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BOOK REVIEW: Ecotheology: A Christian Conversation January 25th, 2022
EDITED BY KIARA A. JORGENSON AND ALAN G. PADGETT, WITH A FOREWORD BY KATHARINE HAYHOE
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2020. 228 pp. $24.99
This is an exemplary ecumenical dialogue on ecothology and will be essential reading for those in the field. Four leading ecotheologians—Anglican, Lutheran, evangelical-Reformed and Catholic—each offer an account of what they see as the central points in ecotheology. The other three authors provide comments which critique and expand on that essay, illumining one another. The book is an excellent introduction to the basics of ecotheology and also takes the reader deeper with rigor and substance.
The first essay is by biblical scholar Richard Bauckham, who states that while the interpretation of “dominion” (Gen. 1:28) as “stewardship,” however flawed, has proved useful, it is not sufficient. Based on meticulous exegesis of key verses in Genesis 1, he proposes that humans see themselves as “fellow creatures” within the interconnected community of creation. Bauckham points out that the biblical perspective is neither anthropocentric nor biocentric, but theocentric—and that all creation is included in God’s plan for our future. Click here for full book review.
Rev. Fr. Rohan Silva, OMI: Our Duty to Make This ‘Havocked Home’ Back Into a ‘Home of Hope’ January 19th, 2022
By Fr. Rohan Silva, OMI
The pandemic represents the permanent threat to the whole world, labelled as the worst social shockwave and the unprecedented economic down turn in recent history. Sri Lanka with this viral outbreak like the similar middle-income countries is also most vulnerable where the 
economic tremor is already felt and its severe assault may be expected to be significantly direct and indirect. The scarcities or the fear of such possibilities are what has created part of the havoc. However, the human potential is to win these hurdles of life with hope and courage. This edition of Social Justice, its 201st volume has thematized this very notion that if there is havoc then there is hope with all human imagination and effort.
The life styles have been changed too, some people for two + years have not seen their friends and family living overseas and just beginning to normalize but not without anxieties and fears. The teachers and students have been aloof from primary school to the postgraduate students in universities managing through just with cloud technology devising different platforms of communication. Many national and international symposia, conferences have been held in similar methods and media. The havoc hit the core of every single stratum of life and living from a new born to the oldest civilian cutting short his/her life grossly terminating the fondness of the grand children with their grandparents. Complete havoc has caused in the traditional households and wonder about possible alternatives to reconnect and relate like before. READ THE FULL ARTICLE.
Read the Nov. -Dec. 2021 “E Edition of Social Justice Magazine” of Centre for Society and Religion (CSR)
Webinar: USCCB’s Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines with Reverend Séamus Finn, OMI January 18th, 2022
Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Join the Fight! January 11th, 2022
Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange created a reflection and prayer calendar that can be downloaded in both English and Spanish at this link: http://csjorange.org/ministries/justice-center/resources.
La Vista Ecological Learning Center Launches an Exploration of Laudato Si through Field Trips January 6th, 2022
By Sister Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
OMI Novices and Sister Maxine are finding concepts in Laudato Si come alive through field trips in the Godfrey area. In the encyclical Pope Francis calls us to “become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” That is our goal, and our first field trip explored chapter one, “What Is Happening to Our Common Home,” focusing on pollution, waste, and the throwaway culture.
We began by driving across the river in order to pass close to the coal-fired Sioux Power Plant which generates our electricity, and which is visible from the Novitiate. With our own eyes we saw pollution spewing out of the stack, 3 million tons of coal ash, and ponds of polluted wastewater. The encyclical states, “Each year hundreds of millions of waste are generated, much of it non-biodegradable, highly toxic and radioactive,… from industrial sources. The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” Seeing this up close was a sobering experience and helped us understand why fossil fuels need to be replaced with clean, renewable energy if we are to counter pollution and toxic waste.
Read the full article at OMIUSA.org.
