An Ecological Christian Anthropology: At Home on Earth?

by Conradie,Ernst M.

• ISBN13: 9780754650645
• ISBN10: 0754650642
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-02-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

What is the place and vocation of human beings in the earth community? This is the central question that this contribution towards a Christian ecological anthropology addresses. In ecological theology this question is often answered by the affirmation that 'We are at home on earth'. This affirmation rightly responds to the widespread sense of alienation from nature, to the anthropocentrism that pervades much of the Christian tradition and to concerns about the scope of environmental devastation.This book challenges the affirmation that we are at home on earth, examining natural suffering, anxieties concerning human finitude and especially the pervasiveness of evil. The book investigates contributions to ecological theology, South African and African theology, reformed theology and contemporary dialogues between theology and the sciences in search of a thoroughly ecological Christian anthropology.

Author Biography

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

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
1. Introduction: Toward an ecological Christian anthropology	1	(22)
1.1 Anthropology in an ecological context: At home on earth	1	(8)
1.2 The earth is not our home yet!	9	(7)
1.3 Some theological pointers	16	(7)
2. At home on earth? On human creaturehood	23	(56)
2.1 An affirmation of the community of creation	23	(3)
2.2 Ecological theologies on humanity as part of the earth community	26	(14)
2.3 Alienation and community	40	(4)
2.4 A house of pain and suffering?	44	(7)
2.5 Trinitarian perspectives on humans as creatures	51	(28)
3. A special place for humans in God's household?	79	(104)
3.0 Introduction	79	(3)
3.1 The inalienable dignity of humanity	82	(12)
3.2 Ecological anthropologies on human distinctiveness	94	(35)
3.3 A theological critique of anthropocentrism	129	(6)
3.4 The journey of discovery of human finitude	135	(35)
3.5 Trinitarian perspectives on the place of humanity in God's household	170	(13)
4. Stewards in the household of God?	183	(48)
4.1 On being responsible inhabitants of God's house	183	(1)
4.2 Devastation in God's household	184	(9)
4.3 Ecological theologies on human sin	193	(9)
4.4 The stewardship controversy	202	(15)
4.5 Trinitarian perspectives on stewardship	217	(14)
5. Human habits in the human habitat	231	(11)
5.1 Introduction	231	(1)
5.2 Be fertile and multiply	232	(2)
5.3 Gender and human sexuality	234	(2)
5.4 The food which the earth provides	236	(2)
5.5 On naming the other animals	238	(1)
5.6 Human work	239	(1)
5.7 Rest for the whole earth	240	(2)
Bibliography	242	(19)
Index	261