Eco-Justice Principles in Reading the Bible

In a well-known essay, “Whose Earth Is It?, “ the late James Cone writes, “People who fight against white racism but fail to connect it to the degradation of the earth are anti-ecological—whether they know it or not…The fight for justice cannot be segregated but must be integrated with the fight for life in all its forms.” 

Two years ago, there was raised the question of resources for preaching during climate crisis. Two us, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Melcher, a retired UCC clergy and professor of Hebrew Bible from Xavier University, and I began work on what is now a book entitled The Canterbury Earth Justice Lectionary. It was released yesterday by SCM/Canterbury Press (UK).

Pilgrim Press in the early 2000s became the US book distributor for the Earth Bible Project of books.  I have found very few UCC clergy aware of this project and resource. Norman Habel and his Earth Bible Team met with Australian geneticist Charles Birch to determine principles for reading the scriptures from an Earth justice perspective.

Like many contextual liberation perspectives, reading the Bible from your own social context is important but must be read interjectionally with wider context as Cone argues above. Below are eco-justice principles to help define your own ecological location but that focus on the marginalized voice of the Earth in the Bible.

These are criteria that work not only that are applicable to the Bible but other religious scriptures such as the Hindu Bhagavad Gits, the Mahayana Buddhist Heart Sutra, or Islam’s Qur’an. I have tested them.

1. The Principle of Intrinsic Worth

The Earth and all its components (human and other-than-human) possess intrinsic value, independent of their usefulness to humans. Creation is not merely instrumental—it has value in itself because it participates in the community of creation.

2. The Principle of Interconnectedness

The Earth is a community of interconnected and interdependent beings. Humans are members of this Earth community, not rulers standing above it.

3. The Principle of Voice

The Earth is a subject capable of raising its voice in celebration and in protest. Biblical texts often portray creation praising God (e.g., Psalms) or groaning in suffering (e.g., Romans 8). Eco-justice reading asks: Where is Earth’s voice in this text?

4. The Principle of Purpose

The universe, Earth, and all its components are part of a dynamic cosmic design within which each has a role to play. Creation has its own telos—its own divine calling and purpose—beyond serving human agendas.

5. The Principle of Mutual Custodianship

Humans are called to exercise responsible care within the Earth community. Dominion is reinterpreted as mutual custodianship rather than domination.

6. The Principle of Resistance

Earth and its components not only suffer injustice but also resist domination and exploitation.  Eco-justice interpretation seeks to unmask anthropocentric bias and align with Earth’s resistance to abuse.

These are criteria for reading the Bible, sermon preparation, or Bible studies that raises consciousness of the Earth and creation often marginalized us by us.