Academics Explore The Overlooked Bond Between Religions And Animals In A New Book

Academics Explore The Overlooked Bond Between Religions And Animals In A New Book. Hello everyone, I hope you are well. In today’s post, I will be sharing a press release on a newly launched book called “Animal Theologians,” written by Revd Professor Andrew Linzey and Dr Clair Linzey, the Directors of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, explores the relationship between religion and animals. It is published by Oxford University Press and available for purchase.

Revd Professor Andrew Linzey is the Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and has been a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford for 28 years. He is also the first person to hold a post in theology and animals at the University of Oxford. Dr Clair Linzey is the Frances Power Cobbe Professor of Animal Theology at the Graduate Theological Foundation and Deputy Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. She is the author of Developing Animal Theology (Routledge, 2021).

Academics Explore The Overlooked Bond Between Religions And Animals In A New Book

The book was written based on the premise that many people who have thought about God have not thought about animals or the relationship between the two. But some have, including some exceptionally famous figures, such as John Wesley, Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and Albert Schweitzer.

The editors have brought together Jewish, Unitarian, Christian, transcendentalist, Muslim, Hindu, Dissenting, deist and Quaker voices, offering unique theological perspectives that reverse the neglect of non-human animals. This work is an act of reclaiming different traditions for animals by recovering lost voices.

The book defines theology as an understanding of the inner logic of a faith position. It then moves to consider the neglect of animals within various theological traditions.

Animal Theologians

Following the introduction, Animal Theologians is divided into three parts, beginning with the pioneers who first saw a relationship between animals and divinity, moving on to those who contributed to the expansion of social sensibility to animals, and ending with the work of contemporary theologians.

For example, in chapter one, Justin Begley looks at seventeenth-century French priest, mathematician, historian, and philosopher Pierre Gassendi and his defence of a vegetarian diet. In part two, there is an essay by Linda Johnson discussing John Ruskin’s views on vivisection. In contrast, part three includes a chapter on C. S. Lewis’s most important theological musings about animals.

The essays in this volume use the contextual and historical background to describe what led animal theologians to their beliefs and then pave the way for further developments in this expanding field.

“This insightful anthology is a treasure trove of often hidden gems. This parade of writings, from the early pioneers to the most current thought leaders, offers a library of resources for all who wish to deepen their understanding of animal theology. Andrew Linzey and Clair Linzey have given us a wonderful gift.” says Paul J. Kirbas, President and Paul Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture at the Graduate Theological Foundation

“A broad-ranging engagement with seminal figures in the history of animal theology, this book is required reading for anyone seriously engaged in constructive theological reflection in animal theology and ethics,” maintains James Helmer, Associate Professor of Theological Ethics, Xavier University, Ohio.

Oxford University Press publishes Animal Theologians. RRP: £25.99 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Animal-Theologians-Andrew-Linzey/dp/0197655556

I hope you enjoyed that.

Talk soon.