"Go in Peace and Glorify the Fragility of Life”. An Ecotheopoetical Reading of Antjie Krog’s Poetical Liturgy O Fragile Earth

Abstract

The human-induced climate crisis calls for a transformation in how human beings dwell on earth, including spiritually. This article starts from the premise that the liturgy is an important locus for forming and practicing a new, ecumenical spirituality. In order to develop fully ecumenical liturgical language (i.e., language that includes all of creation), liturgists need ecotheopoetical language — language in which poets lead the way toward theological meaning-making that combines an ecumenical outlook with a poetic form of theology. Ecotheopoetics welcomes creativity as an important transformative force alongside cognitive reflection on the relationship between God and creation. We read the work O fragile earth. A mass for the new covenant (2020) by South African writer and poet Antjie Krog through an ecotheopoetical lens to answer the following research question: How might an ecotheopoetical perspective help liturgists develop transformative liturgical language that is committed to a sustainable future for the entire planet?