Christ-centred ethical behaviour and ecological crisis : what resources do the concepts of order in creation and eschatological hope offer?

Date
2013-05-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
The ecological crisis, as well as a limited ethical response, forces a reflection on the transformative potential of Christian ethics on an idolatrous society largely shaped by a dominant economic culture. The aim of the article was to explore how the concepts of creation order and eschatological hope may be helpful in the understanding and formulation of a Christ-centred ethical response to the ecological crisis. A review of the relevant literature was presented, limited to insights from Reformational philosophy and eco-theology into the concepts of creation order and eschatology. The main internal tensions of using the concepts of creation order and eschatological hope as resources in Christ-centred eco-ethics were highlighted and discussed. Some implications for the further explanation and development of Christ-centred eco-ethics are outlined.
Die ekologiese krisis, asook ’n beperkte etiese antwoord hierop, dwing ’n besinning oor die vernuwende potensiaal van Christelike etiek vir ’n afgodiese samelewing wat grootliks gevorm is deur ’n dominante ekonomiese kultuur. Die doel van hierdie artikel was om te ondersoek hoe die konsepte van orde in die skepping en eskatologiese hoop nuttig kan wees in die verstaan en die formulering van ’n Christusgesentreerde etiese antwoord op die ekologiese krisis. ’n Oorsig van die relevante literatuur, beperk tot insigte uit die Reformatoriese filosofie en ekoteologie oor die konsepte van orde in die skepping en eskatologie, is aangebied. Die belangrikste interne spanningsvelde in die gebruik van die konsepte skeppingsorde en eskatologiese hoop in ’n Christus-gesentreerde eko-etiek is uitgelig en bespreek. Sekere implikasies vir die verdere verduideliking en die ontwikkeling van ’n Christus-gesentreerde eko-etiek is beskryf.
Description
CITATION: De Wit, M. P. 2013. Christ-centred ethical behaviour and ecological crisis : what resources do the concepts of order in creation and eschatological hope offer? Koers, 78(1), Art. #46, doi:10.4102/koers.v78i1.46.
The original publication is available at https://www.koersjournal.org.za
Keywords
Christian ethics
Citation
De Wit, M. P. 2013. Christ-centred ethical behaviour and ecological crisis : what resources do the concepts of order in creation and eschatological hope offer? Koers, 78(1), Art. #46, doi:10.4102/koers.v78i1.46.