Perspectives on Nature and Environmental Ethics in the Hebrew Bible
edited by Johannes Unsok Ro, Kevin Chau, Mari Joerstad and William R. Stewart
Paperback (Published)
(November 2025)
ISBN: 9783161643385
6.06 x 9.09 inches
Price: $124.00
In stock
~ENG~The contributors to this volume critically reassess biblical texts through ecological and interdisciplinary lenses and demonstrate how the Bible can influence ethical discourses on sustainability, justice, and environmental responsibility today.
English summary: The contributors to this volume explore how the Hebrew Bible can inform contemporary ecological thought. In response to Lynn White Jr.’s 1967 thesis – accusing the Judeo-Christian tradition of fostering environmental degradation – they analyze key biblical texts through ecological hermeneutics, posthumanist theory, and comparative theology. Organized into three parts – Memory Studies, Comparative Studies, and Case Studies – the volume brings together perspectives from biblical studies, environmental theology, classical philosophy, and cultural memory theory. The contributors engage with texts from Genesis to the Prophets and post-exilic literature, drawing connections to Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, and early Christian thought. They investigate diverse hermeneutical frameworks, including theocentric and geocentric interpretations, and highlight themes such as the agency of non-human creation, covenantal models involving the Earth, and poetic visions of ecological justice. These analyses reveal that the Hebrew Bible contains complex, and at times contradictory, portrayals of the human-nature relationship. The contributors to this volume advance ecological biblical interpretation and demonstrate how ancient texts can shape ethical discourses on sustainability, justice, and environmental responsibility today. German description: Die Beitrager dieses Bandes bringen internationale und interdisziplinare Perspektiven auf die Hebraische Bibel mit aktuellen Fragen der Umweltethik ins Gesprach. Sie setzen sich mit der seit Lynn White Jr. kontrovers diskutierten These auseinander, der zufolge die judisch-christliche Tradition eine zentrale Rolle im Anthropozentrismus der Moderne spiele, und untersuchen einschlagige biblische Texte unter Einbezug okologischer Hermeneutik, kulturwissenschaftlicher Erinnerungstheorie und vergleichender Theologie. In drei thematischen Teilen – Memory Studies, Comparative Studies und Case Studies – analysieren sie Texte von Genesis bis zu den Propheten, beleuchten das Verhaltnis zur altorientalischen, griechisch-romischen und fruhchristlichen Umwelt und heben oft ubersehene okologische Motive hervor. Die Beitrager diskutieren unter anderem Bundeskonzepte, die die Erde mit einschliessen, die Wirksamkeit nichtmenschlicher Akteure sowie Spannungsverhaltnisse zwischen Schopfung und Herrschaft. Neben theozentrischen und geozentrischen Deutungen werden auch animistische und posthumanistische Ansatze fruchtbar gemacht. Als Beitrag zur okologischen Bibelhermeneutik wird aufgezeigt, wie altorientalische Vorstellungen von Natur und Verantwortung in die gegenwartige Debatte um Nachhaltigkeit hineinwirken konnen.
"~ENG~Johannes Unsok Ro, Mari Joerstad, Kevin Chau, and William R. Stewart: Introduction: Perspectives on Nature and Environmental Ethics in the Hebrew Bible Part I: Memory Studies Raymond F. Person, Jr.: Down in the Dirt with Deuteronomy: A Pig Farmer Reflects on Writing a Commentary - Daniel Bodi: The Living Waters Flowing from the Jerusalem Temple Regenerating and Healing the World - Johannes Unsok Ro and William R. Stewart: ""Give Ear, O Heavens, and I Will Speak"": Cultural Memory and the Non-Human Creation in Deuteronomy Part II: Comparative Studies Eckart Otto: Nature, Law and Dominion as the Key to an Environmental Ethics in Ancient Oriental Mythology, Biblical Theology and Greek Philosophy - Thomas Romer: How Much Did the Crisis of 587 BCE Trigger an Interest in Environmental Questions? A Comparison between the Deuteronomistic History and the Priestly Code - Yoshinori Sano: Ethical Functions of the Earth in Hesiod's Epic in Comparison with the Functions of the Earth in Genesis 1-6 - Thomas D. McGlothlin: The Anthropocentrism of Theophilus of Antioch Part III: Case Studies Mari Joerstad: I Have Healed These Waters: The Works of Elisha and Animism - Kevin Chau: Brotherly Nature and Nature Metaphors in Jacob's Farewell Poem - Laurie J. Braaten: Earth as Good Neighbor in Habakkuk ~GER~Johannes Unsok Ro, Mari Joerstad, Kevin Chau, and William R. Stewart: Introduction: Perspectives on Nature and Environmental Ethics in the Hebrew Bible Part I: Memory Studies Raymond F. Person, Jr.: Down in the Dirt with Deuteronomy: A Pig Farmer Reflects on Writing a Commentary - Daniel Bodi: The Living Waters Flowing from the Jerusalem Temple Regenerating and Healing the World - Johannes Unsok Ro and William R. Stewart: ""Give Ear, O Heavens, and I Will Speak"": Cultural Memory and the Non-Human Creation in Deuteronomy Part II: Comparative Studies Eckart Otto: Nature, Law and Dominion as the Key to an Environmental Ethics in Ancient Oriental Mythology, Biblical Theology and Greek Philosophy - Thomas Romer: How Much Did the Crisis of 587 BCE Trigger an Interest in Environmental Questions? A Comparison between the Deuteronomistic History and the Priestly Code - Yoshinori Sano: Ethical Functions of the Earth in Hesiod's Epic in Comparison with the Functions of the Earth in Genesis 1-6 - Thomas D. McGlothlin: The Anthropocentrism of Theophilus of Antioch Part III: Case Studies Mari Joerstad: I Have Healed These Waters: The Works of Elisha and Animism - Kevin Chau: Brotherly Nature and Nature Metaphors in Jacob's Farewell Poem - Laurie J. Braaten: Earth as Good Neighbor in Habakkuk "
- Edited by Kevin Chau
- Edited by Mari Joerstad
- Edited by Johannes Unsok Ro
- Edited by William R Stewart
Other Titles in this Series
Punning in Odd or Elegant Constructions in Jeremiah
The Convergence of Linguistics, Rhetoric, and Textuality in the Hebrew Text of Jeremiah
The Discourse of Rites
Shaping and Reshaping the (Counter-)Priestly Rituals Conducted Outside the Tabernacle
Dieu educateur
Une novelle approche d'un concept de la thologie biblique entre Bible Hebraique, Septante et littrature grecque classique
Volume 77
The Pillars of the First Temple (1 Kgs 7,15-22)
A Study from Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, Archaeological, and Iconographic Perspectives
Volume 116
De-Demonising the Old Testament
An Investigation of Azazel, Lilith, Deber, Qeteb and Reshef in the Hebrew Bible
Volume 37
Das Abrahamopfer im Kontext von Gen 12-25
Narratologische und literarhistorische Untersuchungen
Volume 149
Das Ende Deuterojesajas
Eine literarkritische und redaktionsgeschichtliche Studie zur Entstehung von Jes 40-60
Volume 94
Benno Jacob zu Levitikus
Eine Studie zu seinem Nachlass mit Edition des Manuskripts 'Leviticus 17-20'
Volume 134
Philology and Textual Criticism
Proceedings of the Second International Colloquium of the Dominique Barthelemy Institute held at Fribourg on 10-11 October, 2013
Die Wallfahrt zum Zweiten Tempel
Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung der Wallfahrtsfeste in vorhasmonaischer Zeit
Volume 40
Die These der sogenannten ‘Konsekutivtempora’ im klassischen Althebraisch
Eine kritische Uberprufung
Volume 150
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