//Masters in Ecological Theology...

With my recent revitalized interest in the topic of redemption and how it relates to Creation, I have begun to think more about the possibilities for my masters study.  

I was very skeptical that I would find anything that dealt with theology and creation. 

But I began to look online and I found the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto, Canada. Their graduate school offers a Masters in Theology with a concentration in Theology and Ecology.  Looking at their courses and the programs involved, it almost seems too good to be true...

Here is a selection of the classes to choose from:

-Spirituality & Ecology: Integration and Implications

-Christian Ethicists and Ecology

-Theology, Ecology & the New Cosmology

-New Voices in Theology

-New Heaven /New Earth

-Globalization, Social Justice and Eco-justice

-Beyond Homelessness: Theology in a Postmodern World

-Spirituality and Culture

-Theology, Science and Suffering

I am interested to hear anyones thoughts or if you know anything about this particular school or program.

Here is the link to the website:

http://www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/eaite/index.html

//another really good link

Ragan Sutterfield was the speaker for the conference that I posted about yesterday.  He was a great speaker, always smiling and very inspiring to listen to.  He has a heart for people and creation that is genuine.  Here is his blog:

plentymag.com/blogs/notebook

Currently, Ragan has a great post up about redeeming vacant lots with fruit trees...check it out!

//Godspeed the Plough

Last weekend I went to an amazing conference entitled Godspeed the Plough: The Church and the Redemptive practice of Agriculture.  The conference as a whole focused on the Church and it's relation to Creation.  The conference was an amazing experience and I look forward to posting some of my notes, thoughts and conversations I had once I can get my head around all that I took in this weekend.

I can definitely say that I learned a lot and that God spoke to me at this conference.  I got to meet some great people (actually probably some of the most amazing people I have ever met...) and hear things that had been on my mind, but never materialized into practice.  It was refreshing to be around people of like mind.

I grew up an extreme environmentalist.  I also grew up as far away from Christianity as possible.  I thought that God and Christians both hated nature...after all, I always heard that the Bible tells us that the reason plants and animals were here in the first place was for us to do whatever we wanted to with them. 

This conference revitalized that part of me that loves the smell of dirt.

That part of me that thinks there is nothing more beautiful than flowers.

That part of me that sees a tree and praises God for his mystery.

until I post more...here are some really good links to check out:

http://www.englewoodcc.com/

http://seedleaf.typepad.com/

http://douloschristou.com/