Priests of Creation: John Zizioulas on Discerning an Ecological Ethos

Description

Based on a constructive reading of Scripture, the apostolic and patristic traditions and deeply rooted in the sacramental experience and spiritual ethos of the Orthodox Church, John Zizioulas offers a timely anthropological and cosmological perspective of human beings as “priests of creation” in addressing the current ecological crisis. Given the critical and urgent character of the global crisis and by adopting a clear line of argumentation, Zizioulas describes a vision based on a compassionate and incarnational conception of the human beings as liturgical beings, offering creation to God for the life of the world. He encourages the need for deeper interaction with modern science, from which theology stands to gain an appreciation of the interconnection of every aspect of materiality and life with humankind. The result is an articulate and promising vision that inspires a new ethos, or way of life, to overcome our alienation from the rest of creation. Contents Foreword Introduction: Toward an Ecological Ethos I Historical Roots 1 St. Paul and the Ecological Problem 2 The Book of Revelation and the Natural Environment 3 Creation Theology: An Orthodox Perspective II Theological Approaches 4 Orthodoxy and the Ecological Crisis 5 A Theological Approach to the Ecological Problem 6 An Orthodox Response to the Environmental Challenge III Liturgical Perspectives 7 Preserving God’s Creation: Three Lectures on Theology and Ecology 8 The Eucharistic Vision of the World 9 Proprietors or Priests of Creation? IV Ecological Ethics or Ecological Ethos? 10 Ethics or Ethos? A Brief Sketch 11 Toward an Environmental Ethic V Scientific and Spiritual Dimensions 12 Religion and Science: A Theological Approach 13 Humanity and Nature: Learning from the Indigenous 14 Man and Animals VI Ecumenical and Cultural Implications 15 Ecological Asceticism: A Cultural Revolution 16 Communion and Communication 17 Pope Francis and Laudato Si’ Conclusion: From Here to Where? Original Publications Select Bibliography Index of Names Index of Terms