The Bible and Ecology

Programme

Ecological crisis is one of the main challenges in need of combined response in the last decades. In the critical discussion regarding its roots, biblical scholars have turned to the biblical text and its interpretation through the ages, searching for possible misinterpretations that supported ideologically the environmental exploitation and degradation. They also developed different methodological models for reading the biblical text from an ecological perspective. In light of the pressing global ecological crisis, the research unit would like to continue the critical and inter/trans-disciplinary exploration of the Bible and ecology.

The research unit aims to: 

• Explore and employ various methodological trends in reading well-known and uncharted biblical and early Christian texts from ecological perspective; 
• Analyze the use of these texts from the perspectives of various stakeholders including but not limited to biblical scholars from all over the world; 
• Promote dialogue with various groups from different global locations, within and beyond biblical exegesis and theology, that can improve the ecological biblical interpretation and contribute to other areas of knowledge while enhancing knowledge distribution.

Keywords:

Bible, Religion, Christianity, Ecological Crisis, Climate Change, Environment, Hermeneutics

Chairs

Ma. Maricel S. Ibita
Ateneo de Manila University

Ma. Marilou S. Ibita
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and De la Salle University-Manila
[email protected],
[email protected]

Ekaterini Tsalampouni
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Toulouse 2022 Call for Papers

2022 Bible, Ecology and Ecological Education 

Although delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 publication of the latest update from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that by 2040, we are set to pass the 1.5°C warming and with it comes the ecological, societal and economic consequences. The report also affirms how human activity is driving the extreme weather changes and regional climate impacts in various parts of the world are becoming clearer, more devastating in some areas than others. The report underlines how close we are to the irreversible tipping points resulting to irreparable damage. Even the possible zoonotic origin of the SARS-COV-2 and the ecological gains and losses because of  the pandemic are confronting all of us.  The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have registered some setbacks on the achievement of the goals related to the ecological crisis due to the pandemic.  Consequently, there is an increasing eco-anxiety among peoples of various generations especially the youth because of these challenges particularly for those who experience the consequences of the ecological disasters. At the same time, there is also a growing clamor to become bolder in responding to the ecological crisis with the youth increasingly taking a prominent role. 

The 2022 meeting of the Bible and Ecology research group will focus on the way in which biblical scholars and other academics respond to the ecological challenges through education. We would like to explore what biblical texts and what eco-biblical hermeneutical methodologies and approaches are used in teaching about the ecological crisis in various levels of education, in academic and non-academic settings, as well as the assessment of the effectivity of the ecological education efforts. We also would like to dialogue with participants on the possibilities and limits of ecological education, ecological knowledge production and dissemination in relation to the Bible, and the ways biblical and theological educators can forge synergy with other educators and stakeholders. For the EABS meeting in Toulouse, France, there will be one session for an open call for papers and another with invited speakers focusing on the 2022 theme of Bible, Ecology and Ecological Education.