Climate and Creation: Theological Responses to the Anthropocene

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the doctrine of creation through the lens of the Anthropocene. The articles are mindful that the term Anthropocene has not been endorsed as an official designation of a geological epoch. It is nevertheless widely used in Earth System sciences and social sciences/humanities. It attracts criticism in the latter on the grounds of its alleged failure to address matters of intersectionality. This edition assumes that the term refers to the impact of the human species (issues of causality notwithstanding) on the planet and its various threshold points. This edition is designed to explore how the doctrine of creation might be understood in light of the critiques made of the Anthropocene, but threats to the created order (as we know it) remain. It argues that the term retains its descriptive significance for the situation in which we experience the lived created order.

This edition builds upon theological research already conducted on the Anthropocene: it stands alongside research that continues to be conducted on the Anthropocene in other disciplines. It revisits the doctrine of creation in the light of questions regarding ‘where is God’ posed by related topics concerning providence and theodicy. It explores the theme of the Anthropocene in the aftermath of the decision by the International Union of Geological Sciences not to proceed and have the term replaced by the Holocene as a geological unit.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Research area A:

• The usefulness of the term Anthropocene in the wake of the decision made by the International Union of Geological Sciences;
• The continuing usefulness of the term Anthropocene despite the criticisms of it made on the basis of intersectionality.

Research area B:

• How is the doctrine of creation affected by the underlying understanding of the human impact upon the planet?
• Has humanity become a ‘force of nature’ and, if so, how should humanity, as a creature, be understood from the perspective of a doctrine of creation?

Research area C:

• What might other religious traditions, especially Judaism and Islam, contribute to this discussion?
• How might any other relevant discipline contribute/present challenges to the Christian doctrine of creation?

We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate new research on how the reality that is intrinsic to the term Anthropocene remains despite the decision of the IUGS. It will show how the concerns expressed by Earth System scientists must be the subject of theological address alongside (and not at the expense) of intersectional concerns.

We request that prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit their proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send this to the Guest Editor or the Assistant Editor of Religions Ms. Violet Li (violet.li@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor to ensure that the proposed manuscript properly fits within the scope of this Special Issue. Full manuscripts will be subjected to a double-blind peer review process.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Clive Pearson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Anthropocene
• creation
• providence
• theodicy
• eschatology
• Zalasiewicz
• multidisciplinary
• intersectionality