“Homo Oikos Sacralis: Redefining Human Being in the Face of the Environmental Crisis” Ph.D. Dissertation by Myoung-Ho Sin

Abstract: This dissertation seeks a redefinition of our self-understanding for addressing the ecological crisis as human being is at the center of this crisis as both – victims and perpetrators. Our environmental crisis is at the heart a humane crisis because it follows the same principles as discrimination against racial minorities, women and foreigners. As such, it argues that our current concept of human being has historically shown to be incapable of dealing with our socioenvironmental crisis in a holistic way. Using Paul Tillich’s method of critical, interdisciplinary correlation, we start with a historical analysis of the doctrine of creation and continue with a cultural-historical comparisons to show how climate change and discrimination against certain groups are related and enforcing each other. After an in depth analysis of the imago Dei and the theologies of Maximus the Confessor and Jürgen Moltmann, the author then proposes the concept of homo oikos sacralis which is portrayed by six
characteristics: First, it is able to expand the concept of family to include all human and non-human beings in one house. Second, it can incorporate the value to regard life as sacred and therefore, make sacrifices to protect life. Third, it is able to imbed technological achievements into moral values so that the whole creation community may prosper and life in a more peaceful world. Fourth, it is free to see and act interdependently to restore broken interrelationships between humans and earth, men and women, and races and nations. Fifth, it is able to bring justice-making shalom by recognizing earth as our home – a place of safety and refuge. Sixth, it is able to enter into a covenant with God, others, and nature and keep mutual commitments. As a practical application this dissertation describes the DICE model which is an integrated assessment model to calculate the social cost of carbon. By including inequality, a carbon tax is proposed that can be used to mitigate climate change and help people and nations that are disproportionately affected to adapt to the changing climate. As such, this measure can address the impact of climate change and discrimination at the same time.