Academic theologians from all disciplines interested in the theme of ‘Theology Facing Climate Change’ are invited to submit their proposals for presentation at the International Reformed Theological Institute (IRTI) 14th Biennial International Conference by April 1, 2022.
Theme
The adverse and disproportionate effects of the climate crisis urge theologians to address the question of environmental justice in search of the fullness of life for all, which the gospel proclaims. As the rise of ‘green theology’ and ‘ecotheology’ indicates, there exists a need to develop forms of constructive theology that focus on the interrelationships of religion, nature, and justice in the light of environmental crisis. Complex relationships exist between religious and non-religious worldviews and the degradation and/or restoration of the more-than-human nature.
Understood in this way, theology has the double task of self-criticism of its own tradition and theological concepts, together with retrieval from tradition to develop new constructive understandings and proposals. On the one hand, it should be recognised that Christian anthropocentrism and the emphasis on human dominion over nature has played a part in environmental devastation. On the other hand, voices from Scripture and tradition may point to another account of the relationships between God, human being and the more-than-human nature.
The paradoxical situation that the human being is more than ever responsible for what is at stake on the planet and, at the same time, is faced with the unmanageability of environmental crisis could be illuminated from the perspective of sin, salvation, and restoration. In short, the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental crisis may be addressed from the broad variety of all the classical dogmatic loci.
The 14th biennial IRTI online conference will take the various loci as starting point for theological and (inter)contextual reflection on the urgent theme of climate change. You can send your abstract of no more than 250 words to the secretary Albert Nijboer: a.s.nijboer@irti.nl Presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes.
Online registration will open after 1 April on https://www.pthu.nl/irti/