A Theology of the Built Environment: Justice, Empowerment, Redemption

In this book, Tim Gorringe reflects theologically on the built environment as a whole. Drawing on a wide range of both theological and social-scientific sources, Professor Gorringe explores Christianity in its urban settings, focussing on the use of space, design, architecture, and town planning to make a theological critique. After considering the divine grounding of constructed space, he looks at the ownership of land, the issues of housing, town and country, and the city, and then considers the built environment in terms of community and art. The book concludes with two chapters that set the whole within the framework of the environmental crisis and asks what directions the Church should be looking for in building for the future. This intersting book will challenge not only theologians, ethicists and sociologists of religion but also church teachers and professionals.

• There are many theological reflections on the city but none on the built environment as a whole • Draws on a huge range of both theological and social scientific reading • Attempts to address an urgent contemporary problem which has not yet been put in ethical focus

Preface; 1. The theology of the built environment; 2. Constructed space and the presence of God; 3. The land; 4. The human dwelling; 5. From Eden to Jerusalem: town and country in the economy of redemption; 6. The meaning of the city; 7. Constructing community; 8. But is it art?; 9. God, nature and the built environment; 10. Towards Jerusalem?; Select bibliography; Index of names; Index of subjects.

‘Professor Gorringe’s book gives us plenty to think about.’ Church Times

‘This is a brilliant, creative, sustained, wide ranging and enormously erudite contribution …’ International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church

\'This is clearly a most important book, which, it is to be hoped, will spur other writers to pursue this vital subject, which affects every member of the world population.\' Evangelical Quarterly