Planetary Entanglement: Theology and the Anthropocene (Event)

Description

The aim of the Consultation is to explore how theologians of our institutions interpret, process, and incorporate “planetary entanglement” in their research and teaching.
One of the leading theoretical concepts in discourses on “planetary entanglement” is the notion of the “Anthropocene”, which directs our (theologians of our different institutions) attention to questions about theological anthropology, where entanglement implies relatedness (relationship, relationality) in terms of a multitude of scales, spaces, temporalities, and being(s): what does it mean to be human on this planet, under changing conditions due to climate warming, the shrinking of biodiversity, and other reasons which will impact our economic, spiritual and social relations? What is life and whose life matters? How is God conceived in such entanglement? The “Anthropocene” leads us toward ontological questions about life (co-creation), survival (eschatology), security (soteriology), threat, risk, uncertainty, and responsibility.
The contemporary interdisciplinary discourses invite us theologians to engage in manifold levels. The “Anthropocene” does not marginalize the quest for humanity, but it creates consciousness about what humans do with, to each other and their environment. This asks us to reconsider relations between for instance the social and the spiritual, between economy and ecology, techno-optimism and hope based on the gospel, the unity of humankind and the differentiation of all living beings. It is through the study of lived ontologies, lives lived that the normative, ethical, and moral dimensions of the “entanglement” can be observed, described, and analysed.

Period	27 Oct 2021 → 29 Oct 2021
Event title	Planetary Entanglement: Theology and the Anthropocene
Event type	Conference
Degree of Recognition	International