An Ecological Christian Anthropology: At Home on Earth?

by Ernst M. Conradie

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.

Genres: Anthropology

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2005

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time of mounting ecological crises, Conradie convincingly unpacks why Christian piety has so much difficulty with an environmental ethos, spirituality and praxis. He identifies four themes namely "a wordless notion of God's transcendence, a dualist anthropology, a personalist reduction of the cosmic scope of salvation and an escapist eschatology" (p2). What makes Conradie so refreshingly different from many other eco-theologians is his acceptance of humankinds' total depravation through sin (not some Pelagian idea of inherent goodness), and his emphasis on our real home as an eschatological vision. The earth is not our home yet. We are not the masters and rulers of the earth, nor some kind of steward who dominates for an absentee landlord. Through sin we are alienated from God, from other humans and from the earth, making us unwilling to take up our responsibilities in His creation. To live in the image of God is sheer grace and calls for a grateful response. We can only understand our humanity, and our place in God's creation from our relationship with God, as revealed in Jesus Christ and communicated to us in the Word of God. Conradie sees such a growing understanding as a journey with a community of believers in the church; repenting, converting, transforming and in preparation to meet God, that is to await Christ - in heaven and on earth.