Overview

As early as 1954 -- well before such popular books as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring -- the influential Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler wrote on the need to think about a theology for earth. Perhaps most famous for his eloquent and provocative address Called to Unity given at the 1961 World Council of Churches assembly in New Delhi, Sittler prophetically and insistently gave voice to what he called ecological commitment as theological responsibility. Evocations of Grace introduces a new generation of readers to the thought of Joseph Sittler. Gathering ten of Sittler's seminal works -- works foundational to the field yet inaccessible until now -- this volume conveys Sittler's powerful argument for the vital connection between Christian theology, ethics, and the natural world. In an area where so much writing tends to be drearily repetitious, Sittler -- even forty years later -- remains a fresh voice. His proposal for a cosmic christology and his clarion call for the care of the earth continue to shape current eco-theological reflection. The book also includes a comprehensive Sittler bibliography and original essays by editors Steven Bouma-Prediger and Peter Bakken that assess Sittler's pioneering contribution to environmental ethics. Intended for anyone interested in the relationship between Christian faith and the environment, Evocations of Grace provides the necessary perspective for thinking seriously about the earth and our responsibility to it.

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9780802846778

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Booklist A pioneer of ecotheology, Sittler addressed environmental concerns even before the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. As the editors' introductory and concluding essays note, Sittler's lasting significance lies in his insistence that environmental concerns be addressed by Christians in terms of Christology and grace. For Sittler, environmental degradation isn't just wrong, its is blasphemous. He invites us to share aesthetic delight in a world permeated by God's surprising presence. The Lutheran It's an occasion for rejoicing that Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. recently released Evocations of Grace. . . The collection includes the most important of Sittler's writings and speeches, drawing together the concepts of nature and grace--his theological trademark. As he said often, he is not a theology of nature but rather a theology for nature--an incarnational theology whose lasting importance cannot be overstated.

Author Information

Steven Bouma-Prediger is professor of religion at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, and the author of For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. Peter Bakken is research fellow at the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies in Mancelona, Michigan.

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