EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Two, Number Two November/December 1992 SEMINARY PROFESSORS RETHINK CURRICULUM FOR BIBLICALLY BASED ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC In October 1992, at a secluded Illinois resort, 58 professors from 20 theological seminaries spent a weekend in intensive conversation on Creation, Ecology, and Ethics. Representing a broad range of Christian traditions — Catholic, Orthodox, Mennonite, mainstream Protestant, and Evangelical — they were guests of the Lilly Foundation Project of Bible and Theology, begun in 1988 to help make seminary education more relevant to the modern world. "It was exciting to hear the scientific perspective as well as the theological," said participant Dr. Donald Juel, Professor of New Testament at Luther Northwestern Seminary. "We need a fundamental rethinking of our curriculum. There is an agenda we have not attended to, and we see the judgment of God in nature. The four topics we covered were 1. Does Nature Need to be Redeemed? 2. The Nonhuman as Vehicle and Victim of Divine Judgment, 3. The Human Being as Priest and Interpreter of Creation, and 4. Social Justice, Earth Justice." Naming as Relationship "One presentation opened up a new dimension of the Genesis story. We saw a documentary on a pride of lions, narrated by a scientist who had observed them over a long period of time. He had given each one a name; he recognized their different personalities. Through his relationship with the lions, we the viewers could appreciate them at a deeper level. "In bringing the beasts to man to be named (Gen. 2:19-20), God intended that humans set up a relationship with all other creatures, instead of using them as anonymous resources and instruments for our own benefit. "This understanding of naming as creating a relationship holds the possibility of doing something concrete about changing our attitudes. How might naming be incorporated into the Blessing of the Animals, for example? Or could we develop rituals for naming controversial environmental sites as a way of healing and appreciation?" For more information write or call Dr. Donald Juel, Luther Northwestern Seminary, 2481 Como Ave, St. Paul MN 55108, (612) 641-3456. Home     Table of Contents