Students Explore Biblical Roots for Living Sustainably
Principia College’s Religion and Philosophy Department and its Center for Sustainability recently teamed up for a series of activities and events exploring biblical inspiration for living sustainably, from environmental stewardship to alleviating hunger.
Events included a range of speakers. Dr. Clint McCann, one of the world’s leading Psalms scholars, shared an ecological reading of Psalms and encouraged sustainable living so that all creation can exemplify the final verse of Psalms: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord” (150:6). Tracey Howe-Koch, Coordinator of Missouri Interfaith Power and Light also spoke. "She highlighted the divine vision of the goodness of all creation in Genesis 1:31 and shared several passages echoed in the sixth tenet of Christian Science, including Micah 6:8 and the command to 'Watch' in Mark 13:37," notes Dr. Barry Huff, who is teaching The Bible and the Environment this semester.
Last Sunday, Principians put their commitment to sustainability into action at the St. Louis CROP Hunger Walk, where the College had the largest contingent. Principians raised $1,035 to help end hunger locally and globally, including for communities impacted by the recent hurricanes. Following the hunger walk, a Psalms Festival “featured songs from around the world based on psalms that highlight the themes of peace and justice, including food justice, such as Psalms 23, 36, 67, 72, and 82,” Huff explains.
“Participating in the walk and festival,” Huff continues, “was a way for Principians to embrace and support the St. Louis community and world. I am grateful for and inspired by the outpouring of support for this worthy cause from generous donors, the 35 Principia Team walkers, and a number of campus groups who promoted it. This event continued our campus-wide prayerful commitment to stand for tolerance and embrace diversity expressed in the 'After Charlottesville' chapel at the start of the semester. It’s grounded in the Bible’s repeated emphasis on God’s infinite and loving embrace of all creation.”
Still to come on October 16, Dr. Shirley Paulson, CS, Committee for Ecumenical Affairs for The Mother Church, will talk with students from The Bible and the Environment and Modern Climate Change about her recent article “A Christian Science View on Climate Justice” in Ecumenical Trends. She will also give a talk titled “Conversing with Other Christians 101: Christian Science in Ecumenical Dialogue” to the entire campus.