Titled “Anthropology and Ecological Spirituality,” the conference focused on Psalm 8:4, “What do you think man is?” The event examined the complex relationship between humans and the rest of creation, highlighting the historical dominance of anthropocentric exploitation and arguing for a shift towards stewardship as envisioned in Christian ecological thought.
In his presentation, Andrianos emphasized the importance of an environmental mentality in fighting consumerism and systemic greed, which are the main causes of environmental destruction. “Humans are just one species among billions of living species on Earth, and the human body is an ecosystem of microorganisms. According to the Bible, God commands human beings to live humbly and in equality with his creation, reflecting God’s omnipresence,” he said.
SOFTE President, Professor Fabien Revol, expressed his gratitude for the continued collaboration with the WCC, saying: “We appreciate the WCC’s ecumenical spirit and support and look forward to returning to Geneva for upcoming meetings.”
The conference featured six in-depth presentations by prominent ecotheologians from different denominations and regions on various aspects of ecological spirituality, including themes such as channeling structural greed into ecocentrism, moderate anthropomorphism, and African spirituality and ecology.
“The WCC’s participation in the SOFTE 2024 conference underscores its commitment to promoting ecological spirituality and addressing anthropological issues that are essential to developing a robust Christian ecological thinking.” Andrianos emphasizes.
More on the WCC’s work on ecological justice and sustainable development
