Sowing Good Seeds: Christian Perspectives on Agriculture in Higher Education Symposium

The cultivation of the earth is one of humanity’s most fundamental tasks. Christians understand that the practice of agriculture allows humans to work with God to create, to promote the flourishing of creation, and to provide for our material needs. However, Christians also see the work of agriculture corrupted by sin. This corruption manifests itself in a variety of ways, including environmental degradation, injustice, hunger, and insecurity, all of which are exacerbated by greed. Many of these harms are normalized by dominant cultural narratives which may put ecological and human health at odds or overemphasize profit and growth to the exclusion of other goods.

Christians engaged in agricultural education and research have an important opportunity to contribute to these discussions. How can Christians working in the context of agricultural higher education bring an authentic, faithful perspective to the discussion of agricultural problems, while doing so in ways that are appropriate to the religiously diverse contexts in which much of this work must be done?

To address this broad, multifaceted question, Anselm House is convening a symposium “Sowing Good Seeds: Christian Perspectives on Agriculture in Higher Education,” to be held June 2-3, 2022. This 24-hour symposium will include both formal opportunities to engage directly with these questions, including panel sessions and keynote talks, as well as many informal contexts for networking and fellowship. The symposium will include two keynote events with Dr. Gisela Kreglinger, author of The Spirituality of Wine.