Heather Eaton

The revolution of evolution

This article argues that evolution is of particular importance to those working on religious responses to the ecological crisis, despite public opposition to evolution in some quarters. To take evolution seriously, the article maintains, effects a fundamental revolution in reference points for those working in religion. The article presents the basic tenets of evolution, with a brief discussion of creationism and Intelligent Design theory. A second section discusses how attending to evolution changes the manner in which the ecological crisis is interpreted and understood. A final section explores hazards arising from, and contributions of religious responses to, the ecological crisis in the light of the revolution of evolution.

Ecofeminism and Globalization

For some time I have wanted to bring the global economic agenda into the centre of ecological and feminist religious reflections. I sense the urgency of this task, and the need for our ecofeminist reflections to be pertinent to the global economic ghoul that is shaping many levels of current reality. In a desire to evaluate the power and liberatory potential of ecofeminist discourses in light of globalization, and in particular global corporate rule, I began this inquiry. A further desire was to expand the capabilities of ecofeminist liberation theologies to confront globalization. This article is a reflection on the process of attempting these goals. In brief, the results have been a disturbing realization of the power of corporate rule and the fallibility of ecofeminism.

The Ethics of Gender and Globalization: Military Madness and Ecological Stress

Abstract Globalization has an impact on gender relations in complex and contradictory ways. The consequences are neither solely detrimental nor the same everywhere. Globalization may offer new opportunities to women, but overall globalization from above has exacerbated gender inequality. Globalization disperses local and national decision-making powers. Flexible labor laws weaken worker protections and job security. All of these threaten advancement in womens interests. The oft-accompanying environmental degradation directly affects women responsible for domestic necessities and caring labor, which is the situation of most women within the Pacific Rim. Military activities around the Pacific Rim continually erode womens rights. This paper discusses the ethics of globalization, adopting micro, macro and global categories.

COSMOLOGICAL ETHICS? THE GREAT WORK

Are we indeed ethically destitute, as suggests Thomas Berry? We are in an era of a barrage of ethical discourses, and yet Berry claims that are unable to respond to the radically new problematique facing any human communities. This article explores the idea of the macro and micro dimensions of ethics, noting the conventional reference points as well as the change of reference points Berry suggests. The discussion dwells on these two dimensions, and the interplay between them. The article also suggests that the religious/spiritual experiences of awakening, and presently to the cosmos, could also be considered as a source for ethics.

Mapping ecotheologies: Deliberations on difference

How do we understand differences in our approaches, methods and priorities? This reflection explores three areas of differences in the field of ecotheology: topics, methods and the specific concerns and presuppositions of the people involved.

Subjectivity and Suffering: Transgenic Animals, Christianity, and the need to Re-evaluate

The many facets of transgenic animals are not addressed by secular or religious voices, and for many reasons; ignorance, absence of public debate, acceleration of the research, and apathy towards animals. There is a need to understand the basic parameters of transgenic animal research. Second, it is important to investigate Christian actual and potential responses, as well as grapple with the strengths and limits. Third, work in transgenic animals comes out of a deprived affective, aesthetic and ethical milieu where there is no rapport with animals as inherent subjects. With new insights from religion and animal studies, it may be possible to transform the prevailing utilitarian view of animals.

Ecofeminist Ethics: Utopic Conversations

Within and underlying the spectrum of ecofeminist discourses, there are assumptions about ethical aims and moral norms which propel the critique and undergird the visions for an alternative future. Ecofeminists are situated in the crevasse between the ‘is’ and the ‘ought’. Some seek to glean ethics from the ‘is’, at times in the form of case studies. One purpose for this is to deduce ethical systems and worldviews from the specific conditions of ‘what works’, which then allows for a connection across the crevasse. Nonetheless, the bulk of ecofeminist efforts is, customarily, perched on the ridge of the ‘ought’—critiquing, exploring, denouncing, affirming and creating ethical possibilities and opportunities—developing transformative and emancipatory paradigms.