Is Jesus the climate savior? New book stimulates discussion!

Is Jesus the climate savior? New book stimulates discussion!

On May 8, 2025, Prof. Dr. Ruben Zimmermann from the Evangelical Theological Faculty of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz presents his new book entitled "Would Jesus be a climate activist? Biblical inspiration for a contemporary creation ethic". The book is the result of an intensive examination of the question of whether Jesus would support climate protection today.

The discussion around this topic began in the summer of 2024, when climate activists raised a banner with the provocative question “Would Jesus be a climate activist?” attached to the Ulm Minster. This campaign was copied in various cities such as Lüneburg, Wiesbaden and Tübingen and inspired numerous panel discussions, demonstrations and church services.

Content and purpose of the book

Zimmermann's book consists of an introductory chapter and five additional chapters that discuss specific questions about creation ethics in the context of the climate crisis. A dialogue is established between current social discourses and biblical texts in order to discover analogies. Topics such as Jesus' call to repentance and economic transformation as well as Jesus' truth-telling in connection with the denial of scientific climate data are dealt with intensively.

A central element of the analysis is the “eco-hermeneutic model” that the author uses to interpret biblical texts. Here he outlines a “succession ethic 2.0” that sees people as “co-creators” in the ongoing life process. Zimmermann not only emphasizes the urgency of stopping man-made destruction of creation, but also the need to develop sustainable models for mindful coexistence.

Research references and collaborations

The study is part of the work at the Mainz research center “Ethics in Antiquity and Christianity,” which aims to connect ancient ethical concepts with current challenges, such as the climate crisis. The research project on creation ethics in the Gospel of John was funded by the German Research Foundation from 2019 to 2023. Zimmermann has also held a professorship since 2009 with a focus on biblical studies, hermeneutics and ethics. He is interested in building bridges between ancient and contemporary ethics and has already completed research stays at renowned international universities, including Yale.

In a joint article with Mirjam Jekel, published in Evangelische Theologie (83.3, 2023), both authors reflect on hermeneutical questions about the introduction of the Bible into the current ethical discourse on the climate crisis. The focus is on New Testament texts, which are often overlooked in comparison to Old Testament texts. Examining the Gospel of John, for example, clarifies the language of the gospel, particularly metaphors and narratives, and offers an aesthetic ethic that can be perceived as its own voice in contemporary discourse.

The development of Zimmermann's ideas clearly shows the connection between biblical theology and contemporary challenges, particularly the urgent need for an ecological transition. The discourse about the role of religion in the current climate debate could be significantly shaped by such approaches.

For further information on Zimmermann's work and the current discussions on creation ethics in the context of the Bible, you can read the articles on University of Mainz and Academia.edu read up.