TH594A ISSUES IN THEOLOGY:

ORTHODOX PERSPECTIVES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Course Workload 9 credit points; 5-day intensive unit; 162 overall demand hours

Prerequisites Nil

Academic Staff Rev. Doru Costache, ThD (Bucharest 2000) BTh (Bucharest 1993),
Lecturer (course unit coordinator)
Office: / Email:

Guy Freeland PhD (Bristol 1965) CertHist&PhilSci (Cambridge

1963) BA Hons (Bristol 1960), Senior Lecturer
Tel: / Email:

Philip Kariatlis, ThD (SCD 2010) MTh (SCD 2001) BA (Sydney

2000) BTh (SCD 1995), Lecturer
Office: / Email:

Visiting Scholar:
Gavan McDonell, FTSE, Adjunct Professor, School of History and
Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW

Curriculum Objective This unit aims to introduce the students into the main characteristics
of, and causes leading to, the environmental crisis. It will also look
for possible solutions in light of the theory and practice of the
Orthodox tradition. The main sources of the ecclesial tradition
(liturgical, scriptural, ascetic and patristic texts) will be explored,
together with contemporary Orthodox witnesses and attitudes.

Outcomes Students should be able to:

• demonstrate a detailed understanding of the environmental crisis
• demonstrate in depth knowledge of the main traditional sources
relevant to environment
• discern the main historical, cultural and civilisational causes that
led to the environmental crisis
• recognise the relevance of traditional theory and practice to a
consistent Orthodox approach to environment
• value the God-given environment and the ecological dimension
of the Orthodox way of life

Subject Content 1. The ecclesial worldview and the environmental crisis.

2. Defining the parameters of the environmental crisis.
3. An historical approach to Deity, humanity and the environment.
4. Orthodox attitudes and witness today.
5. Liturgical framework and environmental attitude.
6. A scriptural approach to environment.
7. A patristic approach to environment.
8. Asceticism and the environment.

Delivery Methods Intensive

For the purpose of facilitating further access to resources and the

exchange of ideas, online interaction between the course unit
coordinator and students is encouraged. This is possible through
the educational wiki designed for this purpose. Please visit:
 http://th594orthodoxyenvironment.wetpaint.com.

Access to this wiki is granted by the course unit coordinator upon

request.

Daily Timetable Morning Sessions

9.00-9.30 Chapel
9.30-10.30 Lecture
10.30-10.50 Refreshments
10.50-11.50 Lecture
11.50-12.00 Short break
12.00-1.00 Lecture
1.00-02.00 Lunch

Afternoon Sessions

2.00-3.00 Lecture
3.00-3.10 Refreshments
3.10-4.30 Lecture

Daily Program Day 1 – Monday 12 July 2010

Morning Session:
09.30 – 10.30
The ecclesial worldview and the environmental crisis (Freeland,
Costache).
10.50 – 11.50, 12.00 – 1.00
The environment and its issues: Socio-cultural, religious and
scientific representations (McDonell)

Afternoon Session:
2.00 – 3.00, 3.10 – 4.00
Watching and discussing Home, a documentary (Costache)
4.00 – 4.30
An Australian Context: Norman Habel’s Season of Creation Project
(Costache)

Day 2 – Tuesday 13 July 2010

Morning Session:
09.30 – 10.30, 10.50 – 11.50, 12.00 – 1.00
Deity, humanity and the environment: An overview from the
Paleolithic to the twenty first century (Freeland)

Afternoon Session:
2.00 – 3.00, 3.10 – 3.30
Misuse, Right Use and Transfiguration of the World: An Orthodox
approach to the environmental crisis (Kariatlis)
3.30 – 4.00
Orthodox Attitudes and Witness Today: Religion, Science and the
Environment Project (Kariatlis)
4.00 – 4.30
Presentation of the Vespers for the Preservation of Creation
(Costache)
Day 3 – Wednesday 14 July 2010

Morning Session:
09.30 – 10.30, 10.50 – 11.50, 12.00 – 1.00
Deity, humanity and the environment: An overview from the
Paleolithic to the twenty first century (Freeland)

Afternoon Session:
2.00 – 3.00, 3.10 – 3.30
Misuse, Right Use and Transfiguration of the World: An Orthodox
approach to the environmental crisis (Kariatlis)
3.30 – 4.30
Liturgical framework and environmental attitude: vespers, matins and
the liturgical anaphora (Costache)

Day 4 – Thursday 15 July 2010

Morning Session:
09.30 – 10.30 Liturgical framework and environmental attitude:
exorcisms and the blessing of the waters (Costache)
10.50 – 11.50, 12.00 – 1.00
Deity, humanity and the environment: An overview from the
Paleolithic to the twenty first century (Freeland)

Afternoon Session:
2.00 – 3.00, 3.10 – 4.30
The scriptural narratives of creation, paradise and fall: An
environmental approach (Costache)

Day 5 – Friday 16 July 2010

Morning Session:
09.30 – 10.30 Romans 8:18-24 in an environmental perspective
(Freeland)
10.50 – 11.50, 12.00 – 1.00
Patristic worldview and environmental awareness (Costache)

Afternoon Session:
2.00 – 3.00, 3.10 – 3.50
Asceticism and the ecosystem (Costache)
3.50 – 4.00
Quiz
4.00 – 4.30
Discussion: A synthesis of the week