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| Unit name |
Mission, the Environment and World Development (Trinity & Baptist College) |
| Unit code |
THRSM0049 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Bimson |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit explores an integrated approach to Christian mission and the environment which seeks
to balance creation care with the flourishing of human societies. It demonstrates how issues of
creation care cannot be separated from world development, sustainability and population growth,
and explores the relationship between environmentalism and integral Christian mission with its
concern for justice. Its breadth embraces the biblical and theological basis for environmental
concern; mission and the environment; climate change and world development; development and
mission; sustainability; population growth; environmentalism and other world faiths.
The unit aims to:
- encourage students to explore the implications of Christian belief in God as creator and sustainer of the universe, and Christ as the one ‘through whom and for whom all things were made’;
- encourage students to develop a holistic theology of creation in which environmental concern and social compassion are a natural expression of Christian discipleship;
- equip students to teach and to demonstrate sustainable ways of living that uphold the integrity of creation;
- enable students to engage critically with Christian environmentalism as an arm of the Church’s integral mission, displaying the cosmic dimension of the gospel and expressing love for God through creation care.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit students should be able to:
- offer a critique of integral Christian mission which fully embraces social compassion, justice and care for the environment;
- show an appreciation of the complex inter-relatedness of creation care, sustainability, and development;
- demonstrate awareness of the main causes and impacts of global environmental crises such as climate change, habitat loss, pollution and problems of food production;
- demonstrate sensitivity to the often competing claims of environmentalism and human flourishing, developing balanced solutions which use biblical and theological resources creatively.
Teaching Information
The unit will be taught through preparatory reading, lectures and student-led seminars.
Assessment Information
Formative assessment will be through preparation for classes and participation, with tutor feedback, in class discussions and seminars (each student will lead at least one seminar).
Summative assessment will be through an essay of 6,000 words.
Reading and References
- Berry, R. J. (ed.), When Enough is Enough: A Christian Framework for Environmental Sustainability (Leicester: IVP, 2007)
- Cowie, J., Climate Change: Biological and Human Aspects (Cambridge: CUP, 2007)
- Fretheim, T.E., God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005)
- Horrell, D. G., Hunt, C., Southgate, C. and Stavrakopoulou, F. (eds.), Ecological Hermeneutics: Biblical, Historical and Theological Perspectives (London: T & T Clark, 2010)
- Northcott, M.S., A Moral Climate; the Ethics of Global Warming (London: DLT, 2007)
- Stiglitz, J., Globalization and its Discontents (New York: Norton & Co., 2002)
