A Political Theology of Nature
This book argues that the modern separation of humanity from nature can be traced to the displacement of the triune God. Locating the source of our current ecological crisis in this separation, Peter Scott argues that it can only be healed within theology, through a revival of a Trinitarian doctrine of creation interacting with political philosophies of ecology. Drawing insights from deep ecology, ecofeminism, and social and socialist ecologies, Scott proposes a common realm of God, nature and humanity. Both Trinitarian and political, the theology of this common realm is worked out by reference to Christ and Spirit. Christ's resurrection is presented as the liberation and renewal of ecological relations in nature and society, the movement of the Holy Spirit is understood as the renewal of fellowship between humanity and nature through ecological democracy, and the Eucharist is proposed as the principal political resource Christianity offers for an ecological age.
- Innovative theological re-interpretation of the relationship between nature and humanity
- Offers a bold new solution to ecological crisis based on the combination of theology with political philosophies of ecology
- Insightful analysis of deep ecology, ecofeminism, social and socialist ecologies
Reviews & endorsements
"Deeply Chistocentric and Trinitarian in its theological vision, the book is also profoundly political, arguing persuasively that the way out of our ongoing debasement of the natural world requires a new political theology that is sensitive to the social and political complexity of our ecological crisis." Choice
"Engaging, challenging, refreshingly political, and deeply grounded in the Chrisitian tradition." Theological Studies
"This new work by Peter Scott makes a powerful case for a social and political basis for ecological theology...The book is elegantly written and precise in its criticisms of contemporary theologies influenced by deep ecology." - The Journal of Religion Mark I. Wallace, Swarthmore College
Product details
April 2003Paperback
9780521527170
290 pages
229 × 152 × 18 mm
0.392kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Part I. God, Nature and Modernity:
- 1. Nature in Christian theology: politics, context and strategies
- 2. The common realm of God, nature and humanity
- Part II. The Politics of Nature:
- 3. The return of nature: deep ecology
- 4. The re/production of nature: ecofeminism
- 5. The dialectical emergence of nature and society: social ecology
- 6. The production of nature: socialist ecology
- Part III. The Triune God and Un/natural Humanity:
- 7. Common nature: the worldly Christ
- 8. Un/natural fellowship: life in the Spirit
- 9. God-body: Un/natural relations, un/natural community in Jesus Christ.