Theologian: Climate movement represents "revelatory figure" of God

Theologian Bär: Climate movement represents "revelatory figure" of God

Graz-based fundamental theologian at inaugural lecture: Churches and Christians must commit themselves much more strongly to the fight against the climate crisis - Theology should understand creation anew as a "living organism of God"

The climate movement is also a test for theology, which is challenged to recognise in it a "locus theologicus", a theological place of knowledge and ultimately a "manifestation figure" of God. This was emphasised by the theologian Martina Bär during a lecture on Wednesday evening at the University of Graz. "Fridays for Future", for example, represents a "hopeful departure" and a "sign of the times" in the sense of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). "The climate movement can be an indication of God's revelation in the sense of a saving impulse that calls for rethinking and action in a social prophetic way," Bär said in her lecture, which was also her inaugural lecture as professor of fundamental theology at the University of Graz.

However, Bär attested that the Church is still "far too hesitant" in dealing with the issue. Yet the Christian churches could "raise their voice and take a much stronger position vis-à-vis politics and in public discourse" - and do so critically, for example when it comes to the methods of the "Last Generation". Bär: "The church could say that the concerns are justified, even if the methods have a counterproductive effect in the broader society."

But the question is why the churches are so hesitant. Among other things, the theologian identified a problematic "concept of space": in theology today, the world hardly appears as creation, as space encompassed by the "omnipresence of God", but rather as a dualistically split area of mere nature. "Could it be that theology lacks a theological concept of space for creation that can abolish this normative dualism and qualify the space of creation qua being and not only qua being created as divine?" - a thought that Bär subsequently unfolded with a theological and philosophical-historical outline.

The result in modern times was an "increasing profanation and secularisation of the space of creation" - with the consequence that the world was no longer perceived as a "living organism with a soul", but as a mere space of technical disposal. A new, "theological understanding of space" that understands "Mother Earth" as such a "living organism" cannot be "imposed" or prescribed. However, if it were theologically rediscovered, there could be a similar rediscovery in philosophical terms, and thus "Mother Earth" could be understood anew "also in secular debates as an intrinsic value worthy of protection."

Biographical notes

Martina Bär (*1976) studied Catholic theology in Tübingen and at the Jesuit University of Madrid. Bär completed her doctorate with her thesis - which was awarded the Maria Kassel Prize for Young Women Scholars - "Mensch und Ebenbild Gottes sein. Zur gottebenbildlichen Dimension von Mann und Frau- Being human and in the image of God. On the God-image dimension of man and woman" at the University of Erfurt, where she worked as a research assistant at the Endowed Chair of Christian Weltanschauung, Religions- und Kulturtheorie (2004-2009) and at the Chair of Theology and Exegesis of the New Testament (2010-2012).

Source

The Virgin Mary is Our Mother, not "Mother" Earth.  Jesus Christ is the unique revelation of God to the world.

Given this theologian prays to "Our Mother", this is a very dangerous theological position to take.  God in everything soon becomes God is nothing.

A post-modernist theologian, John Caputo once asked the question "What would Jesus deconstruct?"  To which the answer is "Absolutely nothing".  But the Synodalists would answer "Everything".