Eco-Theology
Introduction to a new Bible Study Series in Forward
Theos is Greek for “God”. Logos is Greek for “word”. “Theology” therefore means words about God, and can be used to describe everything from the simplest creed such as “God is love” to vast tomes of systematic theology that seek to understand what God is like as fully as any human can. Interestingly Karl Barth who wrote one of the most extensive (originally 13 volumes) and influential of the latter, when once challenged by a student as to whether he could summarise simply what his studies had taught him replied, “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so’.” “Theology” is a little different from other “-ologies” familiar to us, such as biology, criminology, anthropology or geology. In those cases we do the talking about living things, crime, humans or rocks, as the case may be. But “theology” is about two parties, ourselves and God, in conversation. For Christians, and others who view the Bible as scripture, God speaks through the Bible. The reason we study it is to learn more about God in order to better relate to God. There are varied understandings of just how scripture functions as “the
word of God” but it is central to our faith that God makes God’s self known. At the heart of that revelation, the central theme of the Bible, is Jesus Christ. Everything in the book, everything God wishes to say to us, relates to him whom we acknowledge as God’s word made human. But are God and ourselves the only partners in this conversation, this theological enterprise with Jesus at its heart, the one who is uniquely both God and human? Eco-theology asks us to take seriously the third partner in the conversation: the rest of creation. [The prefix “eco-“ originally from the Greek oikos meaning “house” is familiar to us in “economy” (household management) as well as in “ecology” which concerns the relationship of living things to one another and their environment.] So eco-theology is the study and expression of our relationship with God taking God’s other creatures into account. In considering those creatures there is a temptation to ascribe a different status to plants and all kinds of animals than to the earth and oceans and atmosphere. But the truth is that the relationships between what we think of as “living” things and those environmental elements are being increasingly seen as more intricate and intimate than we realised. Our own relationship to climate is just one example of that. So it makes no sense to seek to isolate in our thinking some created things from others. Therefore I choose to use “creature” for everything God has made, not merely those popularly regarded as living creatures. When we engage in eco-theology it turns out that all the subdivisions of traditional theology: the nature of God, the work of God, the nature of humanity, the person and work of Christ, the nature of salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church and the sacraments, and things to come, are each understood more fully when the rest of creation is allowed to be part of the picture. Whilst we could explore eco-theology using that scheme, this series will instead explore our understanding of God through particular bible passages, not least because you can then read and reflect on their meaning for yourself, or indeed in a group with others. Over the next twelve months or so we will explore the Bible’s story of salvation, travel the journey of faith, together with the whole creation.
Each study will lead to some questions for further thought, or for discussion with others. If you would be interested in a group to engage in such discussion let me know by mid-
December and if there’s enough interest in that we will go for it in the new year.
E-mail mosedale@btinternet.com if we don’t happen to see each other. Stephen Mosedale
Green Vatican
The Vatican City now runs entirely on green energy. Before his death, Pope Francis installed a large array of solar panels on a farm outside Rome, which provides enough electricity to meet all the Vatican City’s energy needs. This reflected Pope Francis’ long-standing concern about climate change. His 2015 letter “Laudato Si’” talked about the impacts of global warming, and in 2022 the Vatican joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. His 2024 letter “Fratello sole” or “Brother Sun” promoted solar energy, and has encouraged catholic communities worldwide to adopt renewable energy sources. Along with Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Vatican City now generates over 99.7% of its energy consumption from renewable sources. Norway is close behind on 98% , while in UK, in the second quarter of 2025 around 55% of electricity generated was from renewable sources, the highest ever. The solar panels on the Mint Centre’s roof are contributing to this!
(Adapted from www. happyeconews.com). Roger Day