Download Theology and Science

CALL FOR PAPERS
CTSA CONVENTION: Albuquerque, 2017
CONVENTION THEME: Ecology: Theological Investigations
TOPIC SESSION: Theology and Science Topic Session
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM:
Catherine Wright (Convener)
Paul Schultz
Heidi Russell
SESSION DESCRIPTION:
This 2017 session will focus on the potential and limitations of theological and biblical traditions to
address the current ecological and environmental crises in light of contemporary science. Given the
history of tensions between theology and science, how can theologians and scientists continue to
cooperate in this common project? The committee invites proposals that address the following
questions:
a) How does a keener sense of the relational ontology that constitutes all creation and creatures foster
and impact ecological commitments?
b) How has a technocratic worldview led to ecological devastation and a loss of meaning in theological
terms ‘encounter’ and ‘solidarity’ with creation and the Creator God?
c) How have traditional lenses on the environment that privileged the human contributed to the
ecological and environmental crises? What other theological lenses in dialogue with science can
focus this blurred vision?
d) What theologians or theological lines of thought in dialogue with science have proposed creative
paradigms to reimagine how we live and love in and with our common home?
e) How is human responsibility for ‘our common home’ impacted by the move from anthropocentrism
to a more complex understanding of the place of human beings in the universe as proposed by
contemporary science?
f) In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis poses numerous challenges to the world concerning “care for our
common home.” How might theologians draw upon the insights of contemporary science to develop
and advance Francis’ ecological challenges in the Anthropocene?
g) The committee also invites other creative proposals that address the theme Ecology: Theological
Investigations.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
 Proposals should not exceed 250 words. In the submission, please provide your name, institution,
and contact information (including e‐mail), as well as a 100-word précis to be posted on the
CTSA website should the paper be accepted.
 Presenters must be members, associate members, or applicants for membership of CTSA;
proposers must also ensure that their dues to CTSA are paid. It is important that proposals
indicate whether any audio-visual equipment wwould be required for the presentation.
Additionally, no member may present a paper/respond to a paper/participate on a panel more
than once at a given convention. An exception is made for under-represented groups, but
exceptions are not made for presentations made to the Women’s Consultation on Constructive
Theology. Presenters may not present a paper/participate on a panel/respond to paper or panel at
the CTSA convention more two years in a row.

Deadline for the submission of proposals is September 1, 2016. Please submit proposals to:
Catherine Wright at [email protected]. You will be notified by e‐mail whether your paper
has been accepted by September 14, 2016.