Maximizing animal theology: Maximus the Confessor on the value of non-human animals and the human calling
This article adds to the growing body of work regarding the place of animals within Christian doctrine through engaging with the theological writings of Maximus the Confessor. In this article I shall do two things. First I shall argue that the theology of Maximus makes three claims that have signifi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Published: |
University of Toronto Press
2014
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| In: |
Toronto journal of theology
Year: 2014, Volume: 30, Issue: 2, Pages: 247-255 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | This article adds to the growing body of work regarding the place of animals within Christian doctrine through engaging with the theological writings of Maximus the Confessor. In this article I shall do two things. First I shall argue that the theology of Maximus makes three claims that have significant bearing on how we can understand non-human animals: (1) all creatures made by God have an inherent worth and value based on God's creative and providential acts, as well as Maximus's logoi theology, (2) these same creatures are included in God's redemptive concerns, as shown by their presence within the shared goal of deification for all creation, and (3) humans have a unique calling in helping to achieve such redemption and this sanctifying role constitutes a necessary part of what it means to be human. Second, on the basis of these ideas I shall then demonstrate how such ideas create direct implications for how Christians might respond to intensive industrial farming of non-human animals, an institution that will be shown to be at great odds with the human calling toward sanctifying creation. Given such a state, the presence of factory farming is an institution that the theology of Maximus suggests is highly problematic and stands in need of serious ethical reflection. |
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| ISSN: | 0826-9831 |
| Contains: | In: Toronto journal of theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.3138/tjt.2559 |