Synopses & Reviews
The Bible and Christian tradition have, at best, offered an ambiguous word in response to Earth's environmental difficulties. At worst, a complex, often one-sided history of interpretation has left the Bible's voice silent. Aiming to bridge these gaps, Richard Bauckham mines scripture and theology, discovering a firm command for Christians to care for all of God's creation and then discusses the generations of theologians who have sought to live out this biblical mandate. Going beyond Old Testament human dominion, Living with Other Creatures consults scripture in its entirety and includes Jesus' perspectives on creation, novel approaches to reading the gospels, and some of the most well known "ecologists" throughout Christian history. The result is an innovative and enriching treatise that reminds readers of God's whole creation—and humanity's place within it.
Review
"In this exciting volume, Bauckham weaves together Jesus' teaching of the kingdom of God, the Jewish traditions of animal compassion, St. Francis, the Apocalypse, and Christian mystics to make the case that creation's praise of God--independent of humans--is foundational to the Christian tradition. The result is an important, highly recommended
Review
"A significant biblical, theological, and historical resource for the desperately needed 'greening' of the Christian faith. Bauckham's collection deserves very wide attention."
--David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director, Center for Theology and Public Life, Mercer University
Review
"Filled with intelligence and serious scholarship, Living with Other Creatures carries a deeply important message. A very valuable contribution."
--Roger S. Gottlieb, author of Engaging Voices: Tales of Morality and Meaning in an Age of Global Warming and A Greener Faith
Review
"Bauckham reminds the reader that, as Creator, God delights in and cares for all creation. ... He wishes to recover the biblical view of human solidarity with the rest of creation by establishing creation's own inherent value."
--Bill Walker, five-star review, Christianity Today (Dec. 2011)
Synopsis
Unveiling Christianity's mandate for creation care
About the Author
Richard Bauckham is Professor of New Testament Studies and Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. A fellow of both the British Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he is the author of many books including The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation, Jesus and the Eye-Witnesses (winner of the 2009 Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing), and Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World.