ISSN : 1229-5620(Print)
ISSN : 2288-7652(Online)
ISSN : 2288-7652(Online)
Literature and Religion Vol.21 No.4 pp.121-140
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14376/lar.2016.21.4.121
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14376/lar.2016.21.4.121
The Sabbath Motif in the Discourse of the Eco-theology.
Abstract
Eco-theology was developed by the influence of the secular ecology. The Christian eco-theology was started in earnest by Lynn White, who has developed a modernism-discourse based on Christian tradition. Criticizing her discourse, Thomas Berry has led the religious-ecumenical discourse of eco-theology. In the 21st century, the Christian eco-theology has expanded into the ecological-political theology. One of the leading theologians of ecological-political theology is a Jürgen Moltmann. Moltmann has emphasized the Sabbath motif in relation to the discourse of eco-theology. Moltmann’s ideas for the eco-theological Sabbath are summarized in three ways. Firstly, the Sabbath is the day when the wounded ecosystem is healed, because it is the rest day when the creative work was finished. Secondly, the Sabbath is the day of enjoying the blessing of being while experiencing the presence of eternity. Thirdly, the Sabbath is the day of hope when we can recognize the value of being of all things. Moltmann suggests a theological alternative view what can overcome the ecological crisis. The idea of Moltmann was criticized by some radical ecologists and some Sabbath theologians.