XIANTHE 271
Theology in Ecological Context
Spring 2009
Time: Th 2:30-5:00
Office Hours: T 10-11am
M/W 1-3pm
Instructor: Norman Wirzba
Office: 0045 Langford
Phone: 660-3496
Email: nwirzba@div.duke.edu
Description & Purpose:
Ecological teaching poses radical challenges for modern, industrial cultures. In
particular, the insight that humans dwell in terms of geo-physical and bio-chemical
relationships means that cultures cannot make human ambition and want the measure of
“success.” The task of all cultural institutions, ranging from economics and education to
religion and politics, is to bring human desire and understanding into alignment with the
potential of ecological realities. Put theologically, our task is to learn what it means to be
creatures, and then become one.
This course will begin with an examination of what ecological science means and
how it has been incorporated in various philosophical schools (like Deep Ecology and
Eco-feminism). We will then move to an exploration of what ecology means for
theological reflection and for the life of the church. Next we will consider a more
systematic treatment of several key Christian teachings to reveal their potential to aid in
the work of ecological healing and creaturely life. We will see, for instance, how the
doctrine of creation, when deeply understood, reframes the way we think about the
human place in the world but also God’s abiding relation with us. We will consider what
it means to speak, as the early church did, of the cosmic Christ. We will also determine
how the church, as Christ’s continuing presence on earth, must rethink its mission in
terms of the healing and reconciliation of creation. Far from being an imposition of an
ecological agenda, this course will tap theological resources that have gone unnoticed
owing to our own ecological ignorance.
The aim of this course is to equip students with an ecologically informed
theological consciousness so that contemporary debates about environmental matters can
be understood and addressed from a distinctly Christian point of view.
Required Texts:
Willis Jenkins. Ecologies of Grace (Oxford)
Norman Wirzba. The Paradise of God (Oxford)
Stan Rowe. Home Place: Essays on Ecology (NeWest Press)
Dieter Hessel & Rosemary Ruether. Christianity & Ecology (Harvard)
Michael Northcott. The Environment and Christian Ethics (Cambridge)
Peter Scott. A Political Theology of Nature (Cambridge)
Selected Essays will be put on Library Reserve or distributed to the class.
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Recommended Texts:
Paul Santmire. The Travail of Nature (Fortress)
Laurel Kearns & Catherine Keller. Ecospirit (Fordham)
Course Format:
This class will be a mix of lecture and seminar format. I will provide contextual remarks
to help orient our discussion, but students will be responsible for leading discussions over
the weekly readings. You will be evaluated on your grasp of the texts and your ability to
present and interact with the issues being considered.
Course Requirements:
1) Students must come to class having read the material beforehand. Weekly
readings will form the basis for our discussion.
2) Each student will have two opportunities to lead the discussion in class. As part of
your responsibility, your task will be to summarize the key points and themes of
the weekly reading. You will then lead the rest of the class in a time of vigorous
questioning and theme development. On the day you lead the class, bring a
written copy of your summary (1-2 pages) and a list of the important questions
you think need to be addressed. (20% total for both presentations and the overall
quality of class preparedness and discussion)
3) Essay 1 – You will write a 5-page essay in which you develop an ecologically
informed critique of some aspect of culture’s or the church’s life. The aim of this
essay is to help you digest the key insights of an ecological understanding. (20%
of final grade)
4) Essay 2 – You will write a 10-page essay in which you develop a Christian
doctrine (such as the doctrines of God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Church, Redemption,
Eschatology, etc.) in light of an ecological awareness. This essay must be
carefully argued and demonstrate an awareness of how an ecologically informed
position differs from an account not so informed. (40% of final grade)
5) Final Exam – this exam will be comprehensive in its nature. It will be take home,
but should be written in one sitting. You may use whatever resources you like to
prepare for this exam. This exam will help you pull together the diverse strands of
the class into a synoptic position. (20% of final grade)
(N.B. If you are a Ph.D. or Th.D. student the length of each paper will double and
go into greater detail.)
Course Policies:
1) Academic Honesty – Members of the class are expected to abide by the “Conduct
Covenant and Judicial Procedures” as printed in the 2008-2009 Bulletin, pp.18891. In accordance with the Honor Code, students are expected to do their own
work for each of the assignments. Any violation of the Honor Code will result in
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a failing grade, and depending on the severity of the case could result in
additional consequences.
Students are expected to use Inclusive Language in their assignments as described
in the Bulletin, pp. 186-88.
Late work will not be accepted under any except the most serious circumstances.
It is imperative that you be in conversation with me the moment you find yourself
in a problem situation. Otherwise, you risk a grade of zero for the assignment.
Disability Statement – Students with disabilities who believe they may need
accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact, if you have not done so
already, the Disability Management System—Student Access Office at 668-1267
as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations can be
implemented in a timely fashion. Please also contact Rev. Todd Maberry,
Divinity Registrar (tmaberry@div.duke.edu or 660-3428), to assist with the process.
Incompletes will not be given except in extreme circumstances.
Punctual classroom attendance is vital. Tardiness and absences (except under
severe circumstances) will adversely affect your grade.
Grading System:
A = 93-100
A- = 90-92
B+ = 88-89
B = 83-87
B- = 80-82
C+ = 78-79
C = 73-77
C- = 70-72
D+ = 68-69
D = 60-67
F = 0-59
Course Schedule: (Tentative)
January 8 – Introducing the Class/Introducing Ecology: Aldo Leopold’s “Land Ethic”
(http://home.btconnect.com/tipiglen/landethic.html), Wirzba (93-122)
January 15 – Ecology Continued: Rowe (1-233), Donald Worster’s Nature’s Economy (as
background material)
January 22 – (Louisville Institute)
January 29 – Challenging Modern Culture: Wirzba (61-92), Northcott (1-85)
February 5 – Philosophical Ecology: Scott (63-165), Northcott (86-123)
February 12 – Challenging the Church: White’s “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological
Crisis” (http://www.zbi.ee/~kalevi/lwhite.htm), Scott (3-60), Santmire (1-218)
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February 19 – Doctrines of God & Creation: Wirzba (vii-59), Jenkins (115-51), Northcott
(124-98), Moltmann’s God in Creation (as background material)
February 26 – Doctrines of God and Creation Continued: Christianity & Ecology (3-27,
337-363), Ecospirit (353-72), Rowan Williams’s “On Being Creatures”,
March 5 – Christology: Scott (169-200), Jenkins (153-225), Christianity & Ecology (2950)
March 12 (Spring Break)
March 19 – Holy Spirit: Scott (201-32), Christianity & Ecology (51-96). Ecospirit (315336, 291-314), Moltmann’s Spirit of Life (as background material)
March 26 – Theological Anthropology: Wirzba (123-148), Christianity & Ecology (135154, 97-124, 291-316), Ecospirit (125-155)
April 2 – Theological Ethics: Northcott (199-327), Jenkins (31-111), Christianity &
Ecology (227-290), Ecospirit (495-503)
April 9 – The Church’s Mission: Scott (233-58), Wirzba (149-201), Christianity &
Ecology (515-614)
April 16 – Last Things: Christianity & Ecology (183-224, Ecospirit (392-411)
April 27-May 1 (Final Exams)