Preface

By the 21st century, humankind has fallen into a global ecological crisis that endangers not only its welfare, peace and development but also its mere existence and survival. The sustainability of our society, therefore, has a key role to play in our life and thinking.

Multidisciplinary and ecumenical ecotheology is a science that brings together an analysis of the direct determination of the existence and survival of living beings and their communities, and their final determination ("ultimate concern"), which includes their origin, purpose, destiny and meaning. As an applied science, ecotheology is the application of theological methods to the study of the consequences of human action from the perspective of contemporary ecology. It seeks to achieve the harmonious functioning as well as the maintenance and fulfillment of the self-identity of the biosphere (and that of human society as an integral part of the biosphere), by ensuring that the principles of theological ethics (as well as the motivating power of faith and the communities and the institutional system of religious practice) have an effect on human action.

The practical aspect of ecotheology ‒ care for creation ‒ aims to overcome the global ecological crisis and build a sustainable society for humanity.

The chapters of this book cover a wide spectrum from pure/theoretical to applied/ practical ecotheology, including sustainability, ecological, sociological, and cultural aspects of our changing planet.

*Ecotheology - Sustainability and Religions of the World* reports from the frontiers of this transdisciplinary research area. I am sure that this book will be very useful for everyone seeking insights into recent global problems from the viewpoints of the religions of the world.

> **Levente Hufnagel** Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Ecotheology, John Wesley Theological College, Budapest, Hungary

**1**

Section 1

Ecotheology
