Anniversary
8 years ago
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Yourh for Eco-Justice Quotes Day 7: "The real difference you can make is at home"
Halua from the Faith Secretariat
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Youth for Eco-Justice Day 6
Today we played a simulation game where we all had different roles and we had to try and negotiate and advice a council around the change of water supply from public to private in 'Kolkata'. I was one of the people representing the Ecumenical Council of Churches of Kolkata. It was quite fun and interesting because we were able to take a leadership role within the civil societies by developing a list of demands for the company before they could go ahead with the privatisation to ensure that the poor and the environment would get a good deal. We thought we had done quite well, but after the game finished it was revealed that we had failed to secure any promise from the company not to fire the workers currently employed in providing the water supply. It was a real 'doh' moment and it was educational because I think we should have been more suspicious about how easily the company agreed to all our demands - something to keep in mind for future negotiations.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Youth for Eco-Justice Day 5
Today we had the chance to talk about some of the theology and ethics related to creation and justice. For example, we tried to define "justice". It's hard.
We began with a lecture by Dr. Ernst Conradie, a South African theologian from the Department of Religion and Tehology at the University of the Western Cape.
Notes:
"Stragely, in a world that always talks about vision, we lack a compelling vision to take us forward."
- we don't have many true visionaries, and those that are usually become world famous.
Things to look up:
Ernst's book 'Climate Change: A challenge to the churches in South Africa"
Coming soon: his book "Creation and Salvation"
I also purchased Ernst's book 'Christianity and Earthkeeping: In search of an inspiring vision', which covers 19 of the major reasons why Christians are interested in caring for the earth - both good and bad
We began with a lecture by Dr. Ernst Conradie, a South African theologian from the Department of Religion and Tehology at the University of the Western Cape.
Notes:
- "Environment" is an anthropocentric term because it is concerned only with what surrounds you.
- To describe or ascribe the world as God's beloved creation is to interpret it.
- Creation is not the world, but the world is creation.
- Thomas Berry saw animals eating each other as intimacy not enmity.
- Different ways to see creation:
- Creation as God's fountain of life: light from light. In all its fullness, fecundity and vulnerability.
- Creation as God's home - the household of God.
- Creation as God's work of art - a drama or song
- Creation as God's playgroun - child's play
- Creation as God's own body - and thus sacred
- Creation as God's beloved child - good and beautiful like a newborn
- The Garden of Eden is a vision for the future that as been thrown back in the past as an idea of what God intended.
- Eden is a critique of the present.
- Greed is bad but desire can be good.
- Animals pass on knowledge and experience through DNA but humans can also pass it on through language, even if only one person has the experience - much faster transmission.
"Stragely, in a world that always talks about vision, we lack a compelling vision to take us forward."
- we don't have many true visionaries, and those that are usually become world famous.
Things to look up:
Ernst's book 'Climate Change: A challenge to the churches in South Africa"
Coming soon: his book "Creation and Salvation"
I also purchased Ernst's book 'Christianity and Earthkeeping: In search of an inspiring vision', which covers 19 of the major reasons why Christians are interested in caring for the earth - both good and bad
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