Chapter 18
Christianity, Creation, and the Climate
Crisis: Ecotheological Paradigms
and Perspectives
Johannes M. Luetz and Richard G. Leo
Abstract Ecotheology is an area of growing interest to faith communities both
denominationally and ecumenically. This includes Pacific Island nations, which are
characterised by a comparatively high degree of Christianisation. Ecotheological
ideas commonly explore the interrelationships between religion and nature in the light
of contemporary environmental concerns. More specifically, ecotheology typically
ponders questions of how spirituality impinges on sustainability. A review of the
literature reflects nuanced and contested perspectives that suggest that religion may
either enable or disable environmental conservation in different contexts. This chapter
conceptualises religion as an effective cultural adaptation resource whose potential
in the Anthropocene remains grossly underappreciated. It presents epistemologies
and ‘green prisms’ that explain Christian environmental action and inaction, pointing
the way to effective and sustainable climate-change adaptation in the future.
Introduction: The Three ‘Rs’ of Christian Environmental
Thought
Pentecostal theologian Amos Yong (2005) once suggested that, if we neglect to
include the sciences and the natural world in our theological worldview, we will
be severely handicapped in trying to understand many of the pressing issues of
our time (p. 276). Over recent years there has been a growing interest among faith
J. M. Luetz (B)
School of Social Sciences, Christian Heritage College (CHC), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
e-mail: jluetz@chc.edu.au
School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Maroochydore, QLD,
Australia
School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
R. G. Leo
School of Education, Humanities and Business, Christian Heritage College (CHC), Brisbane,
QLD, Australia
e-mail: rleo@chc.edu.au
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. M. Luetz and P. D. Nunn (eds.), Beyond Belief, Climate Change Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67602-5_18
345
Christianity, Creation, and the Climate
Crisis: Ecotheological Paradigms
and Perspectives
Johannes M. Luetz and Richard G. Leo
Abstract Ecotheology is an area of growing interest to faith communities both
denominationally and ecumenically. This includes Pacific Island nations, which are
characterised by a comparatively high degree of Christianisation. Ecotheological
ideas commonly explore the interrelationships between religion and nature in the light
of contemporary environmental concerns. More specifically, ecotheology typically
ponders questions of how spirituality impinges on sustainability. A review of the
literature reflects nuanced and contested perspectives that suggest that religion may
either enable or disable environmental conservation in different contexts. This chapter
conceptualises religion as an effective cultural adaptation resource whose potential
in the Anthropocene remains grossly underappreciated. It presents epistemologies
and ‘green prisms’ that explain Christian environmental action and inaction, pointing
the way to effective and sustainable climate-change adaptation in the future.
Introduction: The Three ‘Rs’ of Christian Environmental
Thought
Pentecostal theologian Amos Yong (2005) once suggested that, if we neglect to
include the sciences and the natural world in our theological worldview, we will
be severely handicapped in trying to understand many of the pressing issues of
our time (p. 276). Over recent years there has been a growing interest among faith
J. M. Luetz (B)
School of Social Sciences, Christian Heritage College (CHC), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
e-mail: jluetz@chc.edu.au
School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Maroochydore, QLD,
Australia
School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
R. G. Leo
School of Education, Humanities and Business, Christian Heritage College (CHC), Brisbane,
QLD, Australia
e-mail: rleo@chc.edu.au
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. M. Luetz and P. D. Nunn (eds.), Beyond Belief, Climate Change Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67602-5_18
345