Sustainability Research Hub

The 21st century has been marked by the ecological crisis and the question of human flourishing in a brave new world.  The issue of sustainable development dominates the political, social, economic and technological agendas. If we believe that the Gospel is an all-encompassing message of reconciliation and renewal of all things in Christ, how should we engage critical issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, climate justice, resilience, biotechnologies, food security, clean energy, fair trade, pollution and waste disposal? 

This hub has two main goals:

1. To think biblically about the environment, that is, the network of interrelationships between God, the Creator and Redemeer of all things, and the cosmos (κόσμον) he so loved, as well as, the interrelationships between human beings and other creatures.
2. To think biblically over the question of flourishing or eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία), that is, the question of the good life: A life worth living.

These are the foundational elements to the concept of sustainability. 

To this end, we will engage the Scriptures and the ecotheological traditions which have emerged out of a green hermeneutic. We will consider Christian as well as Jewish green readings of the Bible. We will also maintain an interdisciplinary approach which highlights the importance of the interrelationships between theology, philosophy and the special sciences for the understanding of the world and of ourselves. The insights so gained should equip us to discern the best courses of action which can be translated into sustainable policies and ultimately as sustainable ways of living.