapproachestoecologicalissues,orientedtowardunderstandingdiverseissuesinbreadthanddepth;andacollaborativedevelopmentofecologicalethicalconceptsandprinciplestobeintegratedintohumanconsciousnessandcommunities,andimplementedincommunityprojects.
ChristianEcologicalEthicsandPoliticalIssues;Dr.JohnHart
Thepurposeofthiscourseistointroducestudentstoaspectsanddimensionsoftheecologicalcrisis;tohelpthemreflecttheologicallyandethicallyonecologicalproblems;todeveloporenhancetheirparticularfaithtradition’stheoreticalandpracticalengagementwithecologicalissues;andtoformulatepublicpolicypossibilitiesandpracticalprojectstoaddressandseektosolveecologicalproblems.
ChristianityandEcologyinCommunityContexts;Dr.JohnHart
AstudyofChristianandNativeAmericanspiritualinsightsrelatedtoecologicalperspectives,principles,andpractices.Studentclassroomsessions,research,andanalysiswillbecomplementedbyfieldwork:engagementwithmembersoffaithtraditionsandenvironmentalorganizationsintheBostonarea.Writingsoftheologiansandecologists,statementsfromindividualdenominationsandecumenical
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associations,teachingsofnativeelders,andtherelationshipoftheproposedEarthChartertoreligiousteachingsandcurrentecologicalissueswillbediscussed.Economics,ethics,andecologywillbeintegratedwiththeevolvingSchoolofTheologyGreenVisionstatement,itsimplementationoncampus,anditsengagementinprojectswithcommunityorganizationsandfaithcommunitiesoff-campus.
SacredEarth:IndigenousPeoples'EcologicalTraditions;Dr.JohnHart
Astudyofindigenouspeoples’traditionalteachingsabouttherelationshipofspirituality,ecology,andcommunitywell-being.Aparticularfocuswillbethewordsandworksofrepresentativetwentiethcenturywritersandspiritualleaders,andincludethelifeandteachingsofLakotaelderBlackElk;MuskogeeelderPhillipDeere;WanapumelderDavidSohappy;andDakotascholarandactivistVineDeloria,Jr.
CandlerSchoolofTheology
Atlanta,Georgia,USA|http://candler.emory.edu
TheBibleandCareoftheEarth;Dr.CarolNewsom
InJewishandChristiantraditions,andespeciallywithinProtestantdenominations,theBibleisaprimary,thoughcertainlynottheonly,resourcefortheformationofvalues,ethos,andcommitments.Buttoask“whattheBiblesays”aboutecologyorevenaboutnatureistoencountercomplexhermeneuticalissues.Theworldviews,symbolicsystems,andurgentquestionsofancientIsraelandearlyChristianityarevastlydifferentfromthoseofthemodernworld.Nordothebiblicaltextsrepresentasingle,consistentperspective.Oneshouldnotexpecttofind“answers.”Butonewillfindimportantperspectivesforforminganethicofcarefortheearthandforchallengingtheassumptionsofpurelysecular,technologizedviewsoftheearthanditscreatures.Incorporatingthistransformedunderstandingintoourpersonallivesandpracticesandintothecommunallifeandwitnessofcongregationsisthenextstep.Thiscoursewilldrawuponandcontributetoyourcontextsandexperiencesinthechurchandcommunitywithaparticularfocusonthepracticesandtheologyoffood.
ReligiousEducationandOurEcologicalContext;Prof.JenniferAyres
Inthiscourse,studentsdevelopatheologicalframeworkforunderstandingtheecologicaldimensionsofChristianlifeandvocation,andexamineeducationalpracticesandtheoriesthatcontributetotheformationofanecologicalfaith.
CatholicTheologicalUnion
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.ctu.edu/
CatholicEnvironmentalEthics:Sources,Norms,andIssues;Dr.DawnNothwehr
CarefortheEarthismorethananEarthDayslogan.CatholicdoctrineandCatholicmoraltheologyprovidearichgroundingfordealingwiththecomplexandoftenperplexingissuesthatconstitutetoday'senvironmentalcrisis.Thiscourseexamineskeytheologicalandethicalsourcesandnormsthat
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canassistusinachievingconversionfromourabusiverelationshipswiththeEarth,tomoral,sustainableandreverentialwaysofliving.
EcologyandSpiritualPractice;Dr.MaryFrohlich,RSCJ,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
Ethics,Spirituality,andGlobalClimateChange;MaryFrohlichandDawnNothwehr
The2006AcademyAward-winningfilm,“AnInconvenientTruth”broughtthefactofglobalwarminganditscatastrophiceffectstotheconsciousnessofthousands.GlobalclimatechangeisarealitythatChristianscannotignore.Whileengagingthescientific,economic,andpoliticalrealitiesthatshowtheurgencyofclimatechangeissues,wewilllookbeyondthatdilemmatoexplorethedeeperspiritualandmoralresourcesavailableintheChristianandRomanCatholictraditions.Studentswillbeassistedinfindingwaystointegratetheirspiritualityandethicalpracticeandtoengageinconcreteactionsthatseekresolutionstothemanyissuesglobalclimatechangepresentstoourworld.
ToCarefortheEarth:EthicsandtheEnvironment;Dr.DawnNothwehr
Laterinthecourse,weexplorevariousapproachestoenvironmentalethicsandbegintoseethecauseandeffectrelationshiptheproponentsofthesevariousmethodsholdasthetriggerforthecurrentenvironmentalcrisis.Fromanecumenicalperspective,ChristianandJewishsourceswillbereviewedforthemoralwisdomtheyoffertoChristianstoday.SpecialattentionwillbegiventothevariousstatementsontheenvironmentpublishedbyRomanCatholicmagisterialbodiesfromaroundtheglobeandtheFranciscantradition.
CatholicUniversityofAmerica:SchoolofTheologyandReligiousStudies
Washington,DC,USA|http://trs.cua.edu/
EthicsandtheEnvironment
Tobehumanistobe`placed'intheworld,bothina`natural'and`built'environment.Ourvisionofwhatitmeanstobehumanshapeswhatwebuild,especiallyinrelationtothenaturalenvironment.Ourbuildings,fromthehumblestshacktothegrandestCathedral,makemoralstatements.Thiscoursesurveyshistoricalandcontemporarytheoriesofhowhumansaretobuild,whetheritbe,e.g.homes,cities,monuments,orchurches.
FrancisofAssisi:ProphetofPeaceandofCreation;Rev.Dr.RegisArmstrong,OFM
Inthepursuitofpeaceandthepreservationoftheenvironment,FrancisofAssisiisuniversallyproposedasapatron,intercessor,andmodel.InadditiontoexaminingthelifeofFrancisandthestrugglesofhistimes,thiscoursewillexamineindepththeportraitofFranciswrittenbySt.Bonaventure,whounderstoodFrancistobeamodelofeveryChristiancalledtobeaninstrumentofpeaceandacatalystinrespectingcreation.
Religion&Ecology;Dr.WilliamBarbieri
Thiscourseexaminesinterrelatedissuespertainingtoreligion,ecology,science,andtechnology.[Thecourse]includesreligiousandethicalissuesrelatedtocosmology,nature,globalenvironmentalproblems,andtypesofecologicalspiritualityandtheology.
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Spirituality,ReligionandSocialTransformation
Anexaminationofwaysinwhichsomemajorspiritualandreligiousauthorshaveaddressedissuesofslavery,globalpoverty,environmentaldegradation,andethnicviolence.ReadingswillbedrawnfrombooksandarticlesbysuchauthorsasJohnWoolman,HansKung,StephanieKaza,PatriciaMische,MarcGopin,JohnPaulLederach,andPopeJohnPaulII.
TheologyandEcology;Rev.Msgr.PaulMcPartlan
Inthesetimesofecologicalcrisis,whatresourcesdoestheChristiantraditionhavetooffertocurrentdebate?Thisseminarconsidersarangeofmaterialfromthelasthalf-century,withparticularattentiontocontributionsfromChristianEastandWest,andtotheecologicaldiscussionthathastakenplaceundertheauspicesoftheWorldCouncilofChurches.
CenterforReligionandEnvironment,Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouthSchoolofTheology
Sewanee,Tennessee,USA|https://cresewanee.wordpress.com/
GodandNature;CynthiaS.W.Crysdale
TheobjectiveofthiscourseistoexaminewaysinwhichChristianshaveunderstoodGodinrelationtothecreatedorder.Wewillfocusspecificallyonthelastfivehundredyears:howourconceptionofnaturehasshiftedand,withit,ourwaysofconceivingofGod.Wewilljuxtaposethiswithmoderncosmological“stories”andthechallengestheypresenttheologically.Afieldcomponentwillbeanaspectofthiscourse:studentsshouldbepreparedtoexploretheDomainbothinandoutofclasstime.
ManySidesofSustainability;TheReverendRebeccaAbtsWright
Thiscoursehasseveralgoals,includinghelpingpeoplesteepedinnaturalsciencesandthoseintheologytobegintodevelopacommonvocabulary.Thiswillincludebiblical,theological,andpracticalcongregationalmaterialsaswellaseconomicand"hard"scientificmatterswithpossibleinteractionwiththeUniversityofGeorgia'sRiverBasinCenter.Therewillbereadings,lectures,seminarsandfieldtrips.Themajorpiecewillbeasmallteamproject.
ReadingsinContemporaryEco-Theology;TheReverendRobertDavisHughesIII
Seminaroncontemporarywritingsintheologyconcernedwithenvironmentalissues.Themajorfocusfor2015isonDavidClough,OnAnimals,andtheimpactonChristianSystematicTheologyfromtakingseriouslyethicalclaimsconcerningthehumanetreatmentofanimals.
EnvironmentalEthics
Examinesawiderangeofcontroversialissuesconcerningthemoralresponsibilitiesofhumanbeingstowardthenaturalenvironmentwithspecialattentiontocompetingphilosophicaltheoriesonthemoralstatusofnon-humanspeciesandnaturalecosystems.
EnvironmentalEthics
Theenvironmentalchallengesfacingtheworldtodayareurgentandcomplex.Avarietyofapproacheshavebeenenactedorproposedtoaddresstheseproblems,rangingfrompracticaleffortstoorganize
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forjusticetoconceptualattemptstoshifthowweviewourworld.Alloftheseapproacheshaveparticularstrengthsandweaknesses,andallraiseimportantquestions.Thepurposeofthisintroductoryseminaristosurveyethicaltoenvironmentalproblemsandtoexaminethecentralmoralquestionssuchproblemsraise.Wewillcovertraditional,“mainstream”environmentalethicalresponsesaswellasmorerecentalternativestoandcriticismsofthoseresponses.Discussionwillincludeconcretecasestudiesaswellastheoreticalfoundations,andthefinalessaywillseektoplacethetheoriesinthecontextofconcreteenvironmentalproblems.
PracticuminReligionandEnvironment
Thiscourse,whichcallsforinvolvementinsomefaith-basedorotherwiseengagedformofappropriateactivityorservice,offersstudentsacapstoneopportunitytoexaminetheirspiritualexperiencesandreligiousbeliefsinthecontextofactiveengagementwithenvironmentalissuesinavarietyofways.Reflectionontheengagementexperience–expressedbothinwrittenformandthroughoralpresentation–isrequired.
ReligiousEnvironmentalism
AnexplorationofthereligiousaspectsofcontemporaryenvironmentalismandreligiouscritiquesoftheemphasisbyAmericansonthevaluesofconsumerismandconvenience.Aservice-learningcomponentrequiresstudentstoparticipateinalocalenvironmentalprojectandtoreflectonboththeirownethicalcommitmentsandthoseoftheUniversity.
ReligionandEcology
ConsiderstherelationshipbetweenthenaturalandthesacredinselectedtraditionssuchasAmerindianreligions,Hinduism,Buddhism,Daoism,Judaeo-Christiantradition,andcontemporaryeco-religion.Emphasizesanalysisoflatentecological/environmentalresourcesorconflictsineachtraditionstudied.
FieldMethodsinReligiousStudies
Afield-basedseminartoexaminetheeffectsofreligiousbeliefanddoctrineuponlandscapeandmaterialcultureintheuplandSouth,includingAppalachia.CoretopicsfordifferentyearsvaryandincludeShapingtheLand,Cemeteries,LogandStone,Churches,andVillageandTown.Fieldseminar.Prerequisite:Onecourseinreligion,philosophy,orhumanities.
BuddhismandtheEnvironment
AninvestigationofBuddhistimages,symbols,stories,doctrines,ethics,andpracticesastheyrelatetounderstandingtheenvironmentandhumanity'srelationshipwithit.ClassicaltextsaswellasmoderncommentariesbyBuddhistteachers,writersandactivistswillbeexamined.
Creation,Evolution,andGod;Unknown
SinceCharlesDarwinvisitedtheGalapagosIslandsover175yearsagotherehasbeenmuchdebateoverwhetherthetheoryofevolutionnecessarilyeliminatesabeliefinGod.EvenintheologicalcirclesideasaboutGodandhowGodcreatesandmaintainstheuniversehavebeenseverelyrevised.ThiscoursewillexaminetheJudeo-Christianunderstandingofcreation,modernviewsofevolution,andcurrentdebatesaboutGodandcreation,reviewdevelopmentsofcreationtheologythroughthecenturiesandthenmoveontolearnaboutthescienceofevolution.TheologicalsourceswillincludetheclassicaltheismofThomasAquinasandthenotionofemergentprobabilitydevelopedbyBernard
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Lonerganinourcontemporaryera.
ChicagoTheologicalSeminary
Chicago,Illinois,USA|https://www.ctschicago.edu/
Animals,Ecology,andBiblicalInterpretation;Dr.KenStone,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
CreationThemesintheHebrewBible;Dr.KenStone
ThiscourseexaminesanumberofbiblicaltextsthatshedlightonIsraelisunderstandingofcreation.Attentionwillbegiventotheancientsocio-culturalbackgroundofthebiblicalcreationtexts;therelationsamongGod,humanity,andnaturethatarepresupposedbythecreationtexts;theroleofgenderinthebiblicalviewsoncreation;andtheimpactofecojusticehermeneuticsonbiblicalinterpretation.
EarthandItsDistress:EcologicalEthicsinChristianPerspective;PastorJanetParker
CourseGoals:ToattainfamiliaritywiththebreadthanddepthofChristiantheologicalreflectionupontheecologicalcrisis,andtounderstandtheresourcesoftheChristianfaithforrespondingcreativelytothiscrisis;TodevelopanunderstandingofenvironmentalissuesasjusticeissuesandastheologicalandethicalissuesofdeepconcerntoChristians;TolearnabouttheenvironmentalchallengesoftheChicagoregionandsomeoftheresourcesandgroupsworkingtoaddressthesechallenges;TolistentounfamiliarvoicesfromwithinandwithouttheChristiantraditionandtobeeducatedbythesevoicesfromthemarginsaboutourresponsibilitiestowardthecreationandtheotherbeingswithwhomwesharetheplanet;Toparticipateintheeducativeprocessbywhichtheabovegoalswillbemet,throughactiveinvolvementinclassdiscussionandthroughteachingaclassaspartofagroupresearchproject.
ChristianTheologicalSeminary
Indianapolis,Indiana,USA|http://www.cts.edu/
TheBibleandtheEarth;Dr.CarolJohnston&Rev.Dr.MartiSteussy,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
Ecojustice:FosteringHumanWellbeingonaThrivingEarth;Dr.CarolJohnston
Ecojusticeistheunderstandingthatjusticeisamatterofbotheconomicandecologicalconcern,andthatbothareanintegralpartoftheGospel.
Thisseminarwillenablestudentstomaketheconnectionsandseehowtheyarebeinglivedoutinbothcongregationsandcommunitiesthatareaddressingtheglobalenvironmental/economiccrisisandtryingtorestorecreationandenablealllifetoflourishtogetherontheEarth.BiblicalandtheologicalfoundationsforCreationCareandEcojusticewillbeexplored,alongwiththescientific,economic,andethicaldimensionsofthecrisisandmovementstowardsolutions.WewillhearfromcommunityandcongregationalleaderswhoaredoingwonderfullycreativeandfaithfulworkinIndianaandbeyond,andvisitgreenprojects.
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ClaremontSchoolofTheology
Claremont,California,USA|http://www.cst.edu/
EnvironmentalEthics;Dr.GraceYia-HeiKao
Thiscourseexaminesvariousreligiousperspectivesonthemeaningandvalueofthenaturalworldandthenormativerelationshipsthatarepositedbetweenhumansandnature.Wewillstudythesequestionscomparativelywithinandacrossmajorreligioustraditions,whilealsoengagingcontemporarymovementssuchasecofeminism,deepecology,andanimalrights.Ourgoalswillbetogainanoverviewofconceptualresourcesforthinkingaboutenvironmentalproblems,describewhatreligionhastooffertothinkingthroughtheseproblems,andtoarticulateresponsestoenvironmentalproblemsthatdrawonourownreligioustraditions.
ColumbiaTheologicalSeminary
Decatur,Georgia,USA|http://www.ctsnet.edu/index
ApocalypticEcology;Dr.StanleySaunders
Thiscourseexploresthe"ecology"–nature,structures,vocations,andpractice–ofthechurchasaneschatologicalbodyintheNewTestament,especiallyinlightofcontemporaryecologicalissues.Whatnotionsoftimeandspaceshapedthechurch'sself-understandingandpractices?Howdidthechurchengagetheimperialsocialmodelsofitsworld?TheclasswillexamineearlyChristianidealssuchasunitywithdiversity,forgiveness,hospitality,humility,andreconciliationasmarksofthechurchandasecological/ecclesiologicalprinciples.
Creation,NewCreation,andEcology;Dr.WilliamBrown&Dr.StanleySaunders
Corequestionsinclude:Whataretheecologicalcrisesfacingthepresentgeneration?Whatarethecultural,historical,andtheologicalrootsoftheenvironmentalandsocialissuesweface?Whatarethemostimportantbiblicalresources(andobstacles)forshapingfaithfulapproachestotheseissues?Whatshapemightfaithfulecologicalhermeneuticstake?Whatisthehumancallingwithregardtocreation?(Arewenecessary?Forwhat?)Inwhatwaysarethefoundationalpracticesofthechurchecological(oristheCreationincidentaltoChristianpractices)?Isthechurchsustainable?(Is“eco-”anessentialpartofecclesiology?)WhatarethepracticesofsustainableChristiancommunity?Whatresourcesmightwedevelopforworkingwithcongregationsandyoungpeopleonenvironmentalissues?
TheEarthistheLord's:Ecology,Theology,andtheChurch'sWitness;Rev.Dr.RichardFloyd
Thiscoursewillexplorethe“ecologicalcomplaint”againstChristianity(representedbyWhiteandothers)andhowvariousChristiantheologianshaverespondedtothatcomplaint.Afterreviewingsomeofthekeyissuesdefiningecologicaltheologyasadistincttheologicalperspective,wewilltracefourmajorthreadsthatarewoventogetherinvariouswaysincontemporaryecologicaltheology:creationspirituality(ThomasBerry);processtheology(JayMcDaniel);ecofeministtheology(SallieMcFague);andwhatIcall“ecclesial”eco-theology(JürgenMoltmann).
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EnvironmentandEcumene;Dr.MarkDouglas
Muchisbeingwrittenaboutpresentandimpendingenvironmentalcrisesaroundtheworld.Butinthe21stCentury,theenvironmentwillincreasinglytakeacentralrolenotonlyasasetofconcernsthathumanbeingsthroughouttheworldwillhavetoaddress,butasalensthroughwhichtheglobalsocietywillhavetoapplyallotherconcerns.Howwillthislensdevelop?Whatprioritieswillitreveal?HowmighttheChristianfaithbeseenthroughthelens?WhatresourcesmightChristianitycontributetoitsdevelopment?Andwhatmightbetheimplicationsofthisnewwayofthinkingandbeingforministry?Thiscoursewillexploretheseandsimilarquestions,developingtheologicalresourcesthroughwhichtobetterunderstandtheenvironmentandenvironmentalcrisesandexaminingsomeofthewaysthatthechurchandotherprogramsareattemptingtoaddresstheproblemsofachangingenvironment.
HowManifoldAreYourWorks,OLORD!'CreationintheOldTestament;Dr.WilliamBrown
ParticipantswillstudythevariouscreationtraditionsoftheOldTestamentwithaviewtowardtheirtheological,spiritual,andecologicalimplications,particularlyasthechurchaddressesthecrisisofenvironmentaldegradationbyofferingamessagethatisbothpropheticandpastoral.Theclasswilldrawonarangeofresources,frombiblicalscholarshiptoscientificresearch,inordertodevelopnewandrelevantwaysofreadingScriptureforourdayandage.
NewCreationandEcology:PracticingintheGarden;Dr.TaylorFlory&Dr.StanleySaunders
Thiscoursea)exploresdimensionsoftheecologicalcrisesfacingthepresentgeneration,b)presentstheological,scriptural,andanthropologicalresourcesforshapingecologicalbehavior,c)examinestraditionalChristianpracticespertainingtocommunity,theBody,andtheworld,andd)offersresourcesandmodelsforworkingwithcongregationsandyoungpeopleonenvironmentalissues.
Science,Religion,andtheEndoftheWorld;Dr.ChrisDePree&Dr.MarkDouglas
ThesciencesandtheChristiantraditionprovidenarrativesabouttheendoftheworld.Buthowdothesenarrativesrelate?Howdoweevaluatethemindependently,andincomparison?Whataretheimplicationsofthenarrativesforthewayweliveandthinktoday,atimebeforetheendoftheworld?Thiscourse,taughtbyaprofessorofastrophysicsfromAgnesScottCollegeandaprofessorofreligiousethicsfromColumbiaTheologicalSeminary,takesupthosecriticalquestionsandprovidesstudentswithopportunitiestostudywidely,thinkcritically,andlearnrespectfullyinacross-disciplinarysetting.Toencourageimaginativethinking,sourcesofstudyforthecoursewillbeacombinationofspeculativefictionnovels,movies,andselectionsfromotherbooksandarticles.
SustainableChurch;Dr.StanleySaunders
IstheChurchsustainable?WhatmighttheChurchhavetocontributetosocialandecologicalsustainability?WhatmighttheChurchlearnfromcontemporarydiscussionsofsustainabilityandresilience?ThiscourseexploresthevarietyofimagesofthechurchfoundwithintheNewTestament,aswellasthediversevalues,convictions,perspectives,andpracticesthatdistinguishedtheearlyChristiancommunitiesfromothersocialgroupsandinstitutionsaroundthemandthathelpedthechurchesendureandberesilient.Particularattentionwillbegiventothepractices—e.g.,hospitality,forgiveness,sharingpossessions,self-limitation,healing,exorcism,andlove—thatmadethechurchsustainableandresilientinitscultural“ecosystem”andthatmightprovideresourcesforsustainableChristianpracticetoday.
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WordforaWarmingWorld:Bible,Creation,andtheScienceofWonder;Dr.WilliamBrown
ParticipantswillstudythevariouscreationtraditionsoftheOldTestamentwithaviewtowardtheirtheological,spiritual,andecologicalimplications,particularlyasthechurchaddressesthecrisisofglobalwarmingwithamessagethatisbothpropheticandpastoral.Theclasswilldrawonarangeofresources,frombiblicalscholarshiptoscientificresearch,inordertodevelopnewwaysofreadingScriptureinthelightofscienceforthechurch.
ConcordiaSeminary
St.Louis,Missouri,USA|http://www.csl.edu/
CareofCreation
RecentecologicalnarrativesofourplaceandpurposewithintheworldhavebeenurgedasalternativestotheChristian‘anthropocentric’storywhichincorporatesbothdominionovercreationandalienationfromcreation.Whiletheserecentnarrativesmakeusefulcontributionstothediscussionofthecareofcreation,theyoftenhavemisreadtheChristianstory.Thiscoursewillexaminetherecentnarratives,theirreading(ormisreading)theChristianstory,andidentifytheirpositivecontributions.Italsowillreiterateanaccuratebiblicaltheologyofcreation,andexplorehowatrulyChristiantheologyofcreationcanenrichthecreedalGospelnarrativeand,inturn,provideanorganicandholisticframeworkfortheChristianlifeandasustainableenvironmentalethic.
TheCareofGod’sCreation
ThiscoursewillexploreneglectedaspectsofthedoctrineofcreationinthecontextofcontemporaryecologicalissuesanditsimplicationsforChristiandiscipleship.AttentionwillbegiventotheimportanceofcreationwithintheChristiannarrative,whatitmeanstobeapartofcreationashumancreatures,andourroleaschildrenofGodwhohavebeenrestoredtoGod,toeachother,andtoHiscreation.
DenverSeminary
Littleton,Colorado,USA|http://www.denverseminary.edu
StewardshipinCreation:TheologyandOutdoorPractice
Thiscourseintroducesstudentstoabiblicallyinformedtheologyofcreationanditsstewardship,discoveringtherichChristiantraditionofcaringforcreation,understandinghowimpactstocreationcandisproportionatelyaffectthepoor,anddevelopingabetterinformedapologeticconcerningcontemporaryenvironmentalissues.
SystemsThinkingandDecision-Making
Providesanintroductiontosystemstheoryandhelpsleaderstodevelopaholisticapproachtogatheringandorganizinginformation,solvingproblems,makingdecisions,andimplementingplans.
DrewTheologicalSchool
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Madison,NewJersey,USA|http://www.drew.edu/theological/
ChristianityandEcology;Dr.LaurelKearns
ExaminesarangeofChristianresponsestoecologicalconcerns.Surveyssomeofthehistorical,philosophical,socio-political,theological,andenvironmentalissuesinfluencesthatshapethecurrentplanetarycontextandlooksatanarrayofcontemporaryglobalreligiouseco-justicevoicesandemergingeco-theologies.Whatresourcesforanearth-friendlyethicareofferedintheChristianreligioustradition?Isenvironmentalismjustaboutanimalsandwilderness?Wheredojusticeissuescomein?Whatarethemajoraspectsofoursocietiesandofourworldviewsthatneedtobechanged?Howdowegrapplewiththeenvironmentalimplicationsofoureconomicsystem?Whereandhowdoecologicalthinking,spiritualityandreligiousthoughtcometogether?Whatcanwedo,whatareothersdoing,torespondtoecologicalconcerns?
DevelopingEnvironmentalEducationandResources,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
EcstaticNaturalism
Thisclasswillinvolveanin-depthstudyofthevariouswaysnaturehasbeenpresentedinworldthinkingwithparticularfocusonSouthAsianandEuro-Americantraditions.Specifictopics:thesacred,thespirit,naturalism(especiallyinitsecstaticform),grace,artvia-a-visreligion,andanewtheoryofnature’sself.
GreeningtheChurch:ChristianityandEcology
AnoverviewoftheearthcrisisandacritiqueofChristianity’shistoricalrelationshiptotheearth.Surveysbiblicalandtheologicalresourcesforconstructiveresponsestothiscrisis.
Nature,God,andtheNewCosmology
Anexaminationofsomeoftheimplicationsofthenewcosmologyfortraditionalideas.Thefirstpartofthiscourselooksatseveralconceptionsofnatureastheyilluminatescienceandtheology.Thesecondpartofthecourseprobesintothenewsciencesofcomplexityandchaostheoryinsofarasthey,too,illuminatetherelationshipbetweenGodandnature.Thefinalpartofthecourseexaminescurrentcosmologicaltheories,withparticularattentiontothoseofHawking.TopicsincludecreationandtheBigBang,theoriginoftime,theno-boundaryproposal,theAnthropicprinciple,thestatusofeschatology,andtheproblemofteleology.
PhilosophiesofNature
Inthiscoursewewillexamineseveralimportantphilosophiesofnatureaswellasdevelopourownworkingconceptionofnature.Theologicallywewillcompareandcontrasttheism,pantheism,andpanentheismastheyarticulatetherelationshipbetweengodandnature.BothWesternandAsianphilosophieswillbeexploredwithspecialattentionpaidto:ancientGreekmetaphysics(PlatoandAristotle),GermanIdealistphilosophy(SchellingandSchopenhauer),Americannaturalismandpragmatism(Emerson,Peirce,Dewey,andBuchler),andclassicalHinduism(Upanishads).Thecurrentperspectiveofecstaticnaturalism,asdevelopedbyProfessorCorringtonandothers,willshapeanddirectourhistoricalexplorations.Itaffirmsthatnatureisallthatthereisandthatthesacredisinandofnature.Therewillalsobeastressonartasamediumbyandthroughwhichwecangainspecialaccesstonatureandparticipateinnature’sunconsciousdimension.
Thegoalofthecourseistobringusintodeeperrelationshipwiththepowersandpotenciesofinfinite
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natureanditsspiritualdimensions.Byexploringthehumanunconscious,inanewkindofspiritualpsychoanalysis,wewillalsoexplorethefulldepthsofnatureanditsspiritualheart.
ReligionandtheEarth
Readingsinspiritual,philosophical,feminist,scientific,andsociopoliticalresponsesaroundtheglobetotheecologicalcrisis.
SpiritualFoundationsforSustainableandEcologicalInitiatives
Anintensivestudyofselectedproblemsandthemesincontemporarysociologyofreligionhavingspecialsignificanceforthechurchanditsministry.
TheTheologyandEcologyofCommonGround;Dr.DannaNolanFewell&Dr.LaurelKearns
Focusesontheroleofcamp/retreatministryininspiringleaderswhoshapesocietybyengagingcommunitiesandcongregationsinministriesofearthcareandsocialjusticeasexpressionsofholycommonground.StudentswillstudybiblicalandtheologicalperspectivesonthelinkbetweenfaithinGodandlovinginterdependenceamongpeopleandallofcreation.
TheTheoryandPracticeofEnvironmentalJustice
Readingsinspiritual,philosophical,feminist,scientific,andsocio-politicalresponsesaroundtheglobetotheecologicalcrisis.Coursehasaflexiblefield-basedcomponentdesignedtoinvolvestudentsinsomewayinlocaleco-justiceissues.
TopicsinChurchandSociety
Anintensivestudyofselectedproblemsandthemesincontemporarysociologyofreligionhavingspecialsignificanceforthechurchanditsministry.Forthiscourse,thethemesaresustainability/theethicsofsustainability.
DukeDivinitySchool
Durham,NorthCarolina,USA|http://www.divinity.duke.edu
AgrarianTheologyforanUrbanWorld;Dr.NormanWirzba
Thisclasswillconsiderhowthecharacterofmodernindustrial,technological,consumercultureshasgivenshapetoanddirectedparticularkindsoftheologicalreflection.Wewillthenexaminehowanagrarianpositiondiffersandwhatthisdifferencemeansforourthinkingaboutcreation,God,salvation,andthenatureandmissionofthechurch.Thiscoursewillencouragestudentstoreadscripture,andthusreinterprettheologicalmotifs,withanagrarianpointofviewinmindbecausethiswasthedominantviewinthetimeoftheBible’shistory.Wewillspendconsiderabletimefirstexploringagrariansympathiesandresponsibilities(bothancientandcontemporary)sothatwecanthendrawacontrastwithcurrenturbanperspectives.OuraimisnottovilifyurbanismbuttoseehowanagrariancritiquecantransformurbanismintosomethingthatmorecloselyresemblesGod’sheavenlyJerusalem,acitythatembodieskeyagrarianelements.Wewillalsoexplorecritiquesofagrarianismandchallengestoitsfuturevitality.
CaringforCreation;Dr.NormanWirzba
Thiscoursewilldevelopamulti-facetedapproachtodevelopingandimplementingavisionforthe
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Church’scareofcreation.Itwillincludeananalysisofhistory,scripturaltraditions,theologicalreflection,denominationalstatementsandresolutions,andculturalcritique,allwiththeoverallaimofcraftingpracticesforcreation’sandhumanity’shealing.Bysemester’send,studentswillbeabletoarticulateseveralmodelsofcreationcare–stewardship,virtue,ecclesial,priesthood,agrarian,monastic,indigenous,andliberation–andbeabletoshowhowthesemodelsmightbeputtoworkindiversechurchsettingslikeeducation,preaching,liturgy,missionandoutreach.
EnvironmentalPhilosophyandEthics;Dr.NormChristensen&Dr.NormanWirzba
Thiscourseexaminesthemajorthemesandfiguresinenvironmentalphilosophyandethics.Topicstobeconsideredinclude:thenatureoftheworld,thenatureofethicalreasoning,environmentalvirtue,deepecology,ecofeminism,environmentaljustice,criteriafordecision-making,andtheethicsofprofessionallifeinenvironmentalfields.
Food,Eating,andtheLifeofFaith
ThiscourseexaminesfoodsystemsandeatingpracticesinlightofChristianteaching.OuraimwillbetodevelopatheologicalframeworkandsetofpracticesthathonorGodandcontributetoapeaceablecreationandajustsocietythroughoureating.Toaccomplishthisgoalwewillconsiderandcritiquecurrentfoodeconomiesintermsofhowwelltheypromotethehealthofbodiesandcreation’smemberships.WewillexaminetheEucharistasanimportantChristiansitefortheevaluationofeatingpractices.WewillalsoconsiderhoweatingisapowerfullensintoadeeperunderstandingoflifeanddeathandthecharacterofGodandcreation.Anumberoftopicswillbecoveredinthisclass,rangingfromfooddistributionandeatingdisorderstovegetarianismandfasting.Scriptureoftensituatesimportantencountersandlearningaroundtablefellowship.ThisclasswillencourageustodevelopformsoffellowshipthatparticipateinandwitnesstoGod’skingdom.
TheologyinEcologicalContext;Dr.NormanWirzba
Thiscoursewillbeginwithanexaminationofwhatecologicalsciencemeansandhowithasbeenincorporatedinvariousphilosophicalschools(likeDeepEcologyandEco-feminism).Wewillthenmovetoanexplorationofwhatecologymeansfortheologicalreflectionandforthelifeofthechurch.NextwewillconsideramoresystematictreatmentofseveralkeyChristianteachingstorevealtheirpotentialtoaidintheworkofecologicalhealingandcreaturelylife.TheaimofthiscourseistoequipstudentswithanecologicallyinformedtheologicalconsciousnesssothatcontemporarydebatesaboutenvironmentalmatterscanbeunderstoodandaddressedfromadistinctlyChristianpointofview.
TheologyofLand
Theaimsofthiscourseareto:1.ExploreancientIsrael'stheologicalunderstandingsoflandtenureanduse,andfurther,toexplorehowlandisacrucialelementintherelationsbetweenhumanityandtheothercreatures,ontheonehand,humanityandGod,ontheother.2.ToengageinaseriousrereadingoftheBiblicaltextinlightofthecontemporaryecologicalcrisis.3.Toidentifyideologiesoflandtenureandusagethatareoperativeincontemporarysocieties,includingourown,andtoexaminethemcriticallyinlightofthebiblicaltextandthepresentcrisis.
TheTheologyandSpiritualityofPlace;Dr.NormanWirzba
Acentralquestionofthiscourseis,whatdoesitmean,andwhatdoesitlooklikeforChristiansto
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expresstheirfaiththroughtheplaces–thehomes,churches,neighborhoods,economies,architecture,publicspaces–theylive?Inthiscoursewewillexaminephilosophicalandtheologicalresourcesthattakeupplaceasaprimaryconcern.Inparticular,wewillconsiderhowspecificplacesexpressandgiveshapetopersonalandcommunallife.Bytheendofthesemesterstudentswillbeabletoevaluateparticularplacesfromatheologicalpointofview.
ToWorkandWatch:TowardaBiblicalEcology
Theaimsofthiscourseareto:1.ExploreancientIsrael'stheologicalunderstandingsoflandtenureanduse,andfurther,toexplorehowlandisacrucialelementintherelationsbetweenhumanityandtheothercreatures,ontheonehand,humanityandGod,ontheother.2.ToengageinaseriousrereadingoftheBiblicaltextinlightofthecontemporaryecologicalcrisis.3.Toidentifyideologiesoflandtenureandusagethatareoperativeincontemporarysocieties,includingourown,andtoexaminethemcriticallyinlightofthebiblicaltextandthepresentcrisis.
EarlhamSchoolofReligion
Richmond,Indiana,USA|http://www.esr.earlham.edu/
Eco-Spirituality;KatherineMurray
Eco-SpiritualityconnectsEarthcareandpastoralcarewiththeunderlyingbeliefthatwhenweconnectlovinglywiththeearth,oursharedharmonyandpeacehelpsbringaboutthepersonalandplanetarywholeness.ThiscourseisdesignedtosurveythecurrentthoughtinEarthcareandexploreourhistorical,philosophical,andreligiousunderpinningsofourrelationshipwiththeearth.
EasternMennoniteSeminary
Harrisonburg,Virginia,USA|http://www.emu.edu
CreationCareinScriptureandChurch;Dr.DorothyJeanWeaver
Thiscoursewillbeastudy(1)ofbiblicalperspectivesonthephysicalworld(i.e.,God’screation)thathumansinhabitandonthedivinemandateforhumanstocareforthisworldthatGodhascreated.Itwillbeastudy(2)ofthepracticalimplicationsofthisbiblicalcalltocreationcareforthepresentdaylifeofthechurch.Thecoursewillincludebothstudyofthebiblicalevidence—bothOldandNewTestament—whichaddressestheissuesofcreationcareandconsiderationofthethemeofcreationcareasfocusedthroughthelenses,eachinturn,ofthevarioustheologicaldisciplinesthatmakeuptheEasternMennoniteSeminarycurriculum.ThiscourseisopentopersonswithorwithoutpreviouscoursesinHebreworGreek.
FullerTheologicalSeminary
Pasadena,California,USA|http://www.fuller.edu
ChristianEthics(alsotaughtinSpanish)
ThisbasicintroductiontoethicsaimstodevelopasystematicwayofthinkingaboutChristianmorality,bringingbiblicallybasedconvictionstobearonimportantmoralproblems.Thecourseworksto
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integrateecologicalmattersthroughoutthecourse,with"environmentaltopics"accountingforaboutonethirdofthecourse.
CreationCareandtheSabbathEconomics;Dr.HakJoonLee
ThiscoursestudiesthetheologicalandethicalgroundsanddirectivesofcreationcareandSabbatheconomicsthatinformourpersonalandcorporateresponsibilityasthestewardsofGod’screation.Thestudyincludes1)ananalysisofthedetrimentalimpactofglobalcapitalismontheecologyand2)anexplorationofappropriatespiritualformation,communalpractices,andpublicpolicyproposalsofcreationcareandtheSabbatheconomicsinlocal,national,andglobalcontexts.
Jesus,theChurch,andViolence;Dr.TommyGivens
Thecourserelatesecologytoracialviolenceandoppression,biblicalhermeneutics,andothertopics.Aboutonequarterofthecourse'smaterialconcerns"environmentaltopics"broadlyconceived.
Garrett-EvangelicalTheologicalSeminary
Evanston,Illinois,USA|http://www.garrett.edu
EcologicalTheology:GodandCreationinTravail;Dr.TimothyEberhart
Thiscourseisasurveyofmajorfiguresinthefieldofecologicaltheologyoverthepasthalfcentury.Studentswillexaminethedevelopmentofcontemporarytheologicalreflectiononthepromises,dynamics,andsufferingsofGodandthecreationbyreadingprimarytextsfromadiversityofperspectives,includingfromLutheran/Reformed,Trinitarian,Feminist,Catholic,Liberation,Evangelical,Womanist,andProcesstheologies.
EthicsofHopeinanAgeofCrisis;Dr.TimothyEberhart
ThecontextinwhichtheGoodNewsofJesusChrististobelivedandproclaimedtodayismarkedbyanincreasingnumberofdistinctbutinterrelatedcrises.Environmentaldevastation.Economicinequality.Politicalcorruption.Financialindebtedness.Climaticdisruption.Culturaldisorientation.ItisclearthatseriousChristianresponsescanbedefinedneitherbynaïveoptimism,despairingcynicism,norwillfulignorance.ButwhatisthelivedwitnessofhopethatChristiansmightoffertheworld,asindividualsandcongregations,amidstthecrisisofthispresentage?Thiscoursedrawsuponarangeoftheologicalandcriticalperspectivesinseekingtoaffirmanethicsofhopethatisgroundedinthepromiseoftheresurrection,thehistoryoffaithfulstruggle,andthein-breakingenergiesofGod’snewcreation.
Food,Faith,andJustice:HolyCommunionfortheWholeCreation;Dr.TimothyEberhart
God’scalltoparticipateintheabundantlifeoflovingcommunionisgiventousintheformofamealinvitation:“Take,eat(Matt.26:26).“TasteandseethattheLordisgood”(Ps.34:8).Buthowarewetogathertogetherinholymealswhenthefoodweconsumeisboundupintheearth’sdegradationandtheexploitationofneighborsnearandfar?Thiscoursewillintegrateacriticaltheologyoffoodandagriculturewithpracticalencounterswiththeemergingholisticfoodeconomy(e.g.urbanorganicagriculture,communityfoodcooperatives,andecologicalgardendesign)intheChicagoarea.
MoralTheologyTopics:OikosofGod:EconomyandEcologyintheGlobalHousehold;Dr.TimothyEberhart
Thiscourseisanintroductiontotheologicalreflectiononeconomyandecologyinaglobalizedworld.
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TheGreekwordforhouseholdisoikos,whichmeansthewordsecology(oikos-logos,thestudiedknowledgeofourplanetaryhousehold),economy(oikos-nomos,themanagementofthehousehold),andecumenicity(oikou-menikos,anopennesstotheworldwidehousehold)allshareabasicorientationto“home.”Thereisgrowingawarenessthattheinterconnectedhouseholdsweinhabitareincreasinglymarked,notbythekindofsustainingrelationsonwhichhomelifedepends,butbyvariousformsofinjusticeanddegradation.Thereisalsoagrowingrecognitionthattheecologicalandeconomiccrisesfacingpeopleworldwidearemutuallyconstitutiveandthatsingular,disconnectedresponsesarethereforeinadequate.Thegoalofthiscourseistodrawupondiversetheologicalandethicalresourcesinthinkingcriticallyabouttheeconomicandecologicalcrisesfacingourcommonglobalhouseholdandconstructivelytowardamorecharitable,just,andsustainablefuture.
ResistingBiocide:EnvironmentalEthicsforDiscipleship;Dr.TimothyEberhart
TheenvironmentalcrisesfacinghumancommunitiesworldwidepresentahostofdifficultmoralquestionsfortheChristianlife.Theoverlappingproblemsofecologicaldegradation,resourcedepletion,climatedisruption,andmore–especiallyinrelationtothosealreadyvictimizedbypovertyandotherformsofoppression–requirecritical,systemicreflectionaswellastransformativechangeswithineachsphereofourpersonal,economic,ecclesial,andpubliclivestoday.Thiscoursewillsurveykeythinkersandthemeswithinthefieldofenvironmentalethics,examineproposalsforfaithfulChristianaction,andchallengestudentstoarticulateahopefulvisionfordiscipleshiptodaythataccountsnotonlyforthebreadthofsinandevilbutalsothedepthofGod’slovefortheworld.
GeorgeFoxEvangelicalSeminary
Portland,Oregon,USA|http://www.georgefox.edu/seminary
Eschatology,NewCreation,andCommunalEthicsI
ThiscourseaddressesNewTestamenttheologiesofeschatology,Trinitariancommunity,soteriology,andJesus’newkingdom.Byconsideringthehistoricalcurrentsofthesetheologies,studentswillidentifyhowthislegacyrelatestothecurrentstateoftheworld.StudentswillengagecommunalethicsandtheroleofthelocalChristianchurchinaddressingecologicalissues.
Eschatology,NewCreation,andCommunalEthicsII
Thiscourseisasecond-semestercontinuationofEschatology,NewCreation,andCommunalEthicsI,whichisarequiredprerequisiteforthiscourse.
IndigenousHistoryandMission(NorthAmerica)
ThiscourseprovidesexaminesthehistoryofChristianmissionamongIndigenouspeoples,currentIndigenouslifeandIndigenousspiritualitiesingeographicregionallyspecificstudiesthatconnecttobothglobalissuesandlocalcontext.Studentswillexploreissuessuchastheharmonyethic,buildingatheologyoftheland,indigenousreligiouspractices,andhowtheseallrelatetotheChristianfaith.
PovertyandRestorativeEarthkeeping
Thiscourseimmersesstudentsduringafive-dayretreatinasettingthatillustratestheintegralrelationshipsbetweenearthkeeping,globalsystems,andissuessuchracism,sexism,andpoverty.Studentswillencounterthetensionbetweenthedevastatingnatureoftheserelationshipsandthe
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potentialandhopeforrestorationofthecreatedorder.
SpiritualityandtheEarth
Offeredinaretreatformateveryothersummer,thiscourseexplorestherelationshipofthestudent'sspirituallifetothespiritualdisciplineofstewardship.Attentionwillbegiventostewardshipofselfandofresources,butaparticularfocuswillbemadeonthestewardshipofcreation.Theseminar(inanoutdoorsetting)involveslecture,discussion,silentandwrittenreflection,andsmallgroupinteraction.
TheologyandEthicoftheLand;Dr.RandyWoodley
Thiscourseimmersesstudentsinthenaturalworldduringafive-dayretreat.StudentswillabideinCreationandexperiencethebeautyandhopeofourimmanentGod.TheywillconsideraShalomandNativeAmericanunderstandingofthelandandtherelationshipbetweenscienceandfaith.Theywillengagecurrentissuessuchasagriculture,conservation,landuseandconsumptionofnaturalresources.
TheologyandStewardshipofCreationI
ThiscourseseekstowrestlewithOldTestamenttheologiesofcreation,stewardshipandtheroleofhumanityinthecreatedorder.StudentswillengagethehistoryanddevelopmentoftheseideaswithintheChurchandconsiderhowthislegacyrelatestothecurrentstateoftheworld.Theywillwritetheirowneco-theologyandcreateaspiritualpracticethatreflectsit.
TheologyandStewardshipofCreationII
Thiscourseisasecond-semestercontinuationofTheologyandStewardshipofCreationI,whichisarequiredprerequisiteforthiscourse.
Gordon-ConwellTheologicalSeminary
SouthHamilton,Massachusetts,USA|http://www.gordonconwell.edu
ChristianEthics&SocialIssues
Seekstodevelopthestudent’stheological-ethicalreflections,socialanalysis,andtypesofactionforministeringtocrucialsocialissues.Ourthree-stepapproachwillbe:1)clarification,2)conceptualization,and3)confrontation.Issuesinclude:urbanization,economicjustice,andenvironmentalethics.
TheGraduateTheologicalUnion
Berkeley,California,USA|http://www.cdsp.edu/
Theology,Economy,andSustainability;Dr.MarionGrau
Inthiscourse,wewillexaminetheintersectionsbetweentheology,economy,andsustainability.Creationcanbeconceptualizedasadivineeconomywithcomplexinteractionswhere'oikos'referstorelationsbothineconomyandecology.Infact,wewillbeunabletolivemoresustainablyonthisplanetwithoutfindingwaystobringthe'households'ofeconomyandecologyintogreatercohesion.Wewillexplorebiblicalandhistoricalresources,theologicalandinterreligiousresourcesfortheconstructionandimplementationofsustainabletheologiesandpractices.
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HarvardDivinitySchool
Cambridge,MassachusettsUSA|http://hds.harvard.edu/
IntroductiontoReligionandEcology;Dr.DanielMcKanan
Thiscoursewillexploretheintersectionbetweenreligioustraditionsandecologicalactivism,withspecialattentiontocurrentconversationsabout"ethicaleating."Wewillconsiderboththeresourcesthatreligioustraditionsprovidetoecologicalactivistsandthewaystheseactivistshavechallengesaspectsoftraditionalreligion.Thecoursewillalsofunctionasageneralintroductiontothemultiplewaysofknowingthatcomprisethescholarlystudyofreligion,withattentiontoscripturalinterpretation,history,ethnography,theology,ethics,andcomparativestudies.
GreenBuddhism:Faith,Ecology,andActivism;Dr.LamaWillaMiller
ThiscourseexaminesthegrowingmovementwithintheBuddhistcommunitytoaddresstheissueofenvironmentaldegradationandclimatechangethroughtheavenuesofBuddhistethics,theologicaldiscourse,andcommunityactivism.Theclasswillreadpassagesfromancienttextualsources,beginningwiththePaliBuddhistCanonandcontinuingintoBuddhism'sdiasporathatframenatureassacred,andthatvaluetheearthasavehicleofreligiousreflectionandpractice.WewillalsolookatmoderndiscoursesfromBuddhist-inspiredauthorsandteachersthatcallforactivism,andthosethatconsiderashiftfromananthropocentricreligiontonature-centricreligion.Theclasswilladdresstopicssuchastherelationshipbetweenconsumerculture,religionandthestateoftheenvironmentinthe21stCentury.
Religion,EcologyandHumanRights;Rev.DianeMoore,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
HebrewCollege
NewtonCentre,Massachusetts,USA|http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/rabbinical
JewishLivingCore2:Mo’edTalmudC
ThiscoursewillfocusonselectedsectionsfromTractateTa’anitoftheBabylonianTalmud.WewillfocusonissuesoftheJewishcalendar,NatureandTheology,communalresponsibilityandmourning.Wewillstudyclassicrabbinictextsandlaterresponsestothistext—bothtraditionalandcontemporaryacademic.Thiscourseisappropriateforstudentswithadvancedrabbinictextskills.
HebrewUnionCollege,NewYork
NewYork,NewYork,USA|http://www.huc.edu
JewishRootsofSustainableLiving;Dr.MichaelPitkowsky
Sustainablelivingischaracterizedbyaconcernfortheenvironment,strivingtohaveassmallanimpactaspossibleonnature,andusingtheminimalnumberofnaturalresourcesnecessary.Asustainableapproachtolivingisbaseduponcertainbeliefsabouttheimportanceofpreservingtheenvironmentandminimizingthehumanimpactonit.Thisspring2015coursewithDr.MichaelPitkowskywillexaminetheJewishrootsthatsupportasustainablelivinglifestyle.Studentswilllookatthetheological
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andtextualsourcesofJewishsustainableliving,beginningwithBiblicalliteratureandcontinuingthroughtomodernJewishthinkers,exploringhowdifferenttypesofJewishliteraturecanprovideguidancefortheconstructionofasustainablelifestyle.
HolyApostlesCollege
Cromwell,CT,USA|http://www.holyapostles.edu/
TheologyandScience,Dr.TomSheahenandDr.CarlaMaeStreeter
ThisonlinecourseexaminestherelationbetweenthedisciplinesandworldviewsofmodernscienceandChristiantheologywiththeaimofprovidingascientificallyinformed,theologicalunderstandingandappreciationofnatureasGod’sworkofcreation.
LexingtonTheologicalSeminary
Lexington,KY,USA|https://www.lextheo.edu/
Church,SocietyandtheEthicsofGlobalWarming;ProfessorChristyNewton
Thenaturalenvironmentsthatsustainlifeoneartharebuiltentirelyuponandwithinsocialrelationships.Andforthisimportantreason,bothchurchandsocietyareimplicatedinthecausesandconsequencesofglobalwarming.Inthiscourse,wewillconsiderquestionsaboutthefragilityandresiliencyoftheplanet,consumptionandtheglobalmarketempire,environmentaljusticeandenvironmentalracism,andtheimportanceofexercisingmoralagency.Wewillexaminetheethicalresponsibilitieswehavetoournaturalenvironmentsaspeopleoffaithandmembersofglobalsociety.Throughreadings,videos,discussionforums,onlinepresentations,andawritingproject,wewilldeepenourunderstandingofclimatechangefromthecontextoffaithandseektoreconciletheethicaldisconnectbetweenhumanandenvironmentalwell-being.
Consumed:EthicalTransactionsinConsumerCulture;ProfessorChristyNewton
Whetherconsideringfairtrade,goinggreen,orshoppingforthebestdealsatWal-Mart,thiscoursechallengesstudentstoconsidertheethicalandspiritualramificationsoflivedconsumerbehaviors.Wewillconsiderhowconsumerculturereflectsandreifieswidersociety,includingthelocalchurch.Andwewillconsiderourethicalresponsibilitiesasspiritualleadersinthisworldwhereshoppingispracticallysacramentalandrestraintisoftencondemnedassinful.Throughreadings,discussionforums,onlinepresentations,andacasestudy,wewilldevelopandapplyunderstandingsofsocialethicstoimportantethicalissuespresentedtousinconsumerculture.
SallieMcFague’sEnvironmentalTheology;Dr.EmilyAskew
Descriptionnotfound.
EnvironmentalTheology;Dr.EmilyAskew
Inher1993constructivetheologicaloffering,TheBodyofGod,environmentaltheologianSallieMcFagueasksustoimaginehowwewouldtreattheearthdifferentlyifweunderstoodittobeGod’sbody.Now,inthefaceofpotentiallydevastatingglobalclimatechange,threatstosensitiveecosystemsandchallengestothepurityofairandwaterwewillleaveforourchildren,churchesareactingmore
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intentionallytocareforthisSacredBody.Inthiscourse,studentswillreadofferingsfromscientists,Christianethicists,environmentaltheologiansandChristianenvironmentalactiviststhatmakeevidentourresponsibilitiestotheearthinthenameofGod.Fromthese,studentswillnotonlyleavethecoursewiththeologicaltoolstoaddressenvironmentalissues,butwithplansforhelpingtheirchurchesandagenciesbegintocreatenecessarychanges.
FlourishingTogether:CreationandtheHumanCommunity;Dr.RichardLowery
ThiscoursetakesacloselookatbiblicalthemesofsocialjusticeandcareforcreationthroughtheethicallensoftheEarthCharter,aninternationaldeclarationofprinciplesforsustainabledevelopment.Launchedin2000,theEarthCharterinitiativebuildsontheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightstoadvancethegoalsofecologicalprotection,eradicatingpoverty,buildingdemocracy,andpromotinghumanrights.Withtheseconcernsasourguide,wewillexploreimagesandthemesintheHebrewBiblethathighlightthemoralresponsibilityofthehumancommunitytocareforeachotherandfortheearth;thatillustratethetightconnectionbetweensocialjusticeandtheflourishingoftheland;andthatsketchinbold,broadstrokesthevisionofafutureworldofpeaceandsharedprosperity.Wewillaskhowtheseancientandmoderntextscanhelpthechurchreflecttheologicallyandactmorallyintheeraofglobalwarming.
ResourcesforMission:Stewardship;Prof.BruceBarkhauer
ThiscoursewillprovideabasicBiblical,theological,andpracticalintroductionintothespiritualdisciplineofstewardshipandprovidebestpracticeprinciplesforguidingthefinancialandfiduciaryresponsibilitiesofthepastoraschurchleader.
LutherSeminary
St.Paul,Minnesota,USA|http://www.luthersem.edu/
BibleandtheEnvironment;ProfessorKathrynSchifferdecker
Anexaminationofbiblicaltextsthatspeakofcreationandhumanity'splaceinit.Specialattentionispaidtothetopicofhumanvocationvis-a-viscreation,especiallyinlightofcontemporaryenvironmentalissues.
ReligiousEducationinRelationtoCreation
Astudyoftheeducationalissuesraisedbyemergingenvironmentalawareness,particularlyinrelationtoquestionsofstewardshipandjustice.Thiscoursefocusesontwoprimarycontexts,theruralandtheurban,consideringspecificexamplesofwaysinwhichChristianeducatorscansupportcongregationallearningandministrythatembracesecologicalliteracy.
Theology,Environment,andEthics;Rev.AlanPadgett
ThiscourseinvestigatesourcurrentecologicalcrisisinthelightofabiblicallyinformedChristianethic.ItisequallyastudyinaChristianethicalinterpretationofScriptureinthelightofourcurrentecologicalcrisis.AcasestudyapproachhelpstogroundashortintroductiontoecologyaswellasastudyofvariousmodelsforaChristianethicofcreationcare.Thefocusisonacriticaltheologicalreflectiononpraxisinapluralisticworldofmanyfaithsandnoneatall,butinwhichweshareacommon,growing
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crisis.
LutheranSchoolofTheology
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.lstc.edu
BiblicalPerspectivesonNature;Rev.Dr.BarbaraRossing&Dr.TheodoreHiebert
Theultimategoalofthiscourseistoconsideranewwayofthinkingaboutreligion,awaywhichtakesthenaturalworldseriously.Morespecifically,thegoalistoconsiderthisnewwayofthinkinginrelationtotheBible,andtoexaminewhatrolenatureplaysinbiblicalthought.Attheendofthecourse,wehopeallofuswillknowbetterhowtotakecreationseriouslyinourbiblicalinterpretation,inourlinkingoftheBibleandministry,andinourpracticeofministryitself.
BiomedicalEthicsinaMulticulturalWorld;Dr.RichardPerry
Thiscoursecriticallyexaminescontemporarybioethicalissuesfromamulticulturalperspective.Usingcasestudiesattentionwillbegiventotheapplicationofvariousbioethicalprinciplestoavarietyofissuesinbiomedicalethicsincludingbutnotlimitedtojusticeinhealthcare,geneticcounselingandscreening,environmentalinfluenceonpublichealth,humanexperimentation,genetics,euthanasia,endoflifeandothercontemporaryhealthproblems.
DusttoDust:RitualandTheologyofHumanEarthBoundedness;Dr.BenjaminStewart
SomeChristianfunerarypracticesembodyunitywiththeearth("earthtoearth,ashestoashes,dusttodust"),whileotherssuggestatrajectoryawayfromearth("setyourmindsonthingsthatareabove,notonthingsthatareonearth,"towarda"heavenlyhome").ThiscoursestudiesritualpracticesatdeathascentrallyembodyingconvictionsabouthumanrelationshipwiththeearthandwithGod.Thecoursetracesanumberofthemestowardtheirintersectionatfuneralrituals:theologyofthecross,incarnationandembodiment,ecologicaltheology,andliturgicaltheology.Thecourseespeciallyfocusesontheemergingnaturalburialmovement:placingitinhistoricalcontext,analyzingittheologically,andequippingcoursememberstobeleadersinarticulatingandintroducingitspracticesforthechurchandthewidercommunity."
EcologyandtheBible;Rev.Dr.ChilkuriVasanthaRao
ThepresentglobalecologicalcrisisisoftenallegedtobetheoutcomeoftheJudeo-ChristianunderstandingoftheHolyScriptures.ThiscallsstudentsoftheBibletoundertakeaseriousexegeticalstudy,especiallyofthePentateuchwithitsrich"LawCodes,"aswellasageneralinvestigationoftheBibleasawhole,inordertobeabletounderstandGod'sconcernforeverylivingbeingandpreservationofthewholecreatedorder.
Thecourseentailsclosestudyofbiblicaltexts–butdoingsoinaconversationthatembracesperspectivesofChristiansfromNorthAmerica,SouthAsiawithparticularreferencetoIndiaandotherpartsoftheworld.Henceitaimstoadvancestudents'competencyinboththeareasof"ReligiousHeritage–Scripture"and"CulturalContext".
EpicofCreation:Scientific,Biblical,andTheologicalPerspectivesonOurOrigins;Dr.GayleWoloschak
TheEpicofCreationinvitesscientistsandscholarsofreligiontopresenttheirprofessionalperspectivesonthescientific,biblical,andtheologicalstoriesoftheoriginsoftheuniverse,life,andhumanbeings.
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TheFutureofCreation;Dr.GayleWoloschak&Rev.Dr.BarbaraRossing
Thisinterdisciplinarycoursewillprepareseminarystudentstoofferinformedandengagedleadershipinresponsetoenvironmentalchallengesforthefuture.Thecourseincludesastrongscientificcomponent,withguestlecturersfromthesciencefacultiesoftheChicago-areauniversitiesandresearchcenters.Italsointegratestheologicalresponsestoscience–particularlyclimatechangescience–presentedbytheologyandbiblicalprofessorsfromlocalseminaries,inordertohelppreparestudentsmakeconnectionsbetweentheknowledgeofscienceandfaithtraditions.
Classdiscussionswillpreparestudentstopreachandteachontheology,ethicsandministryrelatedtoenvironmentalissues,andtocounselparishioners.Communityorganizationswillorientstudentstothecollaborativenetworkthatwillfacilitatecongregationalactionforenvironmentalministry.
ReligiousResponsestoEnvironmentalInjustice;Dr.BenjaminStewart
Thiscourseexploreshowvariousreligiouscommunitiesarerespondingtoenvironmentalinjustice.Thecoursebeginsbystudyingspecificlocalreligiouscommunitiesengagedincreationcareandenvironmentaljustice.Thesefaithcommunitiesthenserveasreferencepointsfromwhichthecoursetakesuplargerquestionsofeco-theologyandethics,publicreligiousleadership,andinterfaithworkforjustice.
WildernessTravelSeminartoHoldenVillage:LiturgyandtheCyclesofCreation;Dr.BenjaminStewart
HeldinJanuaryinaremoteLutheranretreatcenterintheGlacierPeakWildernessofWashington,thiscoursestudieshowdailyprayerandtheliturgicalyearrelatetotheecologicalcyclesoftheearth.Drawingonthefieldsofliturgicalstudies,ecotheology,andeducation;practicingacycleofdailyprayer;andspendingconsiderabletimeoutdoors,coursemembersdevelopskillsforinterpretingliturgyinanecologicalandmissionalera.
LutheranSeminaryProgramintheSouthwest
Columbia,SouthCarolina,USA|http://ltss.lr.edu/
EarthTheology:EnvironmentalPerspectivesonCreation,Redemption,andSpirituality;Dr.FayeSchott
Thiscoursewillinvestigatetherecenthistoryoftheologicalattentiontotheearthanditsecologicalsystems,humanimpactontheenvironment,andbiblicalandspiritualresourcesforaddressingthepresentcrisisofglobaldevelopmentandsustainability.
VisceralTheology;Dr.EliseoPérez-Álvarez
Biblical-historicalapproachtoeatablesanddrinkablesandtheroletheyhaveplayedinthetheologicaltask.Themenuincludes:DeusedensortheGodwhoeatsandfeeds;Theologyofthecrossandbread;Covenantvs.foodterrorism;TasteconquestthroughtheEucharist;Hospitalityovergastro-anomyandgastro-mania;Vegetarianism-femininityheresy;transubstantiationortrangenicization;Theliturgical-agriculturalcalendar;Gastronomicalspirituality;Culinarypredestination;Spicyheavenography;Themostexquisiteutopia:anopentable.
LutheranTheologicalSeminaryatGettysburg
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Gettysburg,Pennsylvania,USA|http://www.ltsg.edu
Environment&ReligioninNorthernAppalachia(ImmersionSeminar);Rev.Dr.GilsonWaldkoenig
NorthernAppalachiaishometodeeply-rootedlocalculturesinabeautifullandscape.Conflictsdefinedbyenvironmentalandeconomicissuesarefierceforbothcommunitiesandchurches.Thisseminarwillgivestudentsaninsidelookandanopportunitytostrategizefordealingwithconflictinandaroundministry.Theenvironmentalhistoryofthelandscape’suseandabuse,theshapeofhumanculturesexpressedbypeopleofdifferenttraditions,andthehistoryoftightlyheldreligiouspatterns,willframediscussionswithreligious,environmentalandindustrialleadersfromtheregion.ThecoursemeetsatLutherlyninButler,PA,andmakesdaytripsintheregion.
Ecology&Stewardship;Rev.Dr.GilsonWaldkoenig
ParticipationinGod’screationoffersrenewalinChristianpractice.Congregationsandotherministriesarediscoveringcost-savingenergyreductionandnewwaystofostercommunitythroughsustainabilitymeasuresandecologicalrestoration.Thiscoursebeginswithpracticalresponsestoenvironmentalchallengesandextendstospiritualityandpublictheologyrelatedtoenvironment.
EnvironmentalEthics&Faith;Rev.Dr.GilsonWaldkoenig
Fromchemicalspillstoatmosphericcarbonoverload,environmentalproblemsarecommonconcernsinglobalsociety.Howshallpeopleoffaithrespondtothetheological,pastoralandsocialjusticechallengesposedbyenvironmentalproblems?ThiscoursewillreadandanalyzearecentmonumentalstatementofreligiousenvironmentalethicsbyLutheranethicistLarryRasmussen,Earth-HonoringFaith:ReligiousEthicsinaNewKey;studytheprecedent-settingworkofLutherantheologianJosephSittlerinecologicaltheologyandethics;andrelateclassicalReformationandChristiantheologicalthemestocurrentresourcesonecologyandreligion,sothatparticipantsmayhonetheirtheologicalstanceforpreaching,teachingandpastoralministryinanenvironmentallytroubledworld.
LutheranTheologicalSeminaryandtheZygonCenter
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.zygoncenter.org
TheFutureofCreation:FoundationsforaJustandSustainableWorld;Rev.Dr.GayleWoloschak&Dr.DavidRhoads
Tolivefaithintoday’sworld,weneedtofacetoday’sproblems.Thiscoursewilladdressthechallengesthatenvironmentaldegradationposesforthenearfuture.Wefacenumerousecologicalcrises:climatechange,ozoneloss,overuseofnaturalresources,lossofspecies/ecosystems,proliferationofwaste,over-population,amongothers.Whatarethebasicscientificunderstandingsoftheseproblems?Howmuchofthisecologicalstateoftheworldisduetohumanactivity?Andhowcanthisscientificinformationserveasabasisforhumanstomakewisedecisionsaboutourfuture?
McCormickTheologicalSeminary
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.mccormick.edu
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Food:FromTableGracetothePoliticsofFoodDistribution;DeborahJ.Kapp
Throughafocusonurbanreligiousorganizations,thiscoursewillhelpstudentstoidentifythemultiplechallengesministersface(andtheapproachestheymightemploy)astheyrespondtoJesus’command,“Yougivethemsomethingtoeat”(Mk.6:37).Jesussaidthistohisdiscipleswhentheybecameanxiousaboutthehungerofthe5000peoplewhohadgatheredtohearJesus.Thedisciplesarenotthefirstorlastfolkstobeconcernedabouthowtofeedlargegroupswhoarewithoutaccesstothefoodtheyneed.Generalshaveworriedabouthowtofeedarmies.Peopleofcompassionhaveagonizedabouthowtoprovidefoodforvictimsoffamineornaturaldisasters.Leadersinurbancommunitieshavestruggledwiththechallengesofprovidingadequatefoodforthepeoplewhohavecrowdedintocities.
GlobalizationandFood;Dr.DeborahKapp&Dr.TheodoreHiebert
Perhapsmorethanothercontemporaryissues,globalizationpresentschallengestoChristianlife,raisingquestionsabouteverythingfromwhatwebuytohowwemakefinancialinvestments,fromourtreatmentofcreationtoourpoliticalinvolvement.And,tobesure,itraisesquestionsaboutwhatweeat.“Youarewhatyoueat,”itissometimessaid.Ifthat’strue,thenwearecitizensofaglobalizedworldinwhichwereapwhatwedonotsow,eatfromoneanother’stables,andshapeeachother’slivesinwaysbothhiddenandapparent.Throughfieldtrips,classreadingsanddiscussions,anddirectengagementwithruralandurbanpartners,thiscourseusesfoodasacasestudytounderstandsomeofthekeydynamicsofglobalizationandtodevelopfaithfulChristianresponsestothiscomplexcontext.
JobandhisModernInterpreters;TheodoreHiebert
TheaimofthiscourseistounderstandthebookofJobanditslastingsignificance.Inordertoaccomplishthisaim,thecoursewillincludetwoparts:astudyofthebookofJobinthecontextofthebiblicalworld,andanexaminationofresponsestoJobbycontemporarywriters.
MeadvilleLombardTheologicalSchool
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.meadville.edu/
TheBigBlueMarble:TheologyandGlobalization;Dr.MichaelHogue
First,asindicatedabove,globalizationincludesnotonlymaterialbutalsoculturaldimensions.Noteveryinterpreterofglobalizationacknowledgesthis,andevenforthosewhodo,theroleofreligionsincultureisoftendownplayed.Formanyscholars,andevenmoresoforthebroaderpublic,globalizationisusuallydescribedasaprincipallyeconomic-materialprocess.Thiscourseconstitutesanefforttounderstandglobalizationasmorethantheglobalinterconnectionandinterdependenceofmarketsandfinanceandtounderstandthematerialdimensionsofglobalizationaspartofamuchbroadersetofpatterns.
CosmosandEthos:ReligiousNaturalismandtheClimateCrisis;Dr.MichaelHogue
Thiscourseexploresreligiousnaturalism(RN)inrelationtotheclimatecrisisandclimatejustice.Wewillengagetheclimatecrisisasageophysicalandplanetaryreality,amoralphenomenon,areligiousconcern,asocialjusticetragedy,andaproblemofpoliticaleconomy.AprimarypurposeofthecourseisthustohelpstudentsdevelopanunderstandingofRNbyconsideringitnotonlyinphilosophical,theological,andscientificcontextsbutalsoasaresourceforcreativeresponsetocontemporarysocial,
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moralandpoliticalchallenges.
EcologyandTheology
Exploringtheinterconnectionsbetweenreligiousvalues,theologyandalifeofpractice,thiscoursefocusesoncongregationalandpersonalpracticesoffaith.Environmentalpracticeistheoccasionforlearningadisciplineandapproachofpracticeoffaithinacongregationalcontextandothercontexts.Topicsincludedevelopinganattitudeofpractice,concreteexamplesoffaithinpracticeatFaithinPlaceandothernon-profitsinChicago,andpracticalskillssuchasorganizinginthecongregation,andwritinggrantproposals.
EnvironmentalEthics:Bios,Anthropos,Theos;Dr.MichaelHogue
Forvariousreasons,thistimeinthehistoryoflifeisoneofunparalleledpromiseandperil.Ourincreasinghumancapacitytointervenewithinandtoalterthelargerworldoflifepresentsuswithgravepracticalchallenges.Whereinprevioushistoricaltimesthenaturalworldwasinterpretedasarelativelystablebackdroptohumanbehavior,contemporaryhumanefficacyisnowcapablenotonlyofradicallyalteringbutofpossiblydestroyingtheconditionsnecessarytosustainlife.
Further,newpossibilitiesingeneticscienceandtechnologymeanthathumanlifehascrossedamoralthresholdfrombeingnotonlyanagentbutalsoanobjectoftechnologicalchange.Life,humanandother-than-human,ismorevulnerablethaneverbefore.Amultitudeoftheologicalandethicalimplicationsattendtheseradicalshiftsinthescopeandpowerofhumanaction.Theprimaryaimofthiscourseistobringthegravityoftheseimplicationstovisibilityinorderbettertorespondtothem.
Globalization,Religion,Ethics;Dr.MichaelHogue
Thiscourseinterrogatestherelationsamongglobalization,religion,andethicsintwosteps,analyticandconstructive.Ourpurposesduringthesesessionsincludetheattempttounderstandwhether“globalization”issomething“newunderthesun,”perhapsalate-,hyper-,orpost-modernphenomenon.Understandingthiswillrequirethatsomeattentionbegiventothequestionofhow“globalization”andmodernityinterrelate.Soalsoitwillbeimportanttoconsidertheconstitutiveeconomicormaterialandculturaldynamicsof“globalization,”someofitsecologicalimpacts,andthewaysinwhichitgeneratesdifferentformsofsociallifeandmodesofthinking.Theunderlyinganalyticquestionthroughthispartofthecoursewillbethatofhowtheconceptsandformsof“religion”and“globalization”implicateand/or(re-)constituteoneanother.
MethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio
Delaware,Ohio,USA|http://www.mtso.edu/
ConnectionsinEcologyandReligiousEducation;Dr.TimothyVanMeter
Acourseexploringharmoniesanddissonancebetweenmodelsofreligiousandecologicaleducation.Itisdesignedforindividualswhoareseekingwaystointegrateecologicalissuesasanaspectoftheeducationallifeofavibrantcommunity.
DialoguesinFaithandScience
Thepurposeofthiscourseistoengageinmeaningfuldiscoursebetweenscienceandtheologyforthepurposeofdevelopingathoughtful,relevantfaithconversantwithscientificdiscoveryandprogress.
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Contemporarydiscoveriesinneuroscience,cosmology,anthropology,evolutionarytheory,geneticsandecologicalsciencesallofferopportunitiesforengagingunderstandingoffaith.TwoorthreescientificareaswillbechosenfordialoguewiththeChristianfaithtraditions.
EcologicalReligiousEducation;Dr.RandyLitchfield&Dr.TimothyVanMeter
Thiscourseexploresharmoniesanddissonancebetweenmodelsofreligiousandecologicaleducation.Itisdesignedforindividualswhoareseekingwaystointegrateecologicalissuesasanaspectoftheeducationallifeofavibrantcommunity.
Food,LandandFaithFormation;Dr.RandyLitchfield&Dr.TimothyVanMeter
Throughurbangardening,communitysupportedagriculture,farmer’smarketsorintentionalagrariancommunities,youngpeopleareconstructingnewrelationshipswithfood,land,andcommunity.Indoingso,theyareexploringunderstandingsoffaithandspiritualitythroughideasandmetaphorsreflectingtheircommitmentstocommunityandagrarianvalues.
PracticalTheologyandEcology;Dr.RandyLitchfield&Dr.TimothyVanMeter,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
ResistingBiocide:EnvironmentalEthicsforDiscipleship;Dr.RandyLitchfield&Dr.TimothyVanMeter
TheenvironmentalcrisesfacinghumancommunitiesworldwidepresentahostofdifficultmoralquestionsfortheChristianlife.Theoverlappingproblemsofecologicaldegradation,resourcedepletion,climatedisruption,andmore–especiallyinrelationtothosealreadyvictimizedbypovertyandotherformsofoppression–requirecritical,systemicreflectionaswellastransformativechangeswithineachsphereofourpersonal,economic,ecclesial,andpubliclivestoday.Thiscoursewillsurveykeythinkersandthemeswithinthefieldofenvironmentalethics,examineproposalsforfaithfulChristianaction,andchallengestudentstoarticulateahopefulvisionfordiscipleshiptodaythataccountsnotonlyforthebreadthofsinandevilbutalsothedepthofGod’slovefortheworld.
Worship,EcologyandSocialJustice;Dr.RandyLitchfield&Dr.TimothyVanMeter,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
NorthParkTheologicalSeminary
Chicago,Illinois,USA|http://www.northpark.edu/seminary
ThoughtofWendellBerry;Dr.JayPhelan&Dr.BrentLaytham
AnexplorationofBerry’swisdomthroughrepresentativereadinginhisfiction,poetryandessays.ThecourseengageskeyBerrianthemesandexploresthecompatibilityandcontributionofBerry’svisiontocontemporaryChristianlifeandthought.
WildernessandFaith;Dr.JayBruckner,Dr.MichelleClifton-Soderstrom,&Dr.PhilAnderson
AnoffsiteexperientialcoursebasedonsubstantialreadingandreflectionthatexploresthethemeofwildernessinrelationtotheBible,Christianhistory,theology,andspirituality,aswellastheAmericancontextofstewardshipandalandethic.SetintheIronRangeintheupperpeninsulaofMichigan;includesawildernessexperienceontheFlambeauRiverandlocaltrails.
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OblateSchoolofTheology
SanAntonio,Texas,USA|http://www.ost.edu/
EarthInsights:ANature-BasedChristianSpiritualityBuildingontheWorkofTeilharddeChardin
ThiscoursedrawsfromChristianTraditionandcontemporarysciencetoexploretheChristianjourney.Inthiscoursestudentswillreflectontherelevanceofdynamicsthatoccuratalllevelsofcreation(Cosmic,Earth,andHuman)andapplythemtotheChristianspiritualpath.TheworkofBrianSwimme,StevenChase,andBrennanHillsformthebackboneofthecourse.
PayneTheologicalSeminary
Wilberforce,Ohio,USA|http://www.payne.edu/
Eco-JusticeandtheChristianFaith;Rev.Dr.JanetParker
Thiscourseexplorescontemporaryworkineco-justicetheology,eco-feminism,NativeAmericanandthirdworldscholarship,andthesustainabilitymovement.Questionsconcerningtheplaceandroleofhumanbeingswithincreation,understandingsofGodandChrist,economicglobalization,conflictingusesofpubliclands,environmentalracism,classismandsexism,andthestrugglefornurturingsustainableandjustcommunitiesareconsidered.Theemphasisisuponconstructivetheologicalandethicalreflectionupontheglobalproblematicofenvironmentaldegradationandinjustice.
PrincetonTheologicalSeminary
Princeton,NewJersey,USA|http://www.ptsem.edu
TowardaTheologyofCreationandEnvironmentalResponsibilityCreationandEcology;Rev.WilliamStacyJohnson
Thiscoursedevelopsatheologyofcreationinresponsetotheurgencyoftheecologicalcrisis.SeekingtoproperlyunderstandtherelationshipofGod,humanity,andtheworld,itconsiderssuchissuesas:stewardshipoftheearth;debatesoverclimatechangeandsustainability;theinterplayofenvironmentalandsocialjustice.ItseekstounderstandtheseissuesthroughthelensofmajorthemesinChristiantheology(e.g.thewatercrisisandbaptismallife;thefoodcrisisinthelightoftheLord’sSupper,etc.).Thegoalistocultivateasenseofenvironmentalresponsibilityandtoexplorehowtolivemorefullyintotheconvictionthat“theearthistheLORD’sandallthatisinit.”(Psalm24:1)
ReconstructionistRabbinicalCollege
Wyncote,Pennsylvania,USA|http://www.rrc.edu
FoodJustice;RabbiMordechaiLiebling&Rev.KatieDay
Thiscoursewillexaminetheproduction,consumptionanddistributionoffoodandfood’sconnectiontoourphysical,emotionalandspirituallives.ThecoursewillexploretraditionalJewishandChristianteachingsaboutfoodinrelationshiptoeco-kashrutandcurrentfoodjusticeandsustainabilityissues.
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RabbisasActivistLeadersforEnvironmentalSustainabilityandJustice;RabbiMordechaiLiebling
Thecoursecombinestext,experientialexercises,andactivistinvolvement.ItcoversfundamentalteachingsonJudaismandtheenvironment,adeepeningofourpersonalconnectiontotheearth,andthebasicsofnonviolentdirectaction.Auniqueandinfluentialcomponentisactivism.Inthesemester,allmatriculatedstudentsarerequiredtodevoteatleast8hourstoanenvironmentalcampaign.
RegentCollege
Vancouver,BC,Canada|http://www.regent-college.edu
Food:Communion,Community,andCreation
Eatingisoneofthemostprofoundwayswearerelatedtoeachother,tothecreatedworld,andtoGod.WithintheframeworkofChristiantheology,considersomeofthebiological,ecological,psychological,aesthetic,spiritual,agricultural,andeconomicaspectsofwhat,why,andhowweeat.ThiscoursetakesplaceonGalianoIsland,andisofferedinpartnershipwithARochaCanada.
LivinginCreation:TheoryandPractice
Thepurposeofthiscourseis1)toexploretheBiblical,theological,andphilosophicalfoundationsforouractionsinandtowardsthecreatedworld(that’sthe“theory”part)and2)toconsidersomeofthewaysonemightbuildmoredeliberatelyonthosefoundationsinavarietyofareas:science,art,technology,“earthkeeping”,etc.(that’sthe“practice”part).Foundationalbeliefsaboutthenatureofthecosmos(usuallyunexplored)areauniversalhumantrait.ThepressingcontemporaryneedforChristianstothinkaboutthemcomesfromthreethings:first,thedeepdividebetweentheistic(ontheonehand)anda-theisticorpantheisticfoundationsforculture(ontheother);second,theincreasingcrisisofhumanrelationshiptocreation;third,thegenerallyshallowtreatmentgiventhedoctrineofcreationinmuchChristianthoughtandpractice,andawidespreaddifficultyinreconcilingitwithmuchmoredeeply-consideredtheologiesofredemption.
SaintPaulSeminarySchoolofDivinityatSaintThomasUniversity
St.Paul,Minnesota,USA|http://www.stthomas.edu/spssod/
PrinciplesofStewardshipandSustainability
Thiscoursewillprovidetheoccasiontoconsiderthecomplexissueof“environmentalstewardship”fromtheperspectivesoftraditionalCatholicthesesconcerningthemeaningofcreationandthestatusofthehumanpersonwithinit.SpecialemphasisisgiventotheThomisticcategoriesofnaturalphilosophyandtheology.Theseminarcoursewillincludecommonreadingstobediscussedateachclassinlightoffundamentalthemesdevelopedthroughoutthewhole.
SaintPaulSchoolofTheology
Leawood,Kansas,USA|http://www.spst.edu/
TheologyofGrowingandEating;Dr.ShannonJung
TheTheologyofGrowingandEatingisanexperientialandexperimentalcoursewhichwilluse
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traditionalmaterialssuchaslecturesandsmallgroupdiscussions;electronicorvisualmedia;andactualmanuallaborandreflectionontheseexperiencestodiscoverwhat(all)itmeansthathumanbeingseatandgrow.Thereareelementsofecology,ofattemptingtocommunicatewithourneighborhood,andalsoofministrypracticeinthecourse.
SanFranciscoTheologicalSeminary
SanAnselmo,California,USA|http://www.sfts.edu
EnvironmentalEthics;Dr.CarolRobb
AnintroductiontothedisciplineofChristianethics,andtotheliteratureofenvironmentalethics.Wewillapproachthequestionofhowtoactresponsiblyandecologicallyusingpublicpolicy,philosophical,andtheologicalperspectives.Thefocusissuethissemesteristhis:FOOD.
EnvironmentalEthics:FocusonBiodiversity;Dr.CarolRobb&Dr.MarilynMatevia,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
SantaClaraUniversity
SantaClara,California,USA|http://www.scu.edu/jst/
EnvironmentalJusticeintheCatholicImagination:TheCentralValley;Dr.KeithDouglassWarnerOFM
Thisclassinvestigatesthereligious,ethical,andsocialmeaningsofenvironmentaljustice.
Faith,Ethics&theBiodiversityCrisis;Dr.KeithDouglassWarnerOFM
ThepresentcollapseofEarth’sbiodiversityisamajorissuefacinghumansociety.Membersofallreligionsarerespondingaspartofthe“GreeningofReligions,”alsoknownasreligiousenvironmentalism,basedonreligiousenvironmentalethics.Aquarter-longresearchprojectdrivesourintellectualworkinthisclass.ThisclassinvestigatestheHowhavethereligionsoftheworldreinterpretedtheirtradition(orhowcouldthey)soastoplayaleadershiproleinconservationofbiodiversity.Thisquestionemergesfromyourinstructor’scuriosity,research,andteachingovermanyyears.Thisresearchquestionisbrokendownintodiscretetasks,withmilepoststhroughoutthequarter.
TheMoralVisionofCésarChavez;Dr.KeithDouglassWarnerOFM
ThiscoursepresentsthevocationofCésarChaveztoinvestigatesthedramaticchangeshavetakenplaceinourmodernagro-foodsystemoverthepastcentury.ChavezwasprofoundlyinfluencedbyaCatholicvisionofsociety,andthisplayedakeyroleininspiringhimtoorganizeMexicanfarmworkerstofightfortheirdignity.Headdressedhumanrights,racism,labororganizing,farmworkers’conditions,environmentalprotection,foodsafety,andfoodaccess;throughhismoralvisionandagencyhechallengedpeoplearoundtheworldtodothesame.ThiscoursewillprovideanoverviewofCatholicperspectivesonagriculture,food,andtheenvironment,butalsolabororganizingandimmigration,toexaminehowChavezwentaboutachievingthisvisionusingaspiritualityofnonviolence.Classassignmentswillprobehisspiritualandmoralvision,andexplorehowitis–orcouldbe–carriedforwardtoday.
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Spirituality&Sustainability,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
VocationalChallenge&theGreeningofReligions;Dr.KeithDouglassWarnerOFM
Wewillintensivelyexaminetheissueofglobalclimatedisruptionsincethisisthemostominousthreattosustainabilityefforts.Thecoursewillintroducetheconceptofclimatejustice,andstudentwillmakeaniMovieaboutaspiritualityapproachtothistopic.Thiscoursewilltacklethe“why”questions,suchas:whyshouldweconsiderfuturegenerationsinouractions?Whyshouldwere-thinkandre-designourenergyeconomy?
SeattleUniversitySchoolofTheologyandMinistry
Seattle,Washington,USA|http://www.seattleu.edu/stm/
EcologicalSpirituality;Dr.AlexandraKovats
Humankindinourdayfacesamoralchallengeneverbeforeencounteredbyourspecies.ItistoforgewaysoflivingthatEarthcansustainwhilealsobuildingsocialjusticebetweenandamongsocieties.ThomasBerryreferstobuildingsustainableEarth-humanrelationsastheGreatWorkofourera.Whensomethingnewisrequiredofhumankindsomethingnewisrequiredofreligion.Itistodiscoverhowreligioustraditionscancontributetothisgreatworkandthenbringthespiritualandmoralwisdomandotherresourcesofreligioustraditionstothispan-humangreatworkofourday.StudentsandprofessorinthiscoursewillexplorecollaborativelytheseresourceswithinChristiantraditions.Saiddifferently,wewillexplorepathwaysforshapingEarth-honoringfaithsandwaysoflivinginthecontextofthesocio-ecologicalcrisisfacinghumankindtoday.Participantswillprobetheconnectionsbetweenmoralanthropology,theologicalcosmology,faith,science,andcentraltheologicalconcepts.ThemethodologicallenswillbeChristianethics,andtheprimaryreligiouslenswillbeChristianities(plural).Thecoursewillapproachreligioustraditionswithahermeneuticofcritique,retrieval,andreconstruction.
SoutheasternBaptistTheologicalSeminary
WakeForest,NorthCarolina,USA|http://www.sbts.edu
ChristianEthicsandtheEnvironment
AstudyofbiblicalandtheologicalperspectivesiconoclasticcontroversyoftheProtestantReformation,importantProtestantvisualartistsandtheirwork,visualartandProtestantworship,andthehistoryofProtestantism,andtheriseofmodernvisualculture.
TorontoSchoolofTheology
EastToronto,Ontario,Canada|http://www.tst.edu/
SpiritualityandEcology:IntegrationandImplications;DennisPatrickO'Hara
ThecourseprovidesanexplorationofhowChristianityhasunderstoodtherelationshipamongGod,creation,humanityandspirituality,andhowthatunderstandinghascontributedtotheecologicalchallengeswecurrentlyfaceaswellascancontributetoahelpfulresponse.Thecoursebeginswithan
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overviewofourunderstandingofspiritualityandcreationduringthepatristic,medievalandreformationperiods,thenshiftstocontemporaryunderstandingsdrawingfromcurrentdiscussionsofChristology,creation-centredspirituality,eco-feminism,deepecology,andthehealingofnatureandthehealingofself.Methods:Lectures,discussions.Evaluation:reflectionpaper,integrationpaper,classparticipation,practicalintegration.
EcologyandtheWorldReligions;DarrenDias
Asresponsiblecitizensoftheworld,ecclesialministers,religiouseducatorsandtheologiansneedtounderstandreligiousviewpointssincereligiousfaithisasourceofmostworldviews,whichbothshapeandareshapedbyculture.ThiscourseisdesignedtoexplorethedialoguebetweenChristianityandotherworldreligions.Giventheurgencyanduniversalityofthreatstoenvironmentalwell-being,thiscoursewillexploredialoguethroughtherelationofreligionandecology.Emphasiswillbeplacedonhowtheadherentsofreligioustraditionsunderstandthemselvesandaddressissuesrelatedtoecologyandenvironmentalresponsibilityinourcontemporaryworld.
AnIntroductiontoEco-Theology;DennisPatrickO'Hara
UsingthewritingsofThomasBerry;theologianswhoworkwiththenewcosmology,thecourseprovidesanintroductiontoeco-theologyaswellasthewayseco-theologiansarearticulatingnewunderstandingsoftheologicalanthropology,revelation,Christology,pneumatology,sinandsalvation,andeschatology.Adultlearningmethods.Evaluation:participation,practicalintegration,reflectionpaperandintegrationpaper.
ApproachestoEcologicalEthics;DennisPatrickO'Hara
Thecoursewillconsiderissuesanddocumentsthatwillhelpthestudenttodevelopanunderstandingoftheecologicalcrisisaswellasethicalandtheologicalresponsestoit.Topicswillinclude:thenewcosmology;ecofeminism;thelimitationsofahuman-centredethics;issuesofeconomic,social,andgenderjustice;andenvironmental-humanhealthissues.
Eco-TheologyFaithandPractice;MaryGreggLindaRowell
Throughlecture,discussion,prayerandeco-praxis,courseparticipantswilldevelopasolidacademicfoundationineco-theology,skillstoanalyzecontemporarysocialandethicalissuesinecology,andanintegrationoftheology,spiritualityandpracticalapplicationsincludingorganicgardeningtosupporttheformationofChristianidentityandmissionintheworldtoday.
CreationCareintheCity;StehphenB.Scharper
Ecologicalconcernshavebeguntopermeateourcollectiveconsciousness.Rapidspeciesextinction,poisonedair,forestclear-cutting,ozonedepletion,globalclimatechange,"climatejustice"andtheimpactofclimate"chaos"onvulnerablecommunities,allweighheavilyonourpersonal,intellectual,andspirituallives.Christiancommunitiesareincreasinglyrealizingthattheirfaithandoutreachmustsomehowspeaktoourpresentecologicalcrisisiftheyaretoremainvital,andiftheyaretoremainresponsible,faithful,andrelevantamidsttheseprofoundthreatstotheflourishingofcreation.Thiscourseexamineshowreligiousandspiritualconcernsinterfacewithcontemporaryenvironmentalissues.Whileintroducingstudentstoconcernsanddebatesinenvironmentalethicsandecologicaltheology,thecoursepaysparticularattentiontothechallengesposedwithinaCanadianpost-industrialcontextsuchasHamilton,Ontario.Inrecentyears,agrowingsocialandecologicalawareness
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hasbeenemerginginHamilton,withARocharecentlyopeningaministrythere,urbanagriculturegroups(e.g.VictoryGardens)sproutingup,andchurchinvolvementintheTrueCitymovement.Thiscourseproposestointerfacewithsuchgroups,includingguestpresentationsfromtheseorganizationsaswellassitevisits.Throughsuchinteraction,aswellasreadings,films,classdiscussions,andcourseassignments,avarietyofChristianresponsestoourpresentecologicalandsocialchallengeswillbeprobed,includingbiblicalandtheologicalnotionsofstewardshipandcreationcare.AswellChristianapproachestoenvironmentalracism,urbanandcommunitysupportedagriculture,andthenexusbetweentheoptionforthepoorandtheoptionfortheearthwillbeaddressed.
Ethics,Animals,andChristianTheology;JohnBerkman
Inthelastfortyyearsethicalissuesaroundthecareandtreatmentofnon-humananimalshassteadilygrownasaconcernintheology.Whileformuchofthistimeitwasconsideredatbesta"marginal"issue,itisnowoneofthemajorconcernsinenvironmentalethics.Thiscoursewillexaminethemajorfiguresinthedevelopmentof"animaltheology"inProtestantandCatholictheology.ItwillalsolookbacktoChristianScriptureandclassicalfiguresintheChristiantradition,andraisequestionsastowhether,andifsotowhatextent,thedevelopmentof"animaltheology"iseitheradeparturefromChristiantraditionand/oradevelopmentwithinit.Issuesinthecoursewillincludeissuessuchasintensiveagriculture(factoryfarming),thegeneticmodificationofanimals,zoos,pet,vegetarianismandveganism,andavarietyofotherissuesthatarisefromhumaninteractionwithorconcernforthewell-beingofnon-humananimals.
ChristianityandtheEcologicalCrisis;TBA
”Theattitudestosavetheenvironmentshouldbeimbuedwithavisionofthesacred.”—DavidSuzukiattheGlobalForumoftheUnitedNationsConferenceontheEnvironmentandDevelopment,RiodeJaneiro,5June,1992
CriticsoftenblameChristianculture,andsometimesrightly,foreitherignoringorcontributingtotheglobalecologicalcrisis.ThiscoursewillexaminesomeChristianresponsestotheecologicalcrisisthatcontestthischaracterization.TheseincludeclaimsthattheresponsibilityfortheglobalecologicalcrisisiscomplexandmultifacetedaswellasargumentsthatChristianitycanresistandundotheattitudesthathelpedcreatethecrisis.Weshallexploreagrarianessays,ecologicaltheology,andinternationalinitiativesonecologicalactivities.Wemayalsovisitafarmwhoseinhabitantsintegratetheirfaithandtheirlifestyle.Inthisdiscussion-intensiveseminar,participantswillconsiderwhatroleChristianfaithcanandshouldplayinastrongenvironmentalethic.
TruettTheologicalSeminary–Baylor
Waco,Texas,USA|https://www.baylor.edu/truett/
WendellBerry:Creation,Stewardship,andSpiritualLife;Dr.RRobertCreech
InthiscourseaspecialtopicrelatedtoChristianspiritualitywillbeexploredinafocusedandintensiveway.Thetopicsvaryfromsemestertosemesterandstudentsmaytakethiscoursemorethanonceastopicschange.E.g.,onesemester'sseminarinvolvedacareful,charitable,andcriticalreadingofselectionsofWendellBerry'sessays,poetry,andfiction,seekingtounderstandtheperspectiveofhisnewagrarianthoughtanditsimplicationsforcreationcare,community,spirituallife,andministry.
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UnionSeminaryandPresbyterianSchoolofChristianEducation(RichmondCampus)
Richmond,Virginia,USA|http://www.upsem.edu/
EcologyandHope;Dr.HenrySimmons,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
UnionTheologicalSeminaryoftheCityofNewYork
NewYorkCity,NewYork,USA|https://utsnyc.edu/
IndigenousVoicesonColonization,EcologyandSpirituality;SU125;KarennaGoreAswestriveforinterfaithunderstanding,especiallyinthecontextoftheglobalclimatecrisis,itisespeciallyimportanttorecognizetheindigenousreligioustraditionsoftherightfulinhabitantsofNorthAmerica.Thesetraditionshaveagreatdealtoteachusabouttherelationshipbetweensocialinjustice,includingsettler-colonialismandlandtheft,andenvironmentaldegradation;theyalsoinvolvesignificantcritiquesofChristianreligiousecology.ThiscoursewillincludereadingsfromavarietyofdiverseNativeAmericanandFirstNationscultures,aswellasstudentinterrogationsoftheirowntraditions.ThecoursewillbesupervisedandcuratedbyTiokasinGhosthorseofFirstVoicesIndigenousRadioandotherNativeAmericanfriendsoftheCenterforEarthEthics.
Eco-FeminismandEarthSpiritualityaroundtheWorld;Dr.ChungHyunKyungandTheCenterforEarthEthics
Thiscourseexaminestheorigins,development,content,andcriticalissuesofvariousformsofeco-feminismandearthspiritualitiesaroundtheworld.Engagementwithimportantoral,written,andvisualtexts.Visitationanddiscussionwithlocalandinternationalactivistswillbearranged.Wewillalsorediscoverandpracticetheritualsofearthspirituality.
IdolMeatandVegetables:TowardsaNewTestamentTheologyofFood;Dr.BrigitteKahl;SU190:TopicsinMinistryandNT322Ourrelationshiptofoodasbasicmeansofsustenancetodayisdeeplytroubledonmultiplepersonalandsocietal,biologicalandspirituallevels.Conflictsabout'clean'foodandsustainableeatingrangeprominentlyinbothTestaments—canwereadthemwithfresheyesinlightofourowneatingdisorders?Canwere-learnfromMoses,Jesus,Paulhowtocookandeatwitha'tasteofheaven'?ConductedincollaborationwiththeUnionFoodLab,EdibleChurchyardandEco-Caucus,thecoursecontainsapracticalcomponentofcookingandeatingtogether.BeyondGDP:Ethics,SpiritualityandtheNewUNDevelopment;KarennaGoreThiscourseexploreswhatdevelopmentistrulyfor,reviewingthetrajectoryofdevelopmentpolicyintheUnitedNationscontext,examiningtheimplicationsandconsequencesoftheconventionaluseofGDP,and51thinkingtogetheraboutthewaysthatethicalandspiritualtraditionscanhelpcreateabetterglobalsystem.InSeptember,apost-2015UNdevelopmentagendawillbeadopted,focusedonsustainabledevelopmentgoals.Ethicalandspiritualperspectivesprovideguidanceforthenew
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measuresneededtosupportavisionofsocietyinwhicheveryhumanbeingcanflourishandbearesponsiblestewardofthenaturalworld.
VancouverSchoolofTheology
Vancouver,BritishColumbia,Canada|http://www.vst.edu
ClimateChangeandChristianFaith;Dr.SallieMcFague
Scientistsnowsay“unequivocally”thatglobalwarmingishereandtheyhave“veryhighconfidence”thathumanactivityisforcinguptheearth’saveragetemperature(IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,2007).Climatechangeisthequintessentialissueofourtime,sinceitaffectsallaspectsofplanetarylife.Thetwinissuesofthedeteriorationofourenvironmentandtheimpoverishmentofitscreatures—theissuesofsustainabilityanddistributivejustice—joininclimatechange.Itisaneconomic,social,biological,medical,legal,educational,moral—andtheological—issue.ItsetsthecontextwithinwhichChristiantheologyneedstobedeconstructedandreconstructedforourtime.Morespecifically,theissueofclimatechangeshouldserveasamajorfocusforreconsideringthedoctrinesofChristianfaith:revelationandcreation,humannature,God,JesusChrist,sinandsalvation,theHolySpirit,discipleship,sacramentsandchurch,andhope.
WakeForestUniversitySchoolofDivinity
WinstonSalem,NorthCarolina,USA|http://divinity.wfu.edu
ContemporaryChristianSocialEthics;ProfessorKevinJung
Thiscourseexplorescontemporaryethicalissuesthathavewidesocial,political,andreligioussignificance.Theissuesincludehealthcare,environment,immigration,sexandmarriage,abortion,euthanasia,andcriminaljustice.Inordertoproperlyunderstandtheissues,wewillexamineargumentsofvariouskinds–philosophical,sociological,political,economic,andtheological,astheyareoftenheardinpublicdiscussion.Inparticular,wewillpaycloseattentiontothewaysinwhichtheologicaldiscoursemaymakecontributiontoourmoralreflection.
Faith,FoodJustice,andLocalCommunities;ProfessorRev.MarkJensen
Questionsoffoodaccesshavebecomeprevalentinmanydimensionsofpublicandcommunallife.Researchershavediscoveredwaysto“track”foodaccessincommunitiesandneighborhoods.Congregationsandnot-for-profitsaredevelopingvariedprogrammaticresponsestoissuesoffoodaccessintheircommunities.Thiscourseexploresissuesoffoodaccess,foodjustice,andfaithusinginsightsandtoolsbothfromresearchsciencesandtheology.Onecoursegoalistoincreasestudentawarenessofthequestionsbeingposedbyresearchscientists,theologicaleducators,andfaithcommunities.Asecondcoursegoalistoequipstudentswithpracticalandreflectivetoolsforeffectivelyleadingfaithcommunitiestothinktheologicallyaboutandrespondeffectivelytothispressingpublicissue.
Field,Table,Communion:FoodandtheWorkofMinistry;Dr.FredBahnson
Anexplorationoffoodthroughscripturalandtheologicallenses.Studentswilllearntorecognizethedifferencebetweenhealthyanddestructivefarmingpractices.Studentsexaminetheriseoffaith-based
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foodprojectsinAmericaandaroundtheworld.Thecourselooksatwhyhungerandobesityareflipsidesofthesamecoinandconsidershowthechurchshouldrespondtothem.
ALanguagethatcanMakeusWhole:ReadingandWritingEnvironmentalLiterature;Dr.FredBahnson
Howcanstorieshelpusregainasenseoftheworldasholy,mysterious,andworthyofourcare?Howcanlanguage,especiallyasit’susedbypeopleoffaithandpeoplecalledenvironmentalists,beusedtohealandmendwhatisdailybeingtornasunder?Coulditbethatwhatweneednowinthistimeofclimatechangeandfoodinsecurityisnotmoreinformation,butbetterstories?JoinusaswritersJanisseRayandFredBahnsontalkabouttheirwork,whichcombinesarootedspiritualitywithacommitmenttosocialchange,andhowstoriescaninspirepeopletocarefortheirwatersheds,foodsheds,andthepeoplewhoinhabitthem.
ThrivingNourishment:ChristianSpiritualPracticesandFood;Dr.NancyS.Wiens
Whateverwepracticeshapesourlivesfromtheminutestlevelswithinahumanbeingtothegreatestmacrolevelsofcultureandnature.Christianspiritualitystudiesdaily,livedexperiencethroughthelensofGod’sincarnateself-revelation.ThiscourseexplorespersonalandcorporateChristianspiritualpractices,asdailywaystocontributetothrivingsocialandecologicalsystems,specificallythehuman-naturerelationshipcalledfood.ItdelvesintotheinsightsofChristianspiritualityindialoguewiththreenaturalsciencesforthepurposeofinvitingstudentstoknowthemselvesasNature,ascreatedco-creators,andasGod’sBeloved;andtodevelopconsciouslifepracticesthatnourishtheirrelationshipwiththedivine,themselves,andtheirneighbors,bothhumanandnatural,andthatcreatemoreredemptivefoodsystemswhereGod’sshalombecomesvisibleforahungryworld.
DailyBread:Food,Faith,Mercy,andJustice;ProfessorRev.MarkJensen
ThiscourseservesasanintroductionandfoundationforWFUSD’sconcentrationinFood,Faith,andReligiousLeadership.Itutilizesaninterdisciplinaryapproachtoexplore(primarilyChristian)theologicalperspectivesonfoodandhowindividualsandcongregationsengageissuesinlocalandglobalcommunitiesrelatedtofood.Facultyandotherguestswillofferperspectivesandresourcesfromavarietyoftheologicaldisciplines,andcommunitymembersinvolvedintheintersectionsoffoodandfaithwillembodymodelsofactionandengagement.
Food,Faith,andHealth:NavigatingtheIntersectionsinCommunity;ProfessorRev.MarkJensen
ThiscourseisrequiredforstudentspursuingeitherconcentrationinWell-BeingandReligiousLeadership(FoodandFaithorFaithandHealth).Itseekstodevelopleadershipskillsapplicabletoeithercongregationalornot-for-profitministries.Itutilizesinterdisciplinaryconceptuallensesandmethodstointroduceparticipantstofoodsystemsandhealthsystemsasoverlapping"loci"forunderstandingbrokennessandcultivatingshalomincommunity.Studentswillinteractwithcommunityleaders,localdata,andfaith-basedinitiativesworkingattheseintersections.
WartburgTheologicalSeminary
Dubuque,Iowa,USA|http://www.wartburgseminary.edu
Ethics,Environment,andDevelopment;Rev.Dr.DuaneLarson
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Thiscoursewilldirectsystematictheologicalandpracticalreflectiontowardenvironmentalissuesandsustainabletechnologiesfordevelopment.Further,thecoursewillexploreandsuggestsolutionsforethicalproblemsrelatedtoeconomicglobalization,southernhemispheredevelopmentandthehealthoftheenvironmentfromglobalandlocalperspectives.Readings,presentations,andbriefpaperswillfirstacquaintuswiththetheological,ethical,economic,anddevelopmentalissuesregardingthepreservationof“thecreation.”
WesleyTheologicalSeminary
Washington,DC,USA|http://www.wesleyseminary.edu
TheChurchandtheEcologicalCrisis;Dr.GregHitzhusen&Dr.BethNorcross
Churchleadersaroundtheworldarecallinguponthefaithfultoaddressthemoraldimensionsofecologicaldegradation,andagrowingcommunityoftheologiansclaimsthatthedestructionoftheearthisthe“centralmoralimperativeofourtimes.”Accordingly,thiscourseseekstoexploretheroleofthechurchinaddressingecologicalconcerns,andtoequippastorsandotherChristianleaderswiththetheological,spiritual,andpracticaltoolstheywillneedtoleadtheircongregationsinfaithfullyrespondingtothismoralimperative.
GreeningCongregations;Dr.BethNorcross
Inatimeofincreasinguncertaintyregardingthehealthofourplanet,pastorsandchurchleadersneedthetheologicalandpracticalskillstoleadtheircongregationsinrespondingtotheecologicalchallenge.Thiscourseoffersanoverviewofthetheologicalandspiritualbackgroundregardingourpersonalandcorporateresponsibilitytobestewardsofcreation,thenemphasizestheverypracticalwaysthatourstewardshipcommitmentcanbecarriedoutinthelocalchurchsetting.
Liturgics:EcologyandWorship;Dr.JosephBush
Thiscoursebringsanecologicalhermeneutictobearontextsandpracticesusedinworship.Theseareexaminedforwaysinwhichnatureispicturedaspresentorabsent,participatingorpassive.ParticularattentionisgiventotheseasonssurroundingChristmasandEasterandimplicationsofecologicallyinformedworshipforChristology.
SpiritualityinNature;Dr.BethNorcross
Throughthestudyofspiritualpracticeandecology,studentswillgrowintheirunderstandingofhowChristianscanrelatemoreintimatelyandharmoniouslywiththecreationandwiththeCreator.On-the-groundstudyandexperienceofourlocalChesapeakeBaywatershedwillprovideopportunitiestogettoknow,delightin,andhavecompassionfor,allofourneighbors,fromtheblackbearswholiveintheheadwaters,totheoysterfarmerswhocalltheestuaryhome.Opportunitiesforspiritualawakeningandhealingforhumansaswellasthelocalnaturalsystemswillbeexplored.
YaleDivinitySchool
NewHaven,Connecticut,USA|http://divinity.yale.edu
IntroductiontoReligionandEcology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
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Thissix-weekhybridcourseintroducesthenewlyemergingfieldofreligionandecologyandtracesitsdevelopmentoverthepastseveraldecades.Itexploreshumanrelationstothenaturalworldasdifferentiatedinreligiousandculturaltraditions.Inparticular,itinvestigatesthesymbolicandlivedexpressionsoftheseinterconnectionsindiversereligioustexts,ethics,andpractices.Inaddition,thecoursedrawsonthescientificfieldofecologyforanunderstandingofthedynamicprocessesofEarth’secosystems.Thecourseexploresparalleldevelopmentsinhuman-Earthrelationsdefinedasreligiousecologies.Similarly,itidentifiesnarrativesthatorienthumanstothecosmos,namely,religiouscosmologies.
WesternReligionsandEcology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
Thissix-weekhybridcourseexploresviewsofnatureintheAbrahamicreligionsofJudaism,Christianity,andIslam.Studentsexaminehistoricalexamplesofhuman-Earthinteractionsexpressedinscriptures,traditions,andritualpractices.Inparticular,theyexplorethemeaningof“dominion”inJudaism,“stewardship”inChristianity,and“trusteeship”inIslam.Havingretrievedtheseexamples,theyevaluatetheminlightofpresentenvironmentalinsightsandchallenges.Studentsalsoexplorecontemporaryexamplesofhowthesereligionsareengagedinenvironmentalprojectswithintheirdifferentcommunities.InthesewaysstudentscometoreflectuponvaluesinherentinthesereligionsthathavehelpedtoshapeandinformculturalinteractionswithnatureintheWest.
ChristianityandEcology;MatthewRiley
ThiscourseexploresthewaysinwhichChristianityisrespondingtoenvironmentaldegradationfromaninterdisciplinaryperspective.Inthiscourse,wewilldrawuponinsightsfromtheology,ethics,thehistoryofreligion,thesociologyofreligion,andphilosophy.WhilewewillexaminetherolethatreligiousideasandvaluesplayinshapingChristianattitudesandactionstowardstheenvironment,wewillalsoconsiderthelived-experiencesofChristiansfacingenvironmentalproblems.StudentswillbeintroducedtothemajortheologiesandstrategiesforactionthatChristiansarecreatingwhilesimultaneouslyassessingtheeffectivenessofsuchstrategiesandexaminingthegrowthofpragmatic,on-the-groundresponses.ThisisintendedtobeanintroductiontoabroadspectrumofissuesresidingattheintersectionofChristianityandecology.
ChristianityandEnvironmentalEthics;MatthewRiley
ThepurposeofthiscourseistoprovideanintroductiontocorequestionsandmoralframeworksinenvironmentalethicsastheyrelatetoChristianity.Thiscoursewillexplorehowscholars,activists,andreligiousleadershavecreatedandrefinedChristianresponsestoenvironmentalproblems.Inordertodevelopadeeperunderstandingofnotonlythepromiseofenvironmentalethics,butalsoitsefficacyandtheoreticalunderpinnings,thiscourseinvitesstudentstocriticallyassesstheeffectivenessofthesestrategiesandtobeanalyticalintheexaminationofproposedsolutions.Moreover,studentsinthiscoursewillexplorehowvariousethicsandworldviewsarosehistoricallyinconversationwithenvironmentalphilosophyandinresponsetocontemporaryecologicalandtheologicalconcerns.Specialattentionwillbegiventounderstanding,criticallyassessing,andapplyingthefundamentalmethodologythatundergirdsenvironmentalethicsasreadthroughthelensofChristiantheologyandreligiousmoralreasoning.
EastAsianReligionsandEcology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
Thissix-weekhybridcourseexploresviewsofnatureintheEastAsianreligionsofConfucianism,
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Daoism,andBuddhism.Studentsexaminehistoricalexamplesofhuman-Earthinteractionsexpressedinscriptures,traditions,andritualpractices.Inparticular,theyexplorethemeaningof“harmony”inConfucianism,“theWay”inDaoism,and“interdependence”inBuddhism.Havingretrievedtheseexamples,theyevaluatetheminlightofpresentenvironmentalinsightsandchallenges.Studentsalsoexplorecontemporaryexamplesofhowthesereligionsareengagedinenvironmentalprojectswithintheirdifferentcommunities.InthesewaysstudentscometoreflectuponvaluesinherentinthesereligionsthathavehelpedtoshapeandinformculturalinteractionswithnatureinEastAsia.
SouthAsianReligionsandEcology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim,Nocoursedescriptionfound.
IndigenousReligionsandEcology;JohnGrimandMaryEvelynTucker
Thiscourseexploreshowparticularindigenouspeoplesrelatetolocalbioregionsandbiodiversity.Openingwithanexaminationofsuchtermsasindigenous,religion,andecology,thecourseinvestigatesreligiousstudiesandethnographyrelatedtosmall-scalesocietiesandthemanywaysinwhichtheyrelatetolocalbioregionsandbiodiversity.Thecourseexaminesindigenousethnicdiversityandculturalrelationshipstoplace,andthewaysvaluesassociatedwithphysicalplacesarearticulatedinsymbols,myths,rituals,andotherembodiedpractices.Theemphasisonplaceandreligiousecologyinthiscourseillustrateswhatindigenouspeoplescouldbringtostudiesinenvironmentalculture.Finally,thiscoursenecessarilyinvolvesquestionsofenvironmentaljustice,namely,theimpositionofenvironmentallydamagingprojectsonapeoplewhosevoiceindecisionmakingisdiminishedoreliminated.
AmericanIndianReligionsandEcology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
ThiscoursefocusesontheNorthAmericancontinentfromthestandpointofreligionandecology.Acultural-historicalmethodisalsousedinconjunctionwithcomparative-thematicandworldviewapproaches.Theseapproachesemphasizeembodiedknowledgeasawayofunderstandingnativecontinuitiesinrelationshipwithbioregionsovertime.ComparisonsarealsodrawnbetweenNativeAmericantraditions,andtheconceptof“lifeway”isdevelopedascentraltothecourse.Inhighlightingindigenouswaysofknowing,thecoursefocusesonconceptualmetaphorsofsharing,holism,reciprocity,andpersonhood.Thesemodesofindigenousmetaphoricthoughtareexaminedintermsofdiverseritualsandoralstatementsdescribingthenaturalworld.
Law,Environment,andReligion:ACommunionofSubjects;JohnGrim,DouglasA.Kysar,andMaryEvelynTucker
Tounderstandandappreciatetheenvironmentrequiresexpertisefrommultipleintellectualtraditions,includinghistory,religion,philosophy,anthropology,aesthetics,economics,politicalscience,andlegalstudies.Thiscoursefocusesonthescholarshipandpracticeofleadingfiguresworkingattheintersectionoflaw,environment,andreligion,whowillbebroughttocampustoparticipateinadiscussionseriesthatformsthecoreofthecourse.Inpreparationforthesevisits,teamsofstudentsareassignedtostudydeeplythewritingandactionsofadesignatedspeaker.Classsessionsduringthispreparatoryphaseresembleatraditionalgraduateseminar,withreadingsanddiscussiondesignedtostimulateengagementwiththemostchallengingandvitalquestionsfacingthe“communion”oflaw,environment,andreligion.Thecentralactivityisanin-depthinterviewledbymembersofthestudentteam.OtherstudentsconductapodcastinterviewwiththespeakeratYale’saudiorecordingstudio;thesepodcastinterviews,whichareintendedtoengagethespeakerinamorepersonalconversation
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abouthisorherlifehistory,values,andworldviews,willbepostedonYale’siTunesUniversitysite.Oneoftheconceitsoftheacademyisoftenthatsuchsubjectiveelementshavelittlebearingonone’sintellectualwork.Asaresult,toolittleattentionispaidwithintheuniversitytotheroleoffamily,community,religion,andothercriticalbiographicalfactorsinshapingone’sideas.
AmericanEnvironmentalHistoryandValues;JohnGrimandMaryEvelynTucker
Thepurposeofthiscourseistoprovideanoverviewofmajorfigures,ideas,andinstitutionsinAmericanenvironmentalism.ThecourseexploresthedevelopmentofenvironmentalawarenessinAmericaasdistincthistoricalstrandswithdiverseethicalconcerns.ItbeginswithanexaminationofNativeAmericanperspectivesonlandandbiodiversity.WethenfocusonwritingsfromThoreauandEmersontoexploreearlyAmericanvoicesinthediscourseon"nature."Toinvestigatetheemergenceofconservationandforestmanagement,readingsareselectedfromPinchot,Muir,andLeopold.Thebeginningsofurbanandparkplanningareconsideredinrelationtothesepositionsonthemanagementofnature.Next,theenvironmentalmovementsfromthe1960sonwardaresurveyedinreadingsfromthesocialsciencesandhumanities.Wethenexplorethemajordebatesinenvironmentalethicsandthebroaderreachforglobalethics.Writingscelebratingbiodiversityareexaminedalongwiththeemergenceofconservationbiologyasanexampleofengagedenvironmentalscholarship.Finally,neweffortstowidentheinterdisciplinaryapproachestowardenvironmentalissuesareintroducedininvestigatingworldreligionsandecologyaswellascosmologyandecology.
Religion,Ecology,andCosmology;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
Formanyyearsscience,engineering,policy,law,andeconomicsalonewereconsideredindispensableforunderstandingandresolvingenvironmentalproblems.Wenowhaveabundantknowledgefromthesedisciplinesaboutenvironmentalissues,butstillnotsufficientwilltoengageinlong-termchangefortheflourishingoftheEarthcommunity.Thus,thereisagrowingrealizationthatreligion,spirituality,ethics,andvaluescanmakeimportantcontributions,incollaborationwithscience,toaddresscomplexecologicalissues.Wewillexaminethosecontributions,acknowledgingboththeproblemsandpromiseofreligions.Thiscourseinreligion,ecology,andcosmologyinvolvesanexplorationoftheworld'sreligionswithinthehorizonofinterdependentlifeandthecosmos.Inparticular,itinvestigatesthesymbolicandlivedexpressionsofthisinterconnectionindiversereligioustexts,ethics,andpracticesarisingfromrelationsofhumanswiththeuniverseandtheEarthcommunity.Thecoursealsodrawsonthenarrativesofscienceforanunderstandingofthedynamicprocessesoftheuniverse,Earth,life,andecosystems.Inthefirstpartofthecourse,wewillexploreecologicalperspectivesfromIndigenoustraditions,Christianity,andConfucianism.Inthesecondpartofthecoursewewillsurveyenvironmentalethicsleadingtoanemergingglobalethics.Inthefinalsection,weturntotheinterdisciplinaryscientificstoryoftheunfoldinguniverseasacosmologicalnarrativeorientingnewhuman-Earthrelations.Thisscientificnarrativehascontinuityanddiscontinuitywithearlierreligiouscosmologiesandtheirviewsofnature.
TheWorldviewofThomasBerry:FlourishingoftheEarthCommunity;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
ThomasBerry(1914-2009)wasanhistorianofreligionsandanearlyandsignificantvoiceawakeningreligioussensibilitiestotheenvironmentalcrisis.Heisparticularlywell-knownforarticulatingaNewStoryoftheuniversethatexplorestheworld-changingimplicationofevolutionarysciences.
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ThiscourseinvestigatesthelifeandthoughtofThomasBerryinrelationtothefieldofreligionandecologyaswellastheJourneyoftheUniverseproject.Asanoverviewcourseitdrawsonhisbooks,articles,andrecordedlecturestoexaminesuchideasas:theNewStory,theGreatWork,andtheEcozoicera.Inaddition,thecourseexploreshisstudiesinworldreligionsincludingBuddhism,Confucianism,andIndigenousTraditions.FinallythecoursewillhighlighthischallengetoChristianitytoarticulatetheologiesofnotonlydivine-humanrelations,butalsohuman-Earthrelations.
JourneyoftheUniverse;MaryEvelynTuckerandJohnGrim
ThiscoursewilldrawontheresourcescreatedintheJourneyoftheUniverseproject.Thisconsistsofafilm,abook,andaseriesof20interviewswithscientistsandenvironmentalists.JourneyoftheUniverseweavestogetherthediscoveriesofevolutionarysciencetogetherwithcosmologicalunderstandingsfoundinthereligioustraditionsoftheworld.Theauthorsexplorecosmicevolutionasacreativeprocessbasedonconnection,interdependence,andemergence.TheJourneyprojectalsopresentsanopportunitytoinvestigatethedauntingecologicalandsocialchallengesofourtimes.
Thiscourseexaminesarangeofdynamicinteractionsandinterdependenciesintheemergenceofgalaxies,Earth,life,andhumancommunities.Itbringsthesciencesandhumanitiesintodialoguetoexplorethewaysinwhichweunderstandevolutionaryprocessesandtheimplicationsforhumansandourecologicalfuture.
ZieglerSchoolofRabbinicStudies
LosAngeles,California,USA|http://ziegler.aju.edu
IntroductiontoHalakhah
ThiscourseinvitesstudentstowriteapositionpaperonJewishlaw,andstudentsoftenselecttopicsthatseektoraiseconsciousnessonenvironmentalissues(e.g.useofwaterforritualhandwashingwhenthereisadrought,orissuesoffoodjusticeandkashrut,oranimalrightsandkashrut).
ScienceandReligion
Afourth-yearcourseforthoseconcentratinginPhilosophy,looksattheintersectionofscienceandreligionthroughafocusoncreationandthenaturalworld.Clearlyissuesofecologyandenvironmentalconcernsemergethroughoutthesemesterandwereadhistoriansandphilosophersofscience(Barbour,Jonas)inadditiontoJewishthinkersancientandcontemporary.
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Appendix1–PontificalUniversitiesinRomeOfferingCoursesonFaithandEcology
PontificalAthenaeumofSaintAnselm
Rome,Italy
Bioethics,EnvironmentalIssuesandHumanEcology;July2015,summersession,CourseDirector:Fr.GonzaloMiranda,LC,AcademicCoordinator:Prof.MassimoLosito
Althoughbioethicssincethe1970shasaddressedissuestendingtowardthebiomedical,ithadinitsorigins,inthethinkingofsomeofthepioneers,astronginterestinenvironmentalissues.Thedeepeningecologicalcrisisnecessitates,againanddecisively,thatthismodernscienceexaminesthisquestion.Thecourseisthereforeintendedtodealwithaninterdisciplinarymethodologyonsuchissuesofgreatpublicinterestaspollution,resourcemanagement,theenergyissue,climatechange,biodiversity,environmentalbiotechnology,andanimals.Itisevident,however,thatiftheseissuesaretheresponsibilityofbioethics,solutionscannotandshouldnotbecompletelyofatechnicalnature.Togototherootsoftheenvironmentalcrisisandthentofindtheguidelinesforeffectivesolutions,wemustbroadenourvisiontoincludeethics,anthropology,theology:whatistheplaceandroleofmanintheenvironment;howtodiscerntheethicalnatureofhumanbehaviortowardsanimals;andultimately,whereisthefoundationofrespectweowetothenon-humanworld.ThecoursewillshowfinallytheChristianvisionoftheenvironment,whichprovidesvaluableguidancetothebalancebetweenconservationanddevelopmentwithinthepastoralcareofcreationinrespectofthatoriginalmandatetoManto"tillandmaintain.”Whereinfacthumanecologyisrespected,theenvironmentistheprimebeneficiary.
Eticadell'ambiente–EthicsoftheEnvironment;Prof.MassimoLosito
Sinceancienttimes,humanbeings,withtheiractivities,havechangedtheworld'senvironment.Butinrecentcenturies,beginningwiththeindustrialrevolution,thankstoanamazingbutproblematictechnologicalprogress,theimpactoftheseadvanceshasbecomeincreasinglywidespread.Overthelastfiftyyears,manhasbeenaskedtoreflectonethicalhumanaction.Thishasseriousquestionsaboutthefutureofmanandhishome;earth:doesthereexistsformanarightwaytobehavetowardsanaturalhabitat?Whichpositionandroledoesthehumanbeinghaveintheenvironment?Because,inthefinalanalysis,itshouldbecomparedtonature.Theanswerstothesequestionsareoftenverydifferent,reflectingopposingviews.Thecourseaimstoanalyzetheso-called"environmentalissue",especiallyinits(bio)ethicalimplications.Afteridentifyingman'splaceinnature,willthedefinitionandcriticalanalysisofthemajorethicalissuesaddresstherelationshipbetweenmanandenvironment?ThenwewilldescribetheproposalandtheChristianvisionoftheenvironmentandenvironmentalmovements.ThesecondpartofthecoursewilldiscussissuessuchasGMOS,ecologicalquestionaboutenergy,climatechange,etc.
PontificalGregorianUniversity
Rome,Italy
EcologiaUmana–HumanEcology;PaoloConversi,2014-2015LecturerinFacultyofSocialSciences
Objective:todeepeninterdisciplinaryhumanecology–thatcallsintoquestiontheresponsibilityofthe
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humanbeingtothemselves,others,thecreatedandtheCreator–throughthestudyofinteractionsbetweennaturalenvironment,population,technologyandsocialorganization.Contents:1)Distinctionbetweenecologyandhumanecology.2)SocialDoctrineoftheChurchandhumanecology:ethicalprinciples.3)Evolutionoftheconceptofdevelopmentanditsconnectionwithhumanecology.4)Thenaturalenvironment,landresources,energyandnatural,climateandwaterresources.5)Thehumanpopulation,theprocessofurbanization,thegreatmigrations.6)Technologyandeconomy,communicationtechnologiesandbiotechnology.7)Socialorganizationandtheenvironment.8)EnvironmentalEducationinitsdifferentaspects.
SalesianPontificalUniversity
Rome,Italy
Ecology:Science,Philosophy,andFaithinDialogueintheContextoftheContemporaryEcologicalCrisis;Prof.JoshtromIsaacKureethadam,FacultyofPhilosophy.MScourseforgraduatestudentsisofferedeverytwoyears.
TheCourseattemptstoofferacomprehensiveunderstandingofthecontemporaryecologicalcrisisfromascientific,philosophicalandtheologicalperspective.ThefirstpartofthecoursemakesevidenttheuniquenessofEarthasourcommonplanetary“home”whichhasbeenmoldedoverbillionsofyearsofcosmicevolutionandiscurrentlyimperiledbyhumanactivities.Thesecondpartdescribesthecontemporaryecologicalcrisisasaphysicalproblem(climatechangeanditsimpacts,biodiversityloss,pollution,wasteanddepletionofnaturalresources,etc.),amoralproblem(itsdisproportionateimpactsonthepoor),andasatheologicalproblem(irresponsiblestewardshipofcreationfromthepartofhumanity).Thethirdparttracesthephilosophicalrootcausesoftheecologicalcrisis,intheanthropocentric,mechanistic,dualisticWeltbildofModernity.Thefourthpartoffersasurveyofattemptstorespondtotheecologicalcrisisatthelocalandplanetarylevels,cuttingacrossgrassrootmovementsandnon-governmentalorganizations,stateandgovernmentalagencies,internationalorganizations,Christianchurches,andmajorworldreligions.
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AuthorBiographicalInformation
RabbiYonatanNeril,Co-Author
YonatanfoundedanddirectstheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment.AnativeofCalifornia,YonatancompletedanM.A.andB.A.fromStanfordUniversitywithafocusonglobalenvironmentalissues,andreceivedrabbinicalordinationinIsrael.Hehasspokeninternationallyonreligionandtheenvironment,andorganizedmultipleinterfaithenvironmentalconferencesinJerusaleminwhichreligiousleadersofseveralfaithsspoke.HewasaDorotandPresenTenseFellowandtheleadauthorandgeneraleditoroftwopublicationsonJewishenvironmentalethics,includingUpliftingPeopleandPlanet:18EssentialJewishTeachingsontheEnvironment.Heliveswithhiswife,Shana,andtwochildreninJerusalem.
JoyAuciello,Co-Author
JoystudiedtheintersectionbetweencommunitiesandsustainabilityforherBAatMarlboroCollegeinNewHampshire,wheresheearnedherdegreesinenvironmentalstudiesandanthropology.Herworkcentersontheideathatpeoplelivingincommunitiesareintrinsicallymoresustainable.Inherthesiswork,shecompletedtheSTARSforheralmamaterreport,anin-depthstudyofsustainabilityforinstitutionsofhighereducation.SheiscurrentlyworkingonherMBAinmanagementforsustainablebusiness.
AndrewDeutsch,Co-Author
AndrewwasbornandgrewupinHongKong,amongmanydifferentcultures,andreligions.Hestudiedbiology,environmentalandinformationscience.Aftermanyyearsofworkasatechnicalwriterinsmallandlargecompanies,andinprojectswithenvironmentalsustainabilityprofessionals,environmentalorganizations,NGOs,companies,andgovernmentministries,Andrewhasacquiredabroadunderstandingoftherelationshipsbetweensocietalneeds,environmentalandsocialproblems,associatedrisksandopportunities,andpossiblesolutionsbeginningwithdesign,andmanufacturing,andincludingsocialinnovationandcooperationacrossallpartsofsociety.
LucyAtkinson,ResearchAssistant
LucycompletedaBAinInternationalRelationsandModernHistoryattheUniversityofEastAnglia,UKandaMaster'sdegreeinGlobalandLocalCommunityDevelopmentattheHebrewUniversityofJerusalem,duringwhichtimesheinternedattheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment.LucyisnowpursuingaPhDatYorkUniversity,UK,focusingonconflictsensitiveeducationandEnglishlanguageinstruction.
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AbouttheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment
TheInterfaithCenterforSustainableDevelopment(ICSD),basedinJerusalem,accessesthecollectivewisdomoftheworld’sreligionstopromoteco-existence,peace,andsustainabilitythrougheducationandaction.ICSDpromotesandmanifestsaninter-religiousvisionforenvironmentalsustainabilitybyencouragingthecooperationandtrainingofreligiousleaders,teachers,andcommunitiesonecologicalissues.ICSDispleasedtohavesuccessfullyimplementedarangeofprojectsinpartnershipwithnumerousorganizations,foundations,privatedonors,andclients.Moreinformationcanbefoundatwww.interfaithsustain.com.
ChannelsofActionandOpportunitiesforSupportin2017
1. SeminaryStudentsSustainabilityProjectpromotesseminariesteachingonfaithandtheenvironmenttoadvancemoralleadershipforsustainability.Theproject,whichfocusesonChristianseminariesintheUnitedStates,advocatestoseminaryadministrators;publishesreportsonecologycoursesforseminarians;promotesresource-sharingofcoursesyllabioncreationcare;andholdsvirtualandlivemeetingsofseminarydeansandfaculty.ICSDalsooffersconsultingservicestoassistintheexpansionofteachingonfaithandecology.
2. TheWomen’sInterfaithEcologyProjectworkswithJewish,Christian,andMuslimwomenstudyingreligiousstudiesinJerusalemtobecomeagentsofenvironmentalchange.Participantsexploretheintersectionoffaith,ecology,andleadershipthroughaseriesofeducationalandinteractiveseminars.
3. TheFaithandScienceEcologyProjectusesvideoteleconferencingandlivemeetingstoengagetheworld'sprincipalreligionandscienceleadersinaunitedmessageforenvironmentalprotection.Videocontentfromthesemeetingsisdisseminatedviasocialmediaandtonewsoutletstopromotepublicawareness,politicalwill,policy,andaction..
4. EcoIsraelTours(www.ecoisraeltours.com),abranchofICSD,engagesarangeofgroups,includingseminarians,onthelinkbetweenecology,faithteachings,andtheHolyLand.
SupportersandOrganizationalStatus
PastsupportersincludeTheJuliaBurkeFoundation(Hawaii),theKonradAdenauerFoundation(Germany),theSintonFamilyFoundation(SanFrancisco),theOpalineFoundation(SanFrancisco),andprivatedonors.ICSDisregisteredinIsraelasanon-profitorganization,andfiscallysponsoredintheU.S.bythe501(c)3,Jumpstart,basedinSantaMonica,CA.
WearegratefultotheJuliaBurkeFoundationfortheirsupport,whichenabledresearch,publication,anddistributionofthisreport.