Perspectives on the Earth as Sacred (Space)

On 9 November 2024 Deborah de Koning (Tilburg University) presented her book Kiss the Earth with your Feet: Walking as Climate Meaningmaking during the annual symposium organized by Stichting Thijmgenootschap and the Thomas More Institute. The symposium focused on the question ‘What is sacred in times of climate change?’. From the conclusion of her book De Koning presented of how the earth (in the Netherlands) is perceived in a variety of ways in the context of climate change. Two of these perspectives are (1) the earth as sacred and (2) the earth as sacred space. She illustrated the former perspective with examples of protest signs from the Dutch Climate March in which the suffering of Mother Earth is a common theme. For the latter she referred to the Forest Church in which the connection of humans with non-human nature (outside) is essential to experience God. De Koning presented her book to Wim van de Donk, rector magnificus and president of the executive board of Tilburg University.

Prof. dr. Arie Trouwborst (Tilburg University) contributed to the symposium with a lecture on ‘Respect for life - modesty, mercy, and brotherhood in biodiversity policy and the Bible.’ He especially focused on interpretations of Biblical themes and narratives to critically revise the anthropocentric position of humans and the interrelationships between humans and non-human nature. Professor of Integral Ecology at the Laudato Si' Institute (Radboud University) Carmody Gray discussed the themes of holiness and hope and the role of the church in the context of climate change. She proposed that it is the duty of the Church to care for the world.

During the symposium participants had the opportunity to join a workshop Forest Bathing, a Laudato Si’-Walk or the workshop Deep Listening & Sound Ecology.

Prof. dr. Caroline Vander Stichele (Tilburg University) led the panel discussion in which the participants further discussed to what extent several of the walks promote an instrumental use of non-human nature. In the panel discussion people also had the opportunity to ask their questions to the presenters and workshop leaders.

Panel session during the symposium ' ‘What is sacred in times of climate change?’