A New Climate for Theology

Sally McFague is a theologian, teaching at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Vancouver School of Theology.  She has a special passion for reconstructing Christian thought around the idea that Christians rethink their relationship to God, each other and the world; to consider an ecological economic model that reinterprets “the basic doctrines of Christianity:  God and the world, Christ and salvation, human life and discipleship.” (p. 95)  This thesis is built upon the idea that God, who chose to become incarnate in Jesus, can be thought of having the earth as an embodiment of God’s presence in the world.

The book consists of Part 1, The science and its significance for theology; part 2, Exploring God and the world within Climate Change; part 3, Serving God and living in the city within Climate Change; part 4, Despair and hope within Climate Change.  McFague is calling upon the Christian community to become informed and active in recognizing and taking actions to address the crisis that climate change has brought about.  Below is a quote from another source that helps understand the core thesis of this book:

“We cannot love God unless we love God’s world. Christians [should] have always known this, because an incarnate God is a world-loving God; but now it takes on new meaning and depth as we realize the radical interrelationship and interdependence of all forms of life. . . . In sum, we are not called to love God or the world. Rather, we are called to love God in the world. We love God by loving the world. We love God through and with the world. But this turns out to be a kenotic, a sacrificial love.” Sallie McFague