Repensar as metáforas originárias em ecoteologia: Oikos e Hodos num clima em mudança

This contribution juxtaposes two root metaphors that are widely used in Christian ecotheology, namely that of “God’s household” (oikos) and that of a journey along “the way” (hodos). These are tested with reference to other proposed metaphors and for their relative adequacy in Christian responses to climate change. It is suggested that the spatial metaphor of the household can be complemented by the temporal metaphor of a journey, given the challenges of a changing climate. Accordingly, home is best understood in an eschatological way. The Earth is indeed our common house but it does not provide a home for all yet.Cet article juxtapose deux métaphores originales, largement utilisées dans l’écothéologie chrétienne, à savoir celle de la « maison de Dieu » (oikos) et celle du cheminement sur le « chemin » (hodos). Celles-ci seront testées en référence à d’autres métaphores proposées, et à leur adéquation relative, lorsqu’elles sont utilisées dans les réponses chrétiennes au changement climatique. Il est suggéré que la métaphore spatiale de la maison puisse être complétée par la métaphore temporelle du voyage, en tenant compte des enjeux d’un changement climatique. Par conséquent, la maison est mieux comprise dans la dimension eschatologique. La terre est bien notre maison commune, mais elle n’offre pas encore un chez-soi à tout le monde.Este artigo justapõe duas metáforas originárias, vastamente usadas na ecoteologia cristã, nomeadamente a da «casa de Deus» (oikos) e a de uma jornada ao longo do «caminho» (hodos). Estas serão testadas por referência a outras metáforas propostas, e pela sua relativa adequação, ao serem usadas nas respostas cristãs às mudanças climáticas. Sugere-se que a metáfora espacial da casa pode ser complementada pela metáfora temporal da jornada, tendo em conta os desafios de um clima em mudança. Consequentemente, o lar compreende-se melhor na dimensão escatológica. A Terra é, de facto, a nossa casa comum, mas ainda não providencia um lar para todos

Climate Justice, Food Security… And God

"Allow me to begin my contribution with a few observations on the current interplay between climate change and food security in the South African context.11 This interplay is appropriately termed the Food-Energy-Water nexus.12 I offer these not as an expert in the field but as a concerned citizen. I will use this sketch of a constantly changing situation as the backdrop for some wider theological reflections on the underlying issues. It may perhaps serve as a parable that invites further reflection." Paper delivered at the international consultation on "Resources and Best Practice Models for Ecotheology, Climate Justice and Food Security", held at the Academy of Volos, Demetriades Diocese of Church of Greece, 10-13 March, 201

Black health, ethics, and global ecology

The reflections offered here come from someone the South African government classified as white or as European under apartheid, who continues to be classified in that manner under affirmative action, and who has worked at a historically black university, the University of the Western Cape, since 1993. I teach systematic theology and ethics in a religion and theology department, and I focus on Christian ecotheology. I welcome theologian Jürgen Moltmann’s reversal of interlocutors in calling for Latin American liberation theology for the First World, black theology for white people, and feminist theology for men

A journal for biblical, theological and / or contextual hermeneutics?

This contribution reflects on the current sub-title of the journal Scriptura, namely “Journal for Biblical, Theological and Hermeneutics”. It showsthat this has been a core interest of the journal over a period of forty years. It also discusses the methodological tensions between these three forms / aspects of hermeneutics – to the point where one may wonder whether the “and” in the subtitle could be understood as “or”. It does not propose a way forward but commends Scriptura for offering the space to explore such tensions further in the South African context

The four tasks of Christian ecotheology: Revisiting the current debate

This contribution offers a description of the tasks of Christian ecotheology both from a de facto and from a de iure perspective. It suggests that this entails both a twofold critique and a twofold constructive task, i.e. an ecological critique of Christianity and a Christian critique of ecological destruction, a constructive contribution to Christian authenticity and on that basis to multi-disciplinary discourse on ecological concerns in the public sphere. This is unpacked in subsequent sections, holding these dual tasks together through the notion of an ecological reformation and the tension between vision and discernment. It is suggested that a constructive contribution to Christian authenticity is indeed theologically crucial, namely, to discern the movements of the Spirit, now amidst the advent of the Anthropocene. This contribution raises but does not address the theological question as to what God is up to in a time like this

Human uniqueness: An unfinished agenda

This contribution is structured in the form of a letter to Van Huyssteen focussing on his magnum opus, Alone in the World? (2006). It recognises, with Van Huyssteen, the danger of docetic detachment and scientific reductionism. It suggests that what is at stake in debates on human uniqueness is a defence of human dignity, human rights and human responsibility. It points to a dilemma in this regard, namely that affirming the evolutionary continuity of humans with other species as well as human dignity on the basis of human uniqueness is only possible on the basis of a hierarchy of intrinsic worth and not equal intrinsic worth. However, amongst humans, such a hierarchy cannot be sustained given the need to affirm equal human dignity. The underlying problem here is to address the dangers of anthropocentrism, especially in the so-called Anthropocene where humans have become a ‘geological force of nature’. Van Huyssteen is challenged to consider the reverse side of the emergence of human uniqueness, namely the emergence of human sin. Are humans unique in this regard too? Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The theme of human uniqueness is by definition of multi-disciplinary interest as demonstrated in the work of Wentzel van Huyssteen. This contribution highlights an unresolved anthropocentrism, especially in the context of what is termed the ‘Anthropocene’, that is also of significance within multiple disciplines, including Christian theology and discourse on theology and science

A green reformation of Christianity? Anthropological, ethical and pedagogical reflections on ecology as ecumenical theme

This contribution builds upon and contributes to many recent ecumenical calls for an ecological reformation of Christianity. It seeks to guide such calls on the use of the term “ecology” by offering five brief statements in this regard, namely 1) on ecology as a transversal theme; 2) on ecology as an ecumenical theme; 3) on the root metaphor of the “whole household of God”; 4) on Christian doctrinal assumptions on such a household; and 5) on the (ecological) limitations of the metaphor of the whole household of God

To Cover the Many Sins of Galamsey Mining

This contribution calls attention to the environmental impact of mining in general and of galamsey mining in Ghana in particular as a theme for theological (and not merely ethical or pastoral) reflection. This topic is approached by placing it in juxtaposition with Christian discourse on sin, understood as a form of social diagnostics. By recovering the category of sin, this contribution seeks uncover the many sins of galamsey mining in the hope that such a prophetic critique will expose any ideological or idolatrous “cover-ups” but will nevertheless be “covered” by the gospel of the forgiveness of sin (see James 5:19-20

Some reflections on human identity in the Anthropocene

This article observes that both the similar and the dissimilar are of ethical importance in discourse on human identity. There is a need for a common humanity and to guard against domination in the name of difference – precisely by recognising the otherness of the other. This also applies to reflections on what it means to be human in the age of the human, namely the Anthropocene. A survey is offered of how this tension between the similar and the dissimilar plays itself out in the work of five theorists, namely Dipesh Chakrabarty, Clive Hamilton, Dona Harraway, Michel Serres and Kathryn Yusoff. On this basis, six tentative conclusions are offered: (1) Despite the appropriate ethical emphasis on difference and otherness, the quest for the universal in the particular cannot be readily abandoned. (2) Such a sensitivity for the universal in the particular needs to be extended to a recognition of the way in which an integrated earth system functions. (3) The ethical emphasis on difference and otherness should be extended to non-human animals. (4) Human dignity and the ‘integrity of creation’ are not necessarily inversely proportioned. (5) Relations may well have an ontological priority over individuals. (6) Identity need not be constituted by the distant past or the immediate presence as if continuity over time forms a guarantee for a sense of identity

Ecology and Christian theology : an introduction with a comprehensive, indexed bibliography

CITATION: Conradie, E. M. 1993. Ecology and Christian theology : an introduction with a comprehensive, indexed bibliography. Scriptura, 47:52-104, doi:10.7833/47-0-1634.The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.zaTo discuss ‘green’ issues in Christian theology can no longer be regarded as something rather novel to do. The vast amount of literature included in this bibliography gives a sobering indication of exactly how much energy has been used (and paper has been spent) in the past two decades on writing theological essays and books on environmental issues. It is, of course, important to ask what this huge theological effort has achieved thus far. In the light of a growing ecological crisis, it seems all too obvious that something needs to be done. It is actually often one of the problems of theological discussions on environmental issues that the imperative ‘to do something’ is merely and continuously reiterated. In this contribution a brief attempt is made to indicate some trends in the current debates on ecology within Christian theology, to assess what has been achieved, and to stimulate specifically directed further research. The attached bibliography and index may provide some valuable material for this purpose.https://scriptura.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1634Publisher's versio