ENSb1231 Environmental Theology

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jan Zámečník, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jan Zámečník, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Hendrychová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:40 U33
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! ENS231 Environmental Theology &&!NOW( ENS231 Environmental Theology )&&TYP_STUDIA(B)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 16/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main aim of the lectures is to familiarize students with some significant streams of christian theology and to show them how the representatives of these streams reflect on environmental problems and how they answer the argument that the Christian-Jewish tradition is the source of the ecological crisis. During the lectures the students have the opportunity to think the essay The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis by Lynn White through, get acquainted with the interpretation of biblical texts referring to the relationship to nature and the concepts of nature (the Genesis creation narrative in the context of contemporary science, the environmental interpretation of the Book of Revelation etc.) and with the ideas of some theologians or theological streams of the 20th and 21st century whose focus is on the environmental ethics and the relationship to nature (Albert Schweitzer, Alfons Auer, Sallie McFague, Leonardo Boff etc.)
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, students will be able to orientate themselves in the basic themes and streams of contemporary environmental theology; better analyze ecotheological texts; identify and deeper understand the theological themes contained in primarily non-theological texts; compare the differences among various theological approaches to nature.
Syllabus
  • The outline of the lectures: 1) Christian tradition as the source of the ecological crisis (Lynn White´s argument and its critics). 2) Biblical texts on creation and nature. Creation narrative and natural sciences (creationism and evolution). 3) Liberation theology and environmental ethics (Leonardo Boff). 4) Feminist theology and environmental ethics (Sallie McFague). 5) Process theology and environmental ethics (Jay B. McDaniel). 6) Autonomous morality and environmental ethics (Alfons Auer). 7) The ethics of reverence for life (Albert Schweitzer).
Literature
    recommended literature
  • SANTMIRE, H. Paul. Nature reborn : the ecological and cosmic promise of Christian theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000, x, 154. ISBN 0800632346. info
  • SANTMIRE, H. Paul. The travail of nature :the ambiguous ecological promise of christian theology. Minneapolis: Fortress press, 1985, xiii, 274. ISBN 0-8006-1806-8. info
  • KÜNG, Hans. Na počátku všech věcí : přírodní vědy a náboženství. Translated by Vladimír Petkevič. Vyd. 1. Praha: Bergman, 2011, 219 s. ISBN 9788090420731. info
  • OELSCHLAEGER, Max. Caring for creation :an ecumenical approach to the environmental crisis. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994. X, 285 p. ISBN 0300058179.
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussion with students.
Assessment methods
oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/ENSb1231