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Toward a Public Theology of Climate Change
A Chinese Perspective
Series: - Political and Public Theologies, Volume: 8
Author:
How can theology shape public discourse on climate change? This book explores the urgent intersection of climate justice, public theology, and environmental communication from a Chinese Christian perspective. As the world grapples with climate apocalypse, this study reveals how religious discourse can influence public opinion and policymaking. Engaging with global and Chinese contexts, it evaluates competing theological approaches and proposes a framework for a public theology of climate change. With insights into environmental activism, political deliberation, and ethical responsibility, this book equips theologians, religious scholars, and climate activists to rethink the role of religion in the fight against climate change.
Bryan K. M. Mok, Ph.D. (2018), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is Research Associate at that university. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on public theology, ecotheology, and religion and society.
"This book offers an original and invaluable Chinese contribution to a public theology of climate change that will be of interest to everyone seeking responses to the ecological crisis of our time." - Werner G. Jeanrond, University of Oslo
"An invaluable contribution to ecological theology, public theology, and Chinese theology, combining a critical review of the state of the art in these research areas with original insights." - Pan-chiu Lai, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
"Mok creates a new space for the field of Chinese public theology. This book elucidates various issues of a public theology of climate change by integrating global and Chinese perspectives. A one-of-a-kind public ecotheology is emerging!" - Zhibin Xie, Tongji University
"An invaluable contribution to ecological theology, public theology, and Chinese theology, combining a critical review of the state of the art in these research areas with original insights." - Pan-chiu Lai, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
"Mok creates a new space for the field of Chinese public theology. This book elucidates various issues of a public theology of climate change by integrating global and Chinese perspectives. A one-of-a-kind public ecotheology is emerging!" - Zhibin Xie, Tongji University
Acknowledgements
Introduction
â1 Climate Change: Facts, Impacts, and Responses
â2 Public Theology of Climate Change
â3 Three Approaches
ââ3.1 The Translation Approach
ââ3.2 The Distinctive Language Approach
ââ3.3 The Bilingual Approach
â4 Purpose and Standpoint
â5 A Brief Outline
1 Laudato Siâ as a Starting Point
â1 Naming Reality and the Underlying Mystery
â2 Shaping an Ecological Worldview and Lifestyle
â3 Negotiating for Climate Decision-Making
â4 Orienting the Public toward the Global Common Good
2 The Encyclicalâs Public Impacts
â1 The Church
â2 The Academy
â3 Wider Society
â4 Insights and Unsettled Questions
3 Working with Climate Activists
â1 Aims of Climate Activism
â2 Forms of Climate Activism
â3 The Road to Impact
â4 In Collaboration with Other Societal Stakeholders
â5 Climate Change Theology and Environmental Communication
ââ5.1 Assembling and Naming
ââ5.2 Presenting and Shaping
ââ5.3 Contesting and Orienting
ââ5.4 Negotiating for Climate-Friendly Policymaking
4 Criteria of Climate Change Theology
â1 Ecotheology: Emergence and Development
ââ1.1 The ScientificâPhilosophical End: Ecological Reconfiguration of Christian Theology
ââ1.2 The BiblicalâEcclesiastical End: Rediscovering Ecological Rudiments of the Christian Tradition
ââ1.3 Looking for a Middle Ground: Reconstructing Christian Theology with Ecological Consciousness
â2 A Journey to the Flourishing of Earth Communities
â3 Mapping the Territories
â4 Five Criteria of Climate Change Theology in the Public Sphere
5 Translation Dilemma
â1 The Quest for Public Relevance
â2 The Postsecular World
â3 The Task of Public Theology
â4 Public Theology: Three Existing Approaches
ââ4.1 The Accommodating Approach
ââ4.2 The Confessional Approach
ââ4.3 The Bilingual Approach
6 Jürgen Habermas: Friend or Foe?
â1 What Is Public? A Historical Sketch
â2 Habermasâ Idea of the Public Sphere
â3 Controversies over Religious Reasons in the Public Sphere
â4 Institutional Translation Proviso
7 Pluralism in the Public Sphere
â1 Subaltern Voices
â2 Passions, Interests, and Antagonism
â3 Multiple Voices and Heteroglossia
â4 Reconsidering the Role of Translation
â5 Religious Voices in Pluralistic Society: a Theological Perspective
8 Public Sphere and Climate Activism in China
â1 Civil Society in China since the âReform and Opening upâ
â2 The Contemporary Contentious Chinese Public Sphere
â3 The Party-Stateâs Responses
â4 Climate Activism in China
9 Approaches of Chinese Public Theology
â1 The Ecclesiastical Approach
â2 The Academic Approach
â3 The Political Approach
â4 Revisiting Public Theology in the Chinese Context
10 Chinese Public Theology of Climate Change: a Blueprint
â1 Toward a Chinese Christian Public Theology of Climate Change
â2 Naming the Human Condition
â3 Presenting a Way Out
â4 Orienting the Public and Negotiating with Policymakers
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
â1 Climate Change: Facts, Impacts, and Responses
â2 Public Theology of Climate Change
â3 Three Approaches
ââ3.1 The Translation Approach
ââ3.2 The Distinctive Language Approach
ââ3.3 The Bilingual Approach
â4 Purpose and Standpoint
â5 A Brief Outline
1 Laudato Siâ as a Starting Point
â1 Naming Reality and the Underlying Mystery
â2 Shaping an Ecological Worldview and Lifestyle
â3 Negotiating for Climate Decision-Making
â4 Orienting the Public toward the Global Common Good
2 The Encyclicalâs Public Impacts
â1 The Church
â2 The Academy
â3 Wider Society
â4 Insights and Unsettled Questions
3 Working with Climate Activists
â1 Aims of Climate Activism
â2 Forms of Climate Activism
â3 The Road to Impact
â4 In Collaboration with Other Societal Stakeholders
â5 Climate Change Theology and Environmental Communication
ââ5.1 Assembling and Naming
ââ5.2 Presenting and Shaping
ââ5.3 Contesting and Orienting
ââ5.4 Negotiating for Climate-Friendly Policymaking
4 Criteria of Climate Change Theology
â1 Ecotheology: Emergence and Development
ââ1.1 The ScientificâPhilosophical End: Ecological Reconfiguration of Christian Theology
ââ1.2 The BiblicalâEcclesiastical End: Rediscovering Ecological Rudiments of the Christian Tradition
ââ1.3 Looking for a Middle Ground: Reconstructing Christian Theology with Ecological Consciousness
â2 A Journey to the Flourishing of Earth Communities
â3 Mapping the Territories
â4 Five Criteria of Climate Change Theology in the Public Sphere
5 Translation Dilemma
â1 The Quest for Public Relevance
â2 The Postsecular World
â3 The Task of Public Theology
â4 Public Theology: Three Existing Approaches
ââ4.1 The Accommodating Approach
ââ4.2 The Confessional Approach
ââ4.3 The Bilingual Approach
6 Jürgen Habermas: Friend or Foe?
â1 What Is Public? A Historical Sketch
â2 Habermasâ Idea of the Public Sphere
â3 Controversies over Religious Reasons in the Public Sphere
â4 Institutional Translation Proviso
7 Pluralism in the Public Sphere
â1 Subaltern Voices
â2 Passions, Interests, and Antagonism
â3 Multiple Voices and Heteroglossia
â4 Reconsidering the Role of Translation
â5 Religious Voices in Pluralistic Society: a Theological Perspective
8 Public Sphere and Climate Activism in China
â1 Civil Society in China since the âReform and Opening upâ
â2 The Contemporary Contentious Chinese Public Sphere
â3 The Party-Stateâs Responses
â4 Climate Activism in China
9 Approaches of Chinese Public Theology
â1 The Ecclesiastical Approach
â2 The Academic Approach
â3 The Political Approach
â4 Revisiting Public Theology in the Chinese Context
10 Chinese Public Theology of Climate Change: a Blueprint
â1 Toward a Chinese Christian Public Theology of Climate Change
â2 Naming the Human Condition
â3 Presenting a Way Out
â4 Orienting the Public and Negotiating with Policymakers
Bibliography
Index
This book is essential for scholars and postgraduate students in theology, religious studies, and environmental ethics, as well as climate activists. Suitable for academic libraries, universities, seminaries, and research institutes.