We begin this episode with a little conversation about the spiritual forces behind animal exploitation. Then we discuss the wonderful first chapter of Ask the Animals: Wild Christology: On Foxes, Birds, and the Son of Man, by William “Chip” Gruen.

Developing a biblical animal hermeneutic is our focus as we begin working through the book: Ask the Animals, ed by Arthur Walker-Jones and Suzanna Millar. We discuss passages from Job, from which the title of this book is taken. And we look at the language (pronouns) used for animals in our Bible translations. How we talk about animals matters. We’re excited to be enlightened in our animal hermeneutics by the eighteen contributors to this book!

The lengths that theologians, philosophers, and scientists will go to deny animals moral consideration is astounding. The anthropocentric status quo so often holds more weight than faithful interpretation or intellectual honesty. We discuss a conversation with a theologian friend, as well as an article by Grace Clement, “Animals and Moral Agency: The Recent Debate and Its Implications.”

Here is the sermon Sarah recently gave to our local church congregation. While not explicitly vegan, hopefully it meets the congregation where they are and lays a biblical foundation for the vegan ethic. What are your thoughts? We also discuss the direction of our next several episodes which will focus on animal spirituality, and an animal-centric hermeneutic.

http://peaceofchrist.church/sermons

A delightful conversation with Dr. Marcello Newall - Vegan Theologian. Enjoy!

Resources:

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3616-7702

A breakdown of millennialism and how it affects how we treat the world. We discuss Moltmann’s unique eschatology which doesn’t fit neatly into a-, pre-, or post- millennial framework.

A lively discussion of Liberation Theology and Moltmann’s interaction with Liberation theologians. Liberation Theology’s main concern of how best to stand with the oppressed is every bit as relevant today.

Metz, Schillebeeckx and Pannenberg were Moltmann's contemporaries who each developed their own theologies of hope. However, their magisterial Christianity hamstrung their theologies while Moltmann’s radical protestantism freed him to construct a more cohesive and transformational theology of hope.