By Chris Moon
A new class at Johnson University examines God’s care for the nonhuman world—and is catching a degree of criticism for it.
Dr. Joe Gordon, professor of theology at the Knoxville, Tenn.-based college, said his Creaturely Theology class is designed to show students how Scripture points to God’s love, care, and sustenance for all of creation.
God’s people always have sought to better understand nonhuman creatures and their habitats, Gordon said. He pointed to King Solomon and ancient church theologians Basil of Caesarea and Francis of Assisi.
Students can follow in their footsteps and learn to care about the things God cares about—which is all of creation, Gordon said.
“It is an important topic of study because the biblical witness demonstrates God’s care for and delight in nonhuman creatures and their habitats, and God calls us to steward them and care for them,” Gordon said. “In doing so, we can grow in wisdom and so can become more like God.”
Gordon taught the class for the first time this spring.
The course hasn’t come without controversy, however.
Johnson University in July posted a promotional video about the class on Facebook. A lively discussion ensued about the value of the course.
Some believed it isn’t necessary and takes the Bible out of context by putting too much emphasis on nonhuman life.
“This is exactly the kind of thing that is wrong with Western biblical education,” one commenter wrote. “We focus on things that are culturally relevant but not biblically relevant.”
A flood of comments defending the course ensued.
Asked about the debate, Gordon said he responded with “grief and lament.” But he said he remains undeterred.
“I can’t help but be committed to it,” he said.
A PASSION FOR NATURE
Gordon grew up in St. Louis. His grandparents owned a cabin in the Ozarks, and he spent a lot of time in the woods uncovering a range of creatures—notably snakes.
“I thought they were so beautiful and was fascinated by them,” he said.
Gordon recalled one time his dad caught a garter snake in a neighbor’s yard. The animal captivated Gordon, and he said he spent time catching and studying a lot of other creatures during his childhood.
“That passion has been with me for the entirety of my memory,” he said.
Gordon carried that with him into his work at Johnson University’s Florida campus, starting in 2015, and later when he moved to Johnson’s 300-acre campus in Knoxville.
Gordon regularly teaches his theology courses outside. Now a certified master herpetologist, he also has been called to remove snakes that get into the wrong places on the university’s campus.
“God calls us to care for creatures and gives us a capacity to do that,” Gordon said.
IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
Gordon received a grant through the University of St. Andrews in Scotland to design a science-engaged theology course.
“I thought it would be valuable to propose a course blending ecology, studies of biodiversity, creation care, and spiritual formation in nature,” he said.
Gordon’s Creaturely Theology course was approved by Johnson’s faculty as an upper-level elective class.
All Johnson students are required to take 33 credit hours of Bible and theology. Creaturely Theology is available to students who are nearing the end of that portion of their studies.
“Nobody is required to take it,” Gordon said.
The course combines days of classroom work, including theology readings and lectures, with multiple field trips that put students in connection with nature and wildlife.
The class includes a weekend-long retreat at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
Jeremy Lloyd, manager of field programs and collegiate studies at Tremont, gave a lecture to the students during the retreat and led them in several assignments.
One of those assignments was having students sit in silence for an hour in the woods, observing creation around them.
“I think that for anybody, Christian or not, spending time outdoors in nature really means spending time in creation with a capital ‘C,’” said Lloyd, who is a professing Christian. “Spending time not just in the spaces, but paying attention and investigating, leads eventually to the natural state of wonder and awe, which I believe is a proper stance in every page of the Bible.”
RECONNECTING STUDENTS WITH NATURE
Gordon said the class is particularly helpful for students today because many of them are detached from nature—thanks in part to the technology that surrounds them.
Gordon said when he came to Johnson’s Knoxville campus, which has numerous wooded areas and meadows, he didn’t see a lot of students outside enjoying it. One of the benefits of the course, he said, is reconnecting students with life outside.
“I do think it’s timely,” he said.
He said Western Christians have “inherited ideas [about nature] that are damaging.”
Some see the natural world as a resource to be used and consumed, Gordon said. Some see it as an obstacle to be overcome or controlled.
“I don’t think all those ideas are faithful,” he said.
COMBATTING CRITICISM
And so, Gordon said he was disappointed to see the Facebook flap about his class. He was particularly concerned by the sentiment that the class was a waste of time.
The course’s first assignment sends students to the Bible to read texts from Genesis, Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation. Students are required to comment on what those texts says about plants and animals and their habitats—as well as what the Bible says about God and people in relation to nonhuman creatures.
Gordon said it is impossible to read those biblical texts and “to think that caring about what God cares about is a waste.”
Hannah Wood, a senior at Johnson University who took the Creaturely Theology class in the spring, said she understands the negative reaction to the class.
“There is a pretty strong idea in a lot of Christianity that animals are kind of secondary and the main focus is people,” said Wood, who is majoring in intercultural studies. But she said seeing nature through a biblical lens helped her understand just how much God cares for all his nonhuman creation—and, therefore, how much he cares for people.
“Our role in the world becomes much more clear when we see how much he loves it,” Wood said.
Chris Moon is a pastor and writer living in Redstone, Colorado.
Dr. Gordon, I’m 82 years old, kinda gnarly and set in my ways but I think the class you’re offering is absolutely wonderful.
Young and old need to know and appreciate God’s creation..
We have been appointed stewards of His wonderful world and really haven’t been faithful in doing so.
I ride single track mountain bike and see so many kids, anyone under 50, riding with earphones.
I ride with hearing aids so I can hear not only the young ones who have enough common sense to warn me before passing but also I hear the birds.
I see so much beauty in creation. .
We can learn about God from his wonderful creation also.
Keep it up, you’re doing a valuable Christian and godly thing.
It sounds like a very good course, one that I–a tree lover–would enjoy. As long as it includes the perspective that animals and plants are not made in the image of God, with an eternal destiny, like humans. They are not “furry humans.” They were created for our use and are subject to us. (Psalm 8:4-7)The Bible gives us permission to kill and eat them (Genesis 9:2, Deut. 14:2-21) God, Himself, killed the first animals to make clothes for Adam and Eve, and he ordered the sacrifice of animals in worship.
The Bible approves of the confinement of animals (Exodus 21:29) and using animals for work (Deut. 25:4)
This does not contradict our obligation to be kind to animals. Christians were among the first to create “humane” organizations to prevent cruelty. Here in the midwest, farmers take very good care of their animals and enjoy their company, but then they take them to be butchered, and that’s not wrong.
Eastern religions have made great inroads into our country, and this is one port of entry that needs to be carefully watched.
I think this is a wonderful class! Most public school students probably didn’t have the time or know how to enjoy nature studies. As homeschoolers, we incorporate everything that was described in this course into our nature walks and everyday life as nature studies with a Biblical worldview and understanding. We are to be stewards of the earth including all the animals, land, sea and air. We need to be out in God’s creation and enjoy it. I think it is a necessity that we teach them how to do that. So yes, this is a very appropriate class in this era we live in. And it is Biblical because I’m not sure many realize this but there is science in the Bible, starting with Creation. The first scientists were philosophers and theologians. Academic subjects do cross over more than you think. And it’s how I present them in our homeschool.
And yes, I do agree with the commenters above regarding including certain parts of Scripture and perspectives.
The mistake that JU is making is putting this in the category of theology. Clearly calling a bug our neighbor is a big stretch. The class has value for sure, but in the sciences department.
We as followers of Christ should be at the forefront of those who care about the world God has so beautifully and wonderfully made. “Wonder” seems like it could and should be a powerful bridge between people of faith and those not yet there. For us as followers of Christ, wonder and appreciation of the natural world, the handiwork of God, should lead to worship. For others it seems wonder could be at least a step in the direction of worship. A hearty amen to your course Dr. Gordon and kudos to Johnson University for their support of the course. I am excited for the blessing and enrichment this will bring to the lives of all who enroll.
As I read the article, the things Daniel Schantz wrote in his comments were going through my head–truths from God’s Word.
Awesome! Keep doing what you are doing. God loves all of creation! Our opportunity is to be stewards.
That anyone thinks this is a waste of time betrays the paucity of their biblical knowledge. We are mandated to STEWARD God’s creation, not use it up! The fear these opponents have is (whether they know it or not) that they/we will be found out for our profligate misuse of the planet God gave us! No, animals aren’t made in the image of God, but they were made by the hand of God, and their welfare matters to him – AND they display the glory of God as his creations. Christians ought to be in the forefront of those adopting energy sources that don’t ruin or deplete the earth, rather than fearing a change from fossil fuels, for example. We should not accept “discipleship” from oil companies.
The course sounds awesome – we as Christians are called to be stewards of ALL creation!
It’s time to understand that the Judeo-Christian theology is an eastern religion. What we have done with it is use it to dominate and control the world without an ounce of thought toward sustainability and living with God’s creation in a caring and compassionate way. I think we need to reclaim the eastern part and not use theology as a way of spreading the values of empire.
There are some sad comments here that point to how insular some people are and the incapability of some poor souls to develop deeper awareness and understanding of God’s creation. Fine if they don’t want to learn, but they should not seek to shut this subject down for others simply because they don’t get it. I applaud Dr. Gordon for bringing fresh new insights to our Christian faith.
I would love to take a class like this! How wonderful to study the Creator by including all of creation. We only need to look around to see what poor stewards we have been. Loving all parts of creation expresses our love for God. Thank you for teaching this.
“God gave us permission to kill and eat animals.”
That may well be the case but, if so, clearly God gave permission to certain animals to kill and eat humans as well.