Ecofeminism and Religion

April 24, 2018

Group photo of womenIn a landmark letter sent to the people of the world in 2015, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis focused on the links between social and ecological justice, calling people to take action. Associate Professor of Religious Studies Rosemary Carbine offers a critical perspective on this letter in her essay, Imagining and Incarnating an Integral Ecology: A Critical Ecofeminist Public Theology.

Her work was published in the book Planetary Solidarity: Global Women’s Voices on Christian Doctrine and Climate Justice, which includes the works of Latina, womanist, Asian American, Anglican American, South American, Asian, European, and African woman theologians on issues of doctrine, women, and climate justice.

“My essay elaborates a critical feminist and public/political theological response to Pope Francis' groundbreaking encyclical, Laudato Si',” said Carbine. “Appearing in this significant and timely book about women, Christianity, and climate justice alongside leading global ecofeminist and womanist theologians – especially Heather Eaton, Ivone Gebara, Sharon Bong, Sallie McFague, Melanie Harris, and Nancy Pineda-Madrid among many more – is truly an honor and a privilege.”

A recent blog about the book sponsored by Feminist Studies in Religion invites readers to join the conversation in which climate justice and feminism intersect with religion. 

Carbine became involved with the project through her previous work with one of the book’s editors, Hilda Koster. Planetary Solidarity was celebrated on a panel at the American Academy of Religion’s annual meeting in Boston, MA and included Karenna Gore, Director of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary.