An intercultural exchange between Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe with Dr. Bryan K. M. Mok, Hong Kong, China, Rev. Dr. Brigitte Rabarijaona, Nairobi, Kenya and Dr. David Castillo, San José, Costa Rica
Moderation and concept: Christian Weber, doctor of theology, Director of Studies Mission 21
Event in English with simultaneous translation into German and Spanish
The climate crisis is far too big and pressing an issue to be left to science and politics alone. It raises many questions that also affect religion: How do we understand ourselves as human beings? What significance does nature have for us? What can and must we do? At least three billion people around the world regard the Bible as Holy Scripture. The way we understand its message can have a huge impact. Is it more likely to motivate us to withdraw from the world? Or to work for survival? What gives us hope?
Bryan K. M. Mok is a research fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research explores the intersections of Christian thought, ecological ethics and public space, with a particular focus on interfaith and comparative studies. His award-winning dissertation explores the role of Christian theology in political deliberations on climate change. He has also authored several journal articles and book chapters on the religious and spiritual dimensions of ecological civilization in China.
"Climate change is a modern manifestation of humanity's alienation from God and the land due to the arrogant transgression symbolized by the 'Fall of Man' in Genesis 3."
Brigitte Rabarijaona is a pastor of the Reformed Church of Madagascar and holds a PhD in Old Testament Studies from the University of Geneva. She currently works as a consultant for the United Bible Societies, where she supports Bible translation teams in several African countries and provides Bible translation training. She is also the coordinator of the Bible Translation Roadmap in Africa - a strategic plan that aims to complete 1,200 Bible translations worldwide by 2038. Her academic and professional career has been greatly enriched by diverse intercultural experiences.
"The interpretation of Ruth's life is an approach to tackling the climate crisis."
David Castillo completed his PhD in Biblical Studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, focusing on contextual biblical reading and liberation hermeneutics. David is currently working on his Master's thesis which focuses on the religious legitimization of political discourse in Costa Rica. He belongs to the Biblical Department of the Centro de Estudios y Relaciones Judeo-Cristianas, part of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, and is a faculty member of the Universidad BÃblica Latinoamericana.
"The metaphor of trees celebrating the fall of Babylon, as found in the poem Isaiah 14:3-8, can be used to reflect on the relationship between colonialism and ecological crisis."
