Other R&E Scholars & Organizations

Heather Eaton speaks as a featured speaker of the Saint Louis Climate Summit on “Religious Perspectives and Moral Obligations.” This event took place on April 24, 2018. 

Water is a precious, vital element connecting all living beings on Earth.  Yet many of us often take water for granted, forgetting the tremendous importance this common element holds for our own survival and for the continuation of life on Earth.  The dominant modern mindset views water as a mere resource and commodity.  This view is part and parcel of the exploitation, pollution, and privatization of water.  In an attempt to counter this dominating mindset, I explore an “integral water ethic” as a crucial component in the urgent task of cultivating mutually enhancing relations between humans and our Earth community, what the cultural historian Thomas Berry calls “the Great Work.”  As opposed to the commoditized construct of water as lifeless matter that must be controlled and manipulated for maximum profit, an integral water ethic recovers the individual and community experience of water as an active agent, a teacher and guide, a vital, intrinsically valuable member of our Earth community.  This presentation explores various contemplative practices that can contribute to an integral water ethic by cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy and empathy with water and the Earth community, thus leading to more compassionate and engaged responses to water crises.  These practices share the theme of mindfulness and are inspired by taiji walking meditation, as well as Buddhist meditation and compassion practices.  Through the cultivation of love and compassion for water, humans are better able to see water as more than a mere resource and commodity, but as a loving and compassionate member of the Earth community who nourishes all beings.

In this lecture, Norman Wirzba, professor of theology and ecology at Duke University, discusses why theological education needs ecological wisdom. He explores the importance of caring for the world and explains why it is crucial to recover the doctrine of creation. He notes that theological education has the potential to help students see everyone and every place as the material expressions of God’s love.

This video is from the “Environmental Humanities in a Changing World” conference hosted by the Princeton Environmental Institute at Princeton University. An introduction is given by Steve Pacala. Tom A. Barron gives a lecture on the power of story and language in the context of environmental humanities. Then, Ken Hiltner provides an overview of the environmental humanities and explains how speakers throughout the conference address environmental issues in terms of art, poetry, theater, music, writing, philosophy, religion, politics, ethics, history, literature, and more.

(See part 1 for description)

There is a global and vital quest for a new vision for our times. It must inspire a dynamic spirituality, foster social and ecological justice, and strengthen commitments for a sustainable future. It is emerging as a blend of science, spirituality, and insights from social movements. This lecture discusses the global efforts for an adequate vision for our times.

(See part 1 for talk description)

In Part 3 of “Thomas Berry The Great Work,” Christopher Key Chapple, Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University, presents Berry's religious philosophies and work around the religions of South Asia. He calls attention to two enduring hallmarks of Berry's though: authenticity and affectivity.