'Ecological Reformation': a Critical Study of Jürgen Moltmann's
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Foundations of ‘Ecological Reformation’: A Critical Study of Jürgen Moltmann’s Contributions towards a ‘New Theological Architecture’ for Environment Care A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Cardiff University Ben Dare 2012 Declaration & Statements DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed Ben Dare Date 17/09/2012 STATEMENT 1 This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD. Signed Ben Dare Date 17/09/2012 STATEMENT 2 This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit refer- ences. Signed Ben Dare Date 17/09/2012 STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photo- copying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed Ben Dare Date 17/09/2012 STATEMENT 4: PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BAR ON ACCESS I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopy- ing and for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access previously approved by the Graduate Development Committee. Signed Ben Dare Date 17/09/2012 Abstract Jürgen Moltmann’s desire to see the relationship between humans and our natural environment improve is long-standing. In later years he called for a ‘new theological architecture’ to help facilitate an ‘ecological reformation’ of Christianity and society. While Moltmann did not claim to have created this new architecture, one of his work’s aims has clearly been to contribute towards it. To what extent has Moltmann been successful in this aim? Firstly, his doctrine of the Trinity provides the themes of love and relatedness which pervade and colour his whole project. These themes then interact with other key areas of Moltmann’s thought that inform this architecture: creation, God’s ongoing care and openness towards creation (largely pneumatology and christology), and eschatology. Each of these areas contribute to a theological architecture in which non-human creation, past, present, and future, is a full recipient of God’s uniting love and openness. Naturally this leads towards a consideration of the ecological reformation. Less positively, Moltmann’s discussion of God’s creating through self-restriction presents some problems for this architecture’s coherence, although Moltmann’s developing views on this do help provide a solution. Furthermore, analysis of the criticisms made by various commentators suggests that several debated areas are actually par- ticularly productive for Moltmann’s contributions to the architecture. Other criticisms do highlight areas of concern and possible development, but do not present terminal problems. The potential for this architecture to address prac- tice, not simply theory, increases through elements of Moltmann’s theological anthropology that challenge humanity’s behaviour. Those elements thus form a lens through which Moltmann’s wider contributions to the architecture more powerfully speak of the need for creation care. Therefore, while Moltmann’s contribution towards a new architecture for ecological reformation would be helped by certain modifications, nevertheless it is highly significant. Its wide scope makes it fertile for further contributions and development. Contents Acknowledgements vii List of Abbreviations ix 1 Introduction 1 1.1 STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS .................. 5 1.2 METHODOLOGY .......................... 7 Use of Terms . 9 1.3 STRUCTURE ............................ 10 2 The Trinitarian Foundation 13 2.1 INTRODUCTION .......................... 13 2.2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOLTMANN’S DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY 14 2.3 UNITY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS . 17 Accusations of Tritheism . 18 Problems with Perichoresis? . 19 Fears of a Prior Social Agenda . 21 2.4 CONCLUSIONS ........................... 23 3 Original Creation 25 3.1 INTRODUCTION .......................... 25 3.2 THE PERVASIVE PRINCIPLE OF LOVE . 26 Inner Love . 27 Outer Love . 27 The Same Love . 28 3.3 GOD’S FREE CREATIVITY ...................... 29 Resolve and Decision . 30 Freedom before Choice . 31 Inescapable Love . 33 Original Creation: A Unity of Will and Nature . 34 3.4 THE CREATION OF AN ‘OTHER’ .................. 36 Zimsum .............................. 36 Making Space for Creation . 38 The Threat of the Nihil . 39 God as ‘Living Space’ . 43 3.5 CONCLUSIONS ........................... 46 4 God’s Care for Creation 49 4.1 INTRODUCTION .......................... 49 4.2 THE SPIRIT AND CREATION:SETTING THE SCENE . 50 ii The Spirit and Creation in Early Material . 50 The Spirit of the Church . 51 The Spirit of Creation . 53 Moltmann’s Interpretation of ‘All Flesh’ . 55 Early Theology . 56 1980-89 . 58 1990 Onwards . 60 Interpretation Problems? . 63 4.3 CONTINUOUS LOVE:THE SPIRIT . 67 The Spirit’s Presence . 67 The Spirit in All Creation . 68 A Developing Emphasis . 69 Further Criticisms of the Spirit’s Universal Presence 70 The Spirit’s Activity . 72 The Spirit of Life . 73 The Mover of Evolution . 75 The Spirit of Death? . 80 The Creator of Fellowship . 82 The Enabler of Co-Creativity . 85 Further Criticisms of the Spirit’s Universal Activity 88 4.4 CONTINUOUS LOVE:THE SON . 93 The Son of Life . 93 Separating Christ’s and the Spirit’s Role . 95 4.5 CONCLUSIONS ........................... 98 5 God’s Openness to Creation 101 5.1 INTRODUCTION . 101 5.2 THE OPENNESS OF GOD TO CREATION . 102 The Openness of the Trinity . 102 Openness of Relationships . 102 Openness to the World . 103 Openness through the Spirit . 105 A Fellowship Marked by Reciprocity . 105 Drawing Creation into God . 106 Openness through the Son . 107 The Cross . 107 Changing Reality and Revealing Eternity . 108 Process Concerns . 109 God in Process? . 110 5.3 THE CASE FOR DIVINE SUFFERING . 112 Openness and Suffering . 113 The Incompatibility of Impassibility and Love . 116 The Cross and Divine Passibility . 120 5.4 GOD’S SUFFERING AND CREATION . 121 The Suffering of the Spirit With and In Creation . 122 iii The Suffering of the Son For and With Creation . 128 The Trinitarian Suffering of God with Creation . 133 5.5 CONCLUSIONS . 134 6 The Eschatological Goal of Creation 137 6.1 INTRODUCTION . 137 6.2 A COMMON FUTURE FOR NATURE AND HUMANITY . 138 Hope for All Creation . 139 Hope from God . 140 God’s Character . 140 God’s Actions . 142 God’s Promises . 143 Hope through the Inseparability of Nature and Humanity . 144 A Common Future . 147 6.3 A SHARED FUTURE FOR GOD AND CREATION . 147 Creation and God Unified . 148 God in Creation . 149 Creation in God . 151 A Good Future . 152 6.4 CONTINUITY AND DISCONTINUITY:FROM CREATION TO REDEMPTION ............................ 154 Discontinuity . 155 New Creation Verses Restoration . 158 Continuity . 159 There is Hope for This Creation . 162 Judging the Balance . 164 A Transcended Continuity . 168 6.5 CONCLUSIONS . 170 7 Theological Anthropology 173 7.1 INTRODUCTION . 173 7.2 REDUCING HUMANITY’S PREDOMINANCE . 174 Physical Co-Dependence . 174 A Rejected Relationship . 175 Unity, Humanity, and Nature . 176 7.3 CORRESPONDING TO GOD . 176 The Imago Dei . 176 A Divine Pattern for Humanity . 179 Criticisms of Moltmann’s Work on Correspondence . 180 Correspondence as Growth: Growing in Love . 184 7.4 PARTICIPATING IN GOD . 185 Ideal Participation . 185 Empowered Participation . 187 iv The Role of Faith in Participation . 188 Incomplete Participation . 190 Inclusive Non-Conscious Participation . 190 Limited Conscious Participation . 191 Deeper Participation . 192 7.5 LIVING IN HOPE . 193 Love, Hope, Love . 194 Loving Hope Produces Action . 194 Reveals the Distance between Future and Present 195 Seeks to Bridge the Gap . 196 Gives a Sureness . 198 Hope: The Power of the Future in the Present . 199 7.6 CONCLUSIONS . 200 Interconnectedness of Themes: A Fourfold Approach . 200 Idealism versus Realism . 201 Potential for the Ecological Reformation . 202 8 The ‘Ecological Reformation’ 205 8.1 INTRODUCTION . 205 8.2 RESTORING ALL CREATION’S IMPORTANCE . 205 One Community . 206 God’s Creation . 207 Intrinsic Value . 209 Vulnerability . 210 8.3 CORRESPONDING TO GOD’S LOVE FOR CREATION . 211 God’s Trinitarian Love . 211 God’s Love for Creation . 212 8.4 PARTICIPATING IN GOD’S LOVE FOR CREATION . 215 Universal and Intimate Love . 215 Giving and Preserving Life and Fellowship . 216 The Coming Future . 217 8.5 LIVING IN HOPE FOR CREATION . 218 Engenders Love for Creation . 218 Supplies an Aim for Creation . 219 Motivates to Act for Creation . 220 8.6 CONCLUSIONS . 220 9 Conclusion 223 9.1 THESIS AIMS ............................ 223 Review of Aims . ..