Reconstructing a Christian Theology of Nature

Down to Earth

Anna Case-Winters

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781032243467
• eBook ISBN:
  9781317070351
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

In the present ecological crisis, it is imperative that human beings reconsider their place within nature and find new, more responsible and sustainable ways of living. Assumptions about the nature of God, the world, and the human being, shape our thinking and, consequently, our acting. Some have charged that the Christian tradition has been more a hindrance than a help because its theology of nature has unwittingly legitimated the exploitation of nature. This book takes the current criticism of Christian tradition to heart and invites a reconsideration of the problematic elements: its desacralization of nature; its preoccupation with the human being to the neglect of the rest of nature; its dualisms and elevation of the spiritual over material reality, and its habit of ignoring or resisting scientific understandings of the natural world. Anna Case-Winters argues that Christian tradition has a more viable theology of nature to offer. She takes a look at some particulars in Christian tradition as a way to illustrate the undeniable problems and to uncover the untapped possibilities. In the process, she engages conversation partners that have been sharply critical and particularly insightful (feminist theology, process thought, and the religion and science dialogue). The criticisms and insights of these partners help to shape a proposal for a reconstructed theology of nature that can more effectively fund our struggle for the fate of the earth.

Ashgate Science and Religion Series

Series Editors

Roger Trigg, Department of Philosophy, University of Warwick, UK J. Wentzel van Huyssteen, James I. McCord Professor of Theology and Science, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

Science and religion have often been thought to be at loggerheads but much contemporary work in this flourishing interdisciplinary field suggests this is far from the case. The Ashgate Science and Religion Series presents exciting new work to advance interdisciplinary study, research and debate across key themes in science and religion, exploring the philosophical relations between the physical and social sciences on the one hand and religious belief on the other. Contemporary issues in philosophy and theology are debated, as are prevailing cultural assumptions arising from the ‘post-modernist’ distaste for many forms of reasoning. The series enables leading international authors from a range of different disciplinary perspectives to apply the insights of the various sciences, theology and philosophy and look at the relations between the different disciplines and the rational connections that can be made between them. These accessible, stimulating new contributions to key topics across science and religion will appeal particularly to individual academics and researchers, graduates, postgraduates and upper-undergraduate students.

Other titles published in this series:

From Human to Posthuman Christian Theology and Technology in a Postmodern World

Brent Waters

978-0-7546-3914-5 (hbk)

978-0-7546-3915-2 (pbk)

God’s Action in Nature’s World Essays in Honour of Robert John Russell

Edited by Ted Peters and Nathan Hallanger

978-0-7546-5556-5 (hbk)

Explorations in Neuroscience, Psychology and Religion

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978-0-7546-5563-3 (hbk)

Toward a Theology of Scientific Endeavour The Descent of Science

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978-0-7546-4159-9 (hbk)

978-0-7546-4160-5 (pbk)

Reconstructing a Christian Theology of Nature

Down to Earth

Anna Case-Winters

McCormick Theological Seminary Chicago, USA

First published 2007 by Ashgate Publishing

Published 2016 by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

Copyright © Anna Case-Winters 2007

Anna Case-Winters has asserted her moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Notices:

Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Case-Winters, Anna, 1953–

Reconstructing a Christian theology of nature : Down to earth. – (Ashgate science and religion series)

1. Nature – Religious aspects – Christianity 2. Ecology – Religious aspects – Christianity 3. Natural theology

I. Title

241.6’91

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Case-Winters, Anna, 1953–

Reconstructing a Christian theology of nature : Down to earth / Anna Case-Winters.

p. cm. — (Ashgate science and religion series)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7546-5476-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Nature—Religious aspects—Christianity. 2. Human ecology—Religious aspects—Christianity. 3. Naturalism—Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Title.

BT695.5.C375 2007

231.7—dc22

2007007962

ISBN 978-0-7546-5476-6 (hbk)

DOI: 10.4324/9781315603995

Contents

• Introduction
• 1 Why We Need a New Theology of Nature: The State of the World
• 2 Why We Need a New Theology of Nature: The State of Theology
• 3 Distinctive Challenges and Distinctive Contributions: A Close-Up on Reformed Tradition
• 4 Beyond the Dualisms, Rethinking Relations: Insights from Ecofeminist Sources
• 5 The Alterity and Integrity of Nature: Insights from Process Thought
• 6 The Place of the Human Being in Relation to the Rest of Nature or Rethinking the Imago Dei: Insights from the Religion and Science Dialogue
• 7 “The Promise of Process-Panentheism”
• 8 Conclusion: Drawing out Ethical Implications
• Bibliography
• Name Index
• Subject Index

Introduction

Our current ecological crisis makes it imperative that a new theology of nature be formulated. The Western classical tradition has come under attack—and to some extent rightly—as a contributor to the present predicament. While I do not agree that all the blame can be laid at this door, in a state of affairs so complex and multifaceted, I do wonder what part Western classical tradition has played. I wonder whether and to what extent it has provided ideological underpinnings that have supported habits of thinking and acting without a proper regard for environmental consequences. I also wonder what Christian tradition might have to offer constructively in the struggle for the fate of the earth. At the very least, the challenges being issued invite theologians to re-examine theological constructions of God’s relation to the natural world and the place of the human being within the rest of nature.

There is a groundswell of attention to theology of nature in current theological conversations. This work is long overdue. The beginning of the upswing in attention to a hitherto neglected topic roughly coincides with the publication of Lynn White’s article on the “Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis.” This groundbreaking article in Science Magazine raised to our consciousness the possibility that there may be fundamental theological considerations that have contributed to the present crisis. Since then it has been commonplace to hear that the wanton exploitation of nature is rooted in the Judeo-Christian theology of creation and the license to “subdue” the earth and have “dominion.”

Responses both in biblical studies and in theology have been two-pronged: First, to argue that these outcomes result from a misinterpretation and a misappropriation of the tradition and not from the tradition itself. The claim is that the criticisms do not strike at the heart of the matter but rather invite us to reconsider interpretations and uses of the tradition that have proven so damaging. The second step is, to work toward reinterpretation and a more viable theology of nature. The present project joins the efforts to formulate a more viable Christian ¹ theology of nature.

The first chapter asks the question of why we need a new theology of nature and proceeds to answer in terms of “the state of the world.” Interlocking economic and ecological crises present a challenge for a faith that would be relevant and helpful in a “down to earth” sort of way. The way we live is grounded in what we believe about such things as the nature of the human being, the vision of the “good life,” the place of the human being in relation to the rest of nature, and ultimate reality. These lifeorienting theological considerations are critical for shaping how human beings live with and within nature.

The second chapter asks the question of why we need a new theology of nature and answers in terms of “the state of theology.” Is it the case that there are theological roots to our ecological crisis? The chapter does a brief review of five elements integral to Christian theology that, as some have charged, may contribute to the present crisis. Going beyond these initial criticisms three other perspectives are draw in to sharpen the critique: feminist theology, process thought, and contemporary science. The chapter then argues that either denial of the charges posed or easy acquiescence to them would constitute a “false start” that does not advance the project of formulating a theology of nature that is both relevant and Christian. A posture identified as “critical engagement” seems to hold more promise. Sallie McFague and Gordon Kaufman are held up as examples of theologians who take this approach and have made substantial contributions to this endeavor. The chapter challenges certain as...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Frontmatter 1
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• 1 Why We Need a New Theology of Nature: The State of the World
• 2 Why We Need a New Theology of Nature: The State of Theology
• 3 Distinctive Challenges and Distinctive Contributions: A Close-Up on Reformed Tradition
• 4 Beyond the Dualisms, Rethinking Relations: Insights from Ecofeminist Sources
• 5 The Alterity and Integrity of Nature: Insights from Process Thought
• 6 The Place of the Human Being in Relation to the Rest of Nature or Rethinking the Imago Dei: Insights from the Religion and Science Dialogue
• 7 “The Promise of Process-Panentheism”
• 8 Conclusion: Drawing out Ethical Implications
• Bibliography
• Name Index
• Subject Index