Ecology & Religion – (M.A.)

There is growing awareness of the magnitude of current ecological problems. At local level major changes in the health of our environment can be evidenced from the deteriorating quality of our water, the reduced level of fertility of the soil and the destruction of biodiversity. On a global level, our western lifestyle and our over-use of natural resources has had serious consequences for the Majority World. The most obvious example of this is climate change, where the energy consumption of rich nations has had a devastating effect on the lives and habitats of poorer nations.It is clear that these issues must be addressed with great urgency if we are to hand on a sustainable and fruitful planet to future generations. These concerns are central to this programme.

The programme is designed to explore how religious philosophies and traditions can make vital connections between the health of the planet and the well-being of all creatures, including humans. In the past science and religion have tended to operate in parallel worlds. This course aims to promote and encourage a unity of purpose between them. To achieve this end it is consciously inter-disciplinary in its structure and assessment processes.

Programme Aim:

The programme aims to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to engage in the study of the origin and development of the current ecological crisis and to consider the role of religion and ecology in the development of a critically informed and constructive response.

Programme Outcomes:

On successful completion students will be able to:

* explain the nature of scientific enquiry and of theories of cosmic and biological evolution.
* develop a viable creation theology capable of evaluating the positive and negative influences of religion in shaping human interaction with the natural world.
* evaluate theories of economic sustainability
* articulate the relationship between science and religion from an interdisciplinary perspective
* critique the centrality of modern science in terms of industry, energy, transport, medicine etc. and the effect of these factors on the environment

* engage in public debate on cosmological / religious platforms
* critique ecological issues at an interdisciplinary level
* use microscopes and tools for the identification, dissecting and sampling of flora and fauna.