Theological Anthropology in the Anthropocene

The Anthropocene presents theology, and especially theological anthropology, with unprecedented challenges. There are no immediately available resources in the theological tradition that reflect directly on such experiences. Accordingly, the situation calls for contextually based theological reflection of what it means to be human under such circumstances.

This book discusses the main elements in theological anthropology in light of the fundamental points: a) that theological anthropology needs to be articulated with reference to, and informed by, the concrete historical circumstances in which humanity presently finds itself, and b) that the notion of the Anthropocene can be used as a heuristic tool to describe important traits and conditions that call for a response by humanity, and which entail the need for a renewal of what a Christian self-understanding means. Jan-Olav Henriksen explores what such a response entails from the point of view of contemporary theological anthropology and discusses selected topics that can contribute to a contextually based position. 

“Dr. Henriksen’s exhaustively researched and compelling book tackles one of the most pressing questions of our age: how to understand human agency in the Anthropocene. Incorporating diverse sources in theology, the environmental humanities, and the sciences, he articulates a vision of humans as imaging God without falling into arrogant exceptionalism, anthropocentrism, or alienation from nature. The result is an Anthropocene theology that decenters humanity: we grasp that we are fundamentally created beings whose agency is conditioned by agencies and forces that preceded humans’ arrival on Earth. Theological anthropology starts with the recognition that everything does not start with us.” (Lisa H. Sideris, Professor of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara; author of Consecrating Science: Wonder, Knowledge, and the Natural World (2017))

“We are in a midst of global collective trauma and suffering due to the converging pandemics, ecological disasters, and failures of economic and political systems. This moment is neither predetermined nor accidental, and it is called the Anthropocene with good cause. But where, and what, is the (or a) Theology for this moment? In this insightful book Jan-Olav Henriksen offers a forceful call for a Theological Anthropology of (and for) the Anthropocene. Weaving a narrative that draws from diverse intellectual threads, Theology, Anthropology, Ecology, Evolutionary studies, Philosophy, and more, Henriksen offers an innovative, novel, framework not bounded by the particulars of a given faith, but enriched via Christian Theology, focused on human agency, human practice and their co-constructive relationships with faith, hope, and love.” (Agustín Fuentes, Professor of Anthropology, Princeton University; Author of Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being (2019))

“In this ground-breaking book, Jan-Olav Henriksen begins from what humans have in common, irrespective of their differing faith commitments (or none). The emerging theological anthropology is thereby the result of an interdisciplinary enquiry that seeks to explore the conditions of human agency in these ecologically distressed times. Although Christian theology often stresses human activity as a counterpart to the activity of God, Henriksen foregrounds human restraint and passivity and so makes an important contribution to theological discourse in the Anthropocene. Highly recommended.” (Peter Scott, Samuel Ferguson Professor of Applied Theology and Director of the Lincoln Theological Institute at the University of Manchester; author of A Theology of Postnatural Right (2019))

“The climate crisis presents us with a huge theological challenge. How can we continue to talk about God, imago dei, creation, stewardship, etc., and at the same time take seriously what is going on around us? In his most urgent book about theological anthropology in the Anthropocene, Henriksen makes a critical rereading of what it means to be created in God‘s image, and a part of creation which is faced with disastrous prospects in the imminent future. This book is an important theological response to the climate crisis, the most serious challenge of our time.” (Arnfríður Guðmundsdóttir, Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Iceland, author of Meeting God on the Cross. Christ, the Cross and the Feminist Critique (2010))

“In this thought-provoking monograph, Jan-Olav Henriksen tackles a very urgent issue by asking what wisdom the Christian tradition can offer that may help us to ‘become human’ in the Anthropocene. Now that we can break planet Earth, which ways of thinking in theological anthropology are harmful and which are supportive? There is much to be learned from this very timely and lucid book.” (Gijsbert van den Brink, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Jan-Olav Henriksen is Professor of systematic theology and philosophy of religion at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society in Oslo, Norway. He is also a Senior Research Scholar at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, NJ.