Listening for the Cries of the Earth: Practical Theology in the Anthropocene
Abstract
This paper presents the gap in practical theological research in relation to the devastating effects of the environmental crisis. The paper argues that, because of its silence, the field of practical theology is complicit unwittingly in perpetuating the environmental crisis. The paper identifies three potential causes that predispose the field to fall silent before the enormity of the crisis: 1. The human-centricity of its methodology, telos and theological anthropology; 2. The anthropocentricism of its theology based on dominant Western formulations, and; 3. The power of eco-anxiety to trigger defense mechanisms that foreclose acknowledgement of the crisis. Importantly, the paper also identifies interdisciplinary resources and conversation partners with whom the field of practical theology may re-construct creation-centered pathways forward.
Zusammenfassung
Dieser Aufsatz weist auf einen Mangel praktisch-theologischer Forschung zur ökologischen Krise und ihren Folgen hin. Er argumentiert, dass sich die Praktische Theologie als Disziplin durch ihr Stillschweigen unabsichtlich mitschuldig macht an der Verstetigung dieser Krise und erläutert mögliche Gründe dafür, dass das Fach dazu neigt, angesichts der gewaltigen ökologischen Probleme zu verstummen. Der Aufsatz benennt abschließend Ressourcen und Theoriemodelle aus verschiedenen Disziplinen, auf die die Praktische Theologie zugreifen kann, um sich einen schöpfungszentrierten, nicht länger anthropozentristischen Zugang zu diesem Thema zu eröffnen.
I am grateful for the willingness of others to offer me feedback to improve this paper. Appreciation is extended to Caleb McCarroll-Butler, Sue Koziey Kronas and Harris Athanasiadis.
© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Frontmatter
- Vorwort
- Interjection / Zwischenruf
- COVID-19 Demands Theological Reflection: Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian Perspectives on the Present Pandemic
- Research Articles
- Listening for the Cries of the Earth: Practical Theology in the Anthropocene
- The Social Practice of Being Born Again: Historical and Cultural-Sociological Perspectives on Conversionist Piety
- Anticipation in the Normative Task of Practical Theology
- Potential Roles of Churches and Ecclesiology for Disability Inclusion
- The Search for Happiness, Towards a Practical Theology of Joy: Faith Seeking Beatific Happiness – Fides Quaerens Beatitudinem
- International Report
- Practical Theology in the United States 2000–2020 with Attention to Its Emergence in the Twentieth Century
- Research Report
- Religious Speech as Resource. A Research Report
- Book Reviews
- Barbara J. McClure, Emotions: Problems and Promise for Human Flourishing. (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2019), xvi + 349pp. ISBN 978-1-60258-329-0, $59.95.
- Elaine Graham, Apologetics without Apology: Speaking of God in a World Troubled by Religion. (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017), 172pp., ISBN 978-1-4982-8413-4 (pbk), 978-1-4982-8415-8 (hbk), 978-1-4982-8414-1 (ebk), $24.00.
- Frank Thomas Brinkmann, Praktische Theologie. Ein Guide (Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto, 2019), ISBN 978–3825251413, € 26,99.
- Bernd Schröder, Göttinger Religionspädagogik. Eine Studie zur institutionellen Genese und programmatischen Entfaltung von Katechetik und Religionspädagogik am Beispiel Göttingen. Unter Mitarbeit von Florian Dinger, Moritz Emmelmann, Monika E. Fuchs, Urte M. Götte, Elisabeth Hohensee und Lukas Steinbeck (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2018), ISBN 978-3-16-155840-5, € 84,00.
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Frontmatter
- Vorwort
- Interjection / Zwischenruf
- COVID-19 Demands Theological Reflection: Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian Perspectives on the Present Pandemic
- Research Articles
- Listening for the Cries of the Earth: Practical Theology in the Anthropocene
- The Social Practice of Being Born Again: Historical and Cultural-Sociological Perspectives on Conversionist Piety
- Anticipation in the Normative Task of Practical Theology
- Potential Roles of Churches and Ecclesiology for Disability Inclusion
- The Search for Happiness, Towards a Practical Theology of Joy: Faith Seeking Beatific Happiness – Fides Quaerens Beatitudinem
- International Report
- Practical Theology in the United States 2000–2020 with Attention to Its Emergence in the Twentieth Century
- Research Report
- Religious Speech as Resource. A Research Report
- Book Reviews
- Barbara J. McClure, Emotions: Problems and Promise for Human Flourishing. (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2019), xvi + 349pp. ISBN 978-1-60258-329-0, $59.95.
- Elaine Graham, Apologetics without Apology: Speaking of God in a World Troubled by Religion. (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2017), 172pp., ISBN 978-1-4982-8413-4 (pbk), 978-1-4982-8415-8 (hbk), 978-1-4982-8414-1 (ebk), $24.00.
- Frank Thomas Brinkmann, Praktische Theologie. Ein Guide (Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto, 2019), ISBN 978–3825251413, € 26,99.
- Bernd Schröder, Göttinger Religionspädagogik. Eine Studie zur institutionellen Genese und programmatischen Entfaltung von Katechetik und Religionspädagogik am Beispiel Göttingen. Unter Mitarbeit von Florian Dinger, Moritz Emmelmann, Monika E. Fuchs, Urte M. Götte, Elisabeth Hohensee und Lukas Steinbeck (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2018), ISBN 978-3-16-155840-5, € 84,00.
