Joseph Sittler is one of the most distinguished theological educators. In this article, we learn about his life and education. He explains how people are more open-minded now than several years ago and questions his faith in churches' expectations of students. He goes on to explain his critiques of the education system. He also thinks schools should focus on their strengths and hone in on them.
"'These same years have brought to the fore much of what Sittler thinks is wrong with theological education today. He locates one basic problem not with the schools but with the churches that send their ministry candidates to those schools. “There are certain expectations of contemporary theological education which the schools have got to fight against. One of these, generated by the church, is that the pastor is to be a combination of master of ceremonies and soothing friend. The schools, despite the integrity of their own intentions, the appropriate preparation that they demand of their faculties, and the desire to do the hard and critical work, are expected to turn out students who ‘meet the approval of the church accrediting committee.’”
The article discusses how traditional religions have been struggling in recent decades to gain as many members because the modern world has become more complex morally and ethically. Therefore, it questions the role of environmentalism as filling that gap in many people's lives as the new faith that they can follow. It incorporates a history on ecology through different scientists theories/findings and also the transfer of many Christian communities to the "green", sustainable mindset. Finally, it compares and contrasts different philosophers ideas on what religion really means and if environmentalism has the capacity to be it's own.