Routledge An Ecological Christian Anthropology: At Home on Earth?

What is the place and vocation of human beings in the earth community? This is the central question that this contribution towards a Christian ecological anthropology addresses. In ecological theology this question is often answered by the affirmation that 'We are at home on earth'. This affirmation rightly responds to the widespread sense of alienation from nature, to the anthropocentrism that pervades much of the Christian tradition and to concerns about the scope of environmental devastation. This book challenges the affirmation that we are at home on earth, examining natural suffering, anxieties concerning human finitude and especially the pervasiveness of evil. The book investigates contributions to ecological theology, South African and African theology, reformed theology and contemporary dialogues between theology and the sciences in search of a thoroughly ecological Christian anthropology. Review 'Ernst Conradie [...] addresses this issue from a theological perspective. And he does it well. Ashgate publishing house has already provided several books interesting for the Science and Religion dialogue, and this one will not disappoint the reader... The book gives the reader a well-informed and thorough overview of the topics involved, and will, in my opinion, be a very good book to read while preparing for ECST XI... he certainly challenges the reader to articulate and deepen her own position regarding the place of humans in nature.' ESSSAT News 'The book provides a very valuable resource both for the scholar on approaches to Christian environmental concerns as well those involved in church actions around the environment, seeking bliblical and theological basis for their activities.' Journal of Theology for Southern Africa ’...Ernst Conradie has written an impressive book... The great strengths of the book, along with the clarity of its structure, are the breadth and depth of its dialogue partners, and its relentless undaunted trawl through list upon list of issues and their chief protagonists... makes the book an indispensable companion in this rapidly expanding theological field, because it keeps a steady hand while covering a large literature.’ Theology About the Author Ernst M. Conradie is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.