Some preliminary thoughts on the representation of Judges 19 in Matthew 10:34-36
Comments appr... more Some preliminary thoughts on the representation of Judges 19 in Matthew 10:34-36
An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer, 2019
The introduction to my 2019 book, An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism ... more The introduction to my 2019 book, An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer (Fortress Academic)
Here, I discuss and critically deconstruct the strange polemics against Schweitzer as a colonial tyrant, setting the stage for a new exploration of his work and philosophy in the subsequent chapters.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2024
The Russian World (Russkii Mir) theology is at the heart of the invasion of Ukraine, and is fueli... more The Russian World (Russkii Mir) theology is at the heart of the invasion of Ukraine, and is fueling the ongoing war with apocalyptic rhetoric. Specifically, the Patriarch Kirill (Gundiaev), Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’ and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, has declared the “special military operation” in Ukraine to be a Holy War, and sees the Russian Federation as the prophesied one restraining the reign of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 6–7). The West, and its permissive culture of secularist governments, religious pluralism, reproductive freedom, and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ persons, is seen as literally satanic – that is, as heralding the coming of the Antichrist from the Book of Revelation. This article traces the evolution of this aberrant theology, as well as the geopolitical contexts in which it has evolved. The article concludes with a counternarrative coming from the Orthodox Church Father, Saint Irenaeus of Lyon (☦ 202 CE). It is hoped that a “Return to the Fathers” in theological worldview will, in turn, help Russian Orthodoxy to return to sanity, and away from its dangerous apocalyptic rhetoric.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, Dec 30, 2020
Welcome to the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion's special issue on Religion and Cl... more Welcome to the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion's special issue on Religion and Climate Change, distributed through the McGill University Library. This issue of JCREOR goes back to a colloquium held on September 20th, 2019, at McGill University, organized by the Montreal based Council for Research on Religion, in which several leading McGill scholars and an interested audience discussed the many intersections between religion and climate change. Special attention was given to the question of how Eastern and Western traditions, as well as traditions from ancient times, can inform us on how to better respond-socially, politically, ethically, spiritually-to the effects of present-day climate change. The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, demonstrated against climate change. Climate change involves not only catastrophic changes to the natural world in which we live, but also changes to our lives, our hopes and fears (increased anxiety, depression, doomsday feelings) as well as changes in society and politics (from new literary and film genres, to discussions about divesting, immigration politics, international relations etc.). Indeed, the present Covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown how everything and everyone in society is connected and intertwined, and that it is impossible to escape one's own responsibility. Let us all hope that the time for action has come now. A special thanks goes to the participants of the Colloquium.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
The second issue of volume two of the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) ca... more The second issue of volume two of the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) came out of a colloquium in honour of Professor Emeritus Douglas John Hall, entitled “Christian Theology after Christendom: Engaging the Thought of Douglas John Hall.” The event was held at McGill University in November 2019, hosted by the McGill School of Religious Studies and Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto. These articles were chosen for this issue because of their focus on themes central to the corpus of Douglas Hall’s work. While some engage his work directly, others raise interesting questions and concerns related to the theme. These articles should be considered as an accompaniment to the volume of papers published in 2021 by Lexington Books/Fortress Academic and entitled Christian Theology after Christendom: Engaging the Thought of Douglas John Hall, edited by Patricia G. Kirkpatrick and Pamela R. McCarroll.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion – Montreal, Quebec, 2022
The Russo-Ukrainian War, beginning with the invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, wi... more The Russo-Ukrainian War, beginning with the invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, witnessed a full-scale invasion of the entire nation in early 2022. As the renewed conflict enters into its seventh month, its repercussions threaten to impact other nations in myriad ways, ranging from radioactive catastrophes from attacks on civilian nuclear power plants, to direct military aggression or spillover to other nations. One of these looming concerns is a famine in Ethiopia resulting from reduced access to Ukrainian wheat; the Black Sea shipping lanes are under threat by Russian warships and mines. This article offers a theological reflection on this conflict, and how famine is now being used as a weapon of war. The orations of Basil the Great are discussed in relation to economic analyses on the causes of famine by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. These are brought forward in relation to the Russo-Ukrainian War, which has become an internecine war within Orthodox Christianity.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2020
This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic g... more This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic group in terms of its political expression in the United States of America. Specifically, the politics over granting asylum to climate refugees is examined together with a critical overview of Abrahamic history on the care of strangers and the treatment of refugees. Also examined are related questions on the epistemological reality of climate change within the academic community. This research is brought together to assess the impact and influence of white Evangelical Protestants on these controversies, and what can be done to counter the current political impasse that is blocking effective and meaningful climate change mitigation legislation and for granting asylum to climate refugees.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between... more Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between the ROC and the Russian Federation by sanctioning military conquest of foreign lands, including Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. This essay documents the emergence of this new political theology in terms of its historical precedents and how this history is being distorted, and even invented, to justify the claims to Christendom. Particular attention is given to the architecture and militaristic symbolism for the newly christened Cathedral for the Russian Armed Forces, dedicated on June 14th, 2020. Finally, these claims are critically examined using Hall’s theology of the cross as a disestablishment for all such “theologies of glory” in light of scripture, tradition,...
As the last great philosopher of the will, Albert Schweitzer rejected the radical individualism o... more As the last great philosopher of the will, Albert Schweitzer rejected the radical individualism of Nietzsche and the pessimistic-mystical detachment of Schopenhauer, and instead sought to create a true social ethic. Schweitzer's particular contribution was to move further than Nietzsche to reconcile philosophy with natural science while simultaneously preserving and transforming the sense of mysticism and higher world-order principles from Schopenhauer. He joined this new cosmology to the virtue ethics of Aristotle, and recovered one key element of his ontology of becoming to transcend the Humean "is/ought" gap for ethics. The result is a philosophy that is as much biographical of Schweitzer himself as it is systematic. This result is both the strength and greatest weakness of his reverence-for-life ethic. It is tailor-made for contemporary environmental ethics: it has applications in many strands of environmental thought, including deep ecology, ecofeminism, and ecotheology, and may attract considerable interest from environmental movements that seek to cultivate deep personal conviction.
Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both... more Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
Mengistie Kindu et al. (Eds): State of the Art in Ethiopian Church Forests and Restoration Options, 2022
This chapter examines the cultural importance of Ethiopian church forests with respect to environ... more This chapter examines the cultural importance of Ethiopian church forests with respect to environmental ethics and eco-theology, both within Tewahedo tradition for restoration projects in Ethiopia and for the potential to inform and enrich Christian traditions throughout the developed and developing world.
The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between... more Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between the ROC and the Russian Federation by sanctioning military conquest of foreign lands, including Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. This essay documents the emergence of this new political theology in terms of its historical precedents and how this history is being distorted, and even invented, to justify the claims to Christendom. Particular attention is given to the architecture and militaristic symbolism for the newly christened Cathedral for the Russian Armed Forces, dedicated on June 14th, 2020. Finally, these claims are critically examined using Hall's theology of the cross as a disestablishment for all such "theologies of glory" in light of scripture, tradition, and the true mission of the church. I also bring Hall's work into dialogue with similar thought from the Orthodox East.
https://creor-ejournal.library.mcgill.ca/issue/view/4
The first issue of volume two of The Journa... more https://creor-ejournal.library.mcgill.ca/issue/view/4 The first issue of volume two of The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) goes back to a colloquium hosted at the McGill School of Religious Studies in 2019 that focused on Religion and Climate Change. Special attention was given to both modern and ancient responses to climate change and how present-day climate change effects and/or influences political and economic action as well as religious interpretations.
The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people marched in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, to protest against inadequate action on climate change. The current pandemic has demonstrated how intricately connected global societies are to one another and that if we all take conscious steps towards addressing climate issues, we can make a difference.
The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR), 2020
This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic g... more This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic group in terms of its political expression in the United States of America. Specifically, the politics over granting asylum to climate refugees is examined together with a critical overview of Abrahamic history on the care of strangers and the treatment of refugees. Also examined are related questions on the epistemological reality of climate change within the academic community. This research is brought together to assess the impact and influence of white Evangelical Protestants on these controversies, and what can be done to counter the current political impasse that is blocking effective and meaningful climate change mitigation legislation and for granting asylum to climate refugees.
Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development
pressures both... more Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
Some preliminary thoughts on the representation of Judges 19 in Matthew 10:34-36
Comments appr... more Some preliminary thoughts on the representation of Judges 19 in Matthew 10:34-36
An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer, 2019
The introduction to my 2019 book, An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism ... more The introduction to my 2019 book, An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer (Fortress Academic)
Here, I discuss and critically deconstruct the strange polemics against Schweitzer as a colonial tyrant, setting the stage for a new exploration of his work and philosophy in the subsequent chapters.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2024
The Russian World (Russkii Mir) theology is at the heart of the invasion of Ukraine, and is fueli... more The Russian World (Russkii Mir) theology is at the heart of the invasion of Ukraine, and is fueling the ongoing war with apocalyptic rhetoric. Specifically, the Patriarch Kirill (Gundiaev), Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’ and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, has declared the “special military operation” in Ukraine to be a Holy War, and sees the Russian Federation as the prophesied one restraining the reign of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 6–7). The West, and its permissive culture of secularist governments, religious pluralism, reproductive freedom, and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ persons, is seen as literally satanic – that is, as heralding the coming of the Antichrist from the Book of Revelation. This article traces the evolution of this aberrant theology, as well as the geopolitical contexts in which it has evolved. The article concludes with a counternarrative coming from the Orthodox Church Father, Saint Irenaeus of Lyon (☦ 202 CE). It is hoped that a “Return to the Fathers” in theological worldview will, in turn, help Russian Orthodoxy to return to sanity, and away from its dangerous apocalyptic rhetoric.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, Dec 30, 2020
Welcome to the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion's special issue on Religion and Cl... more Welcome to the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion's special issue on Religion and Climate Change, distributed through the McGill University Library. This issue of JCREOR goes back to a colloquium held on September 20th, 2019, at McGill University, organized by the Montreal based Council for Research on Religion, in which several leading McGill scholars and an interested audience discussed the many intersections between religion and climate change. Special attention was given to the question of how Eastern and Western traditions, as well as traditions from ancient times, can inform us on how to better respond-socially, politically, ethically, spiritually-to the effects of present-day climate change. The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, demonstrated against climate change. Climate change involves not only catastrophic changes to the natural world in which we live, but also changes to our lives, our hopes and fears (increased anxiety, depression, doomsday feelings) as well as changes in society and politics (from new literary and film genres, to discussions about divesting, immigration politics, international relations etc.). Indeed, the present Covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown how everything and everyone in society is connected and intertwined, and that it is impossible to escape one's own responsibility. Let us all hope that the time for action has come now. A special thanks goes to the participants of the Colloquium.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
The second issue of volume two of the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) ca... more The second issue of volume two of the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) came out of a colloquium in honour of Professor Emeritus Douglas John Hall, entitled “Christian Theology after Christendom: Engaging the Thought of Douglas John Hall.” The event was held at McGill University in November 2019, hosted by the McGill School of Religious Studies and Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto. These articles were chosen for this issue because of their focus on themes central to the corpus of Douglas Hall’s work. While some engage his work directly, others raise interesting questions and concerns related to the theme. These articles should be considered as an accompaniment to the volume of papers published in 2021 by Lexington Books/Fortress Academic and entitled Christian Theology after Christendom: Engaging the Thought of Douglas John Hall, edited by Patricia G. Kirkpatrick and Pamela R. McCarroll.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion – Montreal, Quebec, 2022
The Russo-Ukrainian War, beginning with the invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, wi... more The Russo-Ukrainian War, beginning with the invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, witnessed a full-scale invasion of the entire nation in early 2022. As the renewed conflict enters into its seventh month, its repercussions threaten to impact other nations in myriad ways, ranging from radioactive catastrophes from attacks on civilian nuclear power plants, to direct military aggression or spillover to other nations. One of these looming concerns is a famine in Ethiopia resulting from reduced access to Ukrainian wheat; the Black Sea shipping lanes are under threat by Russian warships and mines. This article offers a theological reflection on this conflict, and how famine is now being used as a weapon of war. The orations of Basil the Great are discussed in relation to economic analyses on the causes of famine by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. These are brought forward in relation to the Russo-Ukrainian War, which has become an internecine war within Orthodox Christianity.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2020
This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic g... more This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic group in terms of its political expression in the United States of America. Specifically, the politics over granting asylum to climate refugees is examined together with a critical overview of Abrahamic history on the care of strangers and the treatment of refugees. Also examined are related questions on the epistemological reality of climate change within the academic community. This research is brought together to assess the impact and influence of white Evangelical Protestants on these controversies, and what can be done to counter the current political impasse that is blocking effective and meaningful climate change mitigation legislation and for granting asylum to climate refugees.
Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between... more Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between the ROC and the Russian Federation by sanctioning military conquest of foreign lands, including Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. This essay documents the emergence of this new political theology in terms of its historical precedents and how this history is being distorted, and even invented, to justify the claims to Christendom. Particular attention is given to the architecture and militaristic symbolism for the newly christened Cathedral for the Russian Armed Forces, dedicated on June 14th, 2020. Finally, these claims are critically examined using Hall’s theology of the cross as a disestablishment for all such “theologies of glory” in light of scripture, tradition,...
As the last great philosopher of the will, Albert Schweitzer rejected the radical individualism o... more As the last great philosopher of the will, Albert Schweitzer rejected the radical individualism of Nietzsche and the pessimistic-mystical detachment of Schopenhauer, and instead sought to create a true social ethic. Schweitzer's particular contribution was to move further than Nietzsche to reconcile philosophy with natural science while simultaneously preserving and transforming the sense of mysticism and higher world-order principles from Schopenhauer. He joined this new cosmology to the virtue ethics of Aristotle, and recovered one key element of his ontology of becoming to transcend the Humean "is/ought" gap for ethics. The result is a philosophy that is as much biographical of Schweitzer himself as it is systematic. This result is both the strength and greatest weakness of his reverence-for-life ethic. It is tailor-made for contemporary environmental ethics: it has applications in many strands of environmental thought, including deep ecology, ecofeminism, and ecotheology, and may attract considerable interest from environmental movements that seek to cultivate deep personal conviction.
Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both... more Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
Mengistie Kindu et al. (Eds): State of the Art in Ethiopian Church Forests and Restoration Options, 2022
This chapter examines the cultural importance of Ethiopian church forests with respect to environ... more This chapter examines the cultural importance of Ethiopian church forests with respect to environmental ethics and eco-theology, both within Tewahedo tradition for restoration projects in Ethiopia and for the potential to inform and enrich Christian traditions throughout the developed and developing world.
The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion, 2021
Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between... more Russkii mir is a theology that claims to be Christendom reborn. It signals a new alliance between the ROC and the Russian Federation by sanctioning military conquest of foreign lands, including Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. This essay documents the emergence of this new political theology in terms of its historical precedents and how this history is being distorted, and even invented, to justify the claims to Christendom. Particular attention is given to the architecture and militaristic symbolism for the newly christened Cathedral for the Russian Armed Forces, dedicated on June 14th, 2020. Finally, these claims are critically examined using Hall's theology of the cross as a disestablishment for all such "theologies of glory" in light of scripture, tradition, and the true mission of the church. I also bring Hall's work into dialogue with similar thought from the Orthodox East.
https://creor-ejournal.library.mcgill.ca/issue/view/4
The first issue of volume two of The Journa... more https://creor-ejournal.library.mcgill.ca/issue/view/4 The first issue of volume two of The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) goes back to a colloquium hosted at the McGill School of Religious Studies in 2019 that focused on Religion and Climate Change. Special attention was given to both modern and ancient responses to climate change and how present-day climate change effects and/or influences political and economic action as well as religious interpretations.
The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people marched in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, to protest against inadequate action on climate change. The current pandemic has demonstrated how intricately connected global societies are to one another and that if we all take conscious steps towards addressing climate issues, we can make a difference.
The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR), 2020
This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic g... more This article examines the theological worldview of the white Evangelical Protestant demographic group in terms of its political expression in the United States of America. Specifically, the politics over granting asylum to climate refugees is examined together with a critical overview of Abrahamic history on the care of strangers and the treatment of refugees. Also examined are related questions on the epistemological reality of climate change within the academic community. This research is brought together to assess the impact and influence of white Evangelical Protestants on these controversies, and what can be done to counter the current political impasse that is blocking effective and meaningful climate change mitigation legislation and for granting asylum to climate refugees.
Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development
pressures both... more Remnant Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia are under threat from development pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
This is an draft chapter for a book project that has since evolved in a new direction. I wanted ... more This is an draft chapter for a book project that has since evolved in a new direction. I wanted to preserve this draft here.
This is a draft. The final version appears in the Introduction to:
An Agnostic in the Fellowshi... more This is a draft. The final version appears in the Introduction to:
An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer. Fortress / Lexington Academic Press (2019).
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a humanitarian and scholar, whose medical mission in Africa drew both praise and criticism in academic discourses. At issue is Schweitzer's alleged role in the colonial exploitation of the African people under his medical care. This characterization of Schweitzer as a colonial " despot " has as its origin the imaginative biographical sketches by academics and journalists in his own time. This article examines the impact of those source materials on the representations of Schweitzer in academia today. It is argued that, while these first-generation source materials cannot be considered reliable, Schweitzer exhibited unacceptably colonial attitudes when evaluated with postcolonial critique. New ethical questions are then raised, together with a call for a fuller investigation of Schweitzer's place in central African history.
The Last of Us and Theology: Violence, Ethics, and Redemption? , 2024
Chapter 3 of The Last of Us and Theology: Violence, Ethics, and Redemption? edited by Peter Admir... more Chapter 3 of The Last of Us and Theology: Violence, Ethics, and Redemption? edited by Peter Admirand, Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Confronting Evil: Theodicy in the Eastern Patristic Tradition, 2021
A new book on the Problem of Evil from the Eastern Orthodox Patristic tradition.
Developed fro... more A new book on the Problem of Evil from the Eastern Orthodox Patristic tradition.
Developed from a course on theodicy at the Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, for their Pappas Patristic Program, this work presents the writings of the Church Fathers for the general academic reader, interested laity, and clergy alike.
Theodicy is the theological explanation for why evil exists in the world. This new study on theodicy reveals that, while people experience “evil” as Epicureans (that is, fearing pain, loss, and discomfort, and desiring only for their alleviation, if not lives of pleasure), God instead values virtue and moral uprightness as the “good” to be pursued by all. Thus, the problem of evil is, in actuality, a tension between worldly sensibilities and divine perspectives on the true destiny of humankind. The challenge for the theologian is to bridge these two “worlds” and bring reconciliation and healing for loss and trauma through religion. This book reveals how this can be accomplished, both in terms for pastoral counseling, as well as with respect to academic questions in epistemology, ontology, and cosmology.
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Here, I discuss and critically deconstruct the strange polemics against Schweitzer as a colonial tyrant, setting the stage for a new exploration of his work and philosophy in the subsequent chapters.
The first issue of volume two of The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) goes back to a colloquium hosted at the McGill School of Religious Studies in 2019 that focused on Religion and Climate Change. Special attention was given to both modern and ancient responses to climate change and how present-day climate change effects and/or influences political and economic action as well as religious interpretations.
The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people marched in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, to protest against inadequate action on climate change. The current pandemic has demonstrated how intricately connected global societies are to one another and that if we all take conscious steps towards addressing climate issues, we can make a difference.
pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots
are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views
the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in
this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature
before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these
forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A
case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
Comments appreciated
Here, I discuss and critically deconstruct the strange polemics against Schweitzer as a colonial tyrant, setting the stage for a new exploration of his work and philosophy in the subsequent chapters.
The first issue of volume two of The Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) goes back to a colloquium hosted at the McGill School of Religious Studies in 2019 that focused on Religion and Climate Change. Special attention was given to both modern and ancient responses to climate change and how present-day climate change effects and/or influences political and economic action as well as religious interpretations.
The colloquium took place while a crowd of 500,000 people marched in Montreal, inspired by the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, to protest against inadequate action on climate change. The current pandemic has demonstrated how intricately connected global societies are to one another and that if we all take conscious steps towards addressing climate issues, we can make a difference.
pressures both within Ethiopia and from international interests. These biodiversity hotspots
are currently protected by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), which views
the forests as sacred. The academic literature is divided on how to provide food security in
this drought-prone nation. This article examines these tensions in the academic literature
before turning to the eco-theology of the Ethiopian Orthodox, which both protects these
forest fragments and strengthens the communitarianism of traditional Ethiopian society. A
case is then made for the continued management of these forests by the EOTC.
An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ: The Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer. Fortress / Lexington Academic Press (2019).
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781978701564/An-Agnostic-in-the-Fellowship-of-Christ-The-Ethical-Mysticism-of-Albert-Schweitzer?fbclid=IwAR0FWle2gjCl5lRI-4xJcC3oRFVsK0TM9NNhq8BCYz_tmpK3zwn-ERZvZp4
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a humanitarian and scholar, whose medical mission in Africa drew both praise and criticism in academic discourses. At issue is Schweitzer's alleged role in the colonial exploitation of the African people under his medical care. This characterization of Schweitzer as a colonial " despot " has as its origin the imaginative biographical sketches by academics and journalists in his own time. This article examines the impact of those source materials on the representations of Schweitzer in academia today. It is argued that, while these first-generation source materials cannot be considered reliable, Schweitzer exhibited unacceptably colonial attitudes when evaluated with postcolonial critique. New ethical questions are then raised, together with a call for a fuller investigation of Schweitzer's place in central African history.
Developed from a course on theodicy at the Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, for their Pappas Patristic Program, this work presents the writings of the Church Fathers for the general academic reader, interested laity, and clergy alike.
Theodicy is the theological explanation for why evil exists in the world. This new study on theodicy reveals that, while people experience “evil” as Epicureans (that is, fearing pain, loss, and discomfort, and desiring only for their alleviation, if not lives of pleasure), God instead values virtue and moral uprightness as the “good” to be pursued by all. Thus, the problem of evil is, in actuality, a tension between worldly sensibilities and divine perspectives on the true destiny of humankind. The challenge for the theologian is to bridge these two “worlds” and bring reconciliation and healing for loss and trauma through religion. This book reveals how this can be accomplished, both in terms for pastoral counseling, as well as with respect to academic questions in epistemology, ontology, and cosmology.