EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Five, Number Two November/December 1995 An Advent Call to Repentance The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) Advent, with its liturgical color of purple, is a season of thanksgiving, repentance, expectation and hope, looking toward the joy of Christmas, the celebration of the Incarnation. In our profligate consuming culture, we frequently forget to repent. Real repentance (metanoia) means a radical change in direction — from a culture of over-consumption to a culture of sufficiency; a turning from economic emperialism to supporting global sharing and self determination; a change from loving Mammon to loving the whole creation. Repentance begins in our homes and faith communities. Professor Thomas Hoyt, Jr. of Hartford Seminary reminds us of the connections between Christmas and the environment: "Humans embody a representative sampling of all the elements of the ecosphere. Humans are of the earth, interdependent parts of nature, and this totality is what God associated with in the incarnation. "The ecological implications of the incarnation are significant. The doctrine confers dignity not only on humanity, but on biophysical materiality, everything earthly and heavenly. It sanctifies creation, making all things meaningful and worthy in the divine scheme. It sanctions human humility, reminding us of our common rootage and connections with other kinds. It justifies 'biophilia', the affiliation with and affection for the diversity of life forms. When we destroy life, as predatorial creatures must to survive in this unredeemed world, we should do so sparingly and reverently, in recognition of the incarnation and in respect for our co-evolving kin. Malicious pollution, and excessive consumption are sins from the perspective of the incarnation." (excerpts from a 1994 paper by Dr. Thomas Hoyt Jr, Professor of New Testament, Hartford Seminary, Hartford CT) So, what should we do to repent? Besides continuing to put pressure on President Clinton, Congress, and local governments to protect our air, water, public land, endangered species, forests, wildlife refuges and wilderness, we can put into practice some alternatives that are needed to change our economic system. (See the Resources column in this issue.) Home     Table of Contents