School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies

Contact Us School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies,
Irish School of Ecumenics,
Loyola Institute Building,
Trinity College Dublin

View the contact page for more contact and location information

religion@tcd.ie Gaeilge
Dr. Jacob Erickson

Dr. Jacob Erickson

Assistant Professor, School of Religion

https://hcommons.org/members/jacobjerickson/

Biography

Ph.D. Drew University
M.Div. Yale Divinity School
M.A. Trinity College Dublin (jure officii)
B.A. St. Olaf College

Dr. Jacob J. Erickson (pronouns: he/him) is Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics in the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin. A constructive theologian and theological ethicist, Erickson writes to evoke an ecotheology of planetary conviviality--the playful and just cherishing of life together--in the midst of current ecological crises, ecological injustice, emerging perspectives in the wake of global warming, and new challenges in energy production.
Erickson has taught theology and ethics at Trinity since 2016, and also has served in a number of leadership roles in College, from the School's Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning (2020-24), Director of Research (2016-18), and past Chair of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Faculty Research Ethics Committee (2017-20).

In his writing, Erickson meditates on the complex relationships of earth and divinity, decolonial environmental ethics and queer theory, classical Christian theologies and contemporary constructive theopoetics. Engaging questions of theology and the Anthropocene, he did his doctoral work at Drew University with Catherine Keller.

He's a contributor to a number of academic books, The Huffington Post, and Religion Dispatches. His 2015 Religion Dispatches piece on Pope Francis' "climate encyclical" received a Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council. He serves on the editorial board of Dialog: A Journal of Theology. Erickson is an active member of the American Academy of Religion and, with Prof. Marit Trelstad, he co-chairs the Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit. He was recently appointed to the International Connections Committee which oversees AAR's International Grants competition.


Hear an extended interview with Prof. Erickson on the Homebrewed Christianity Podcast.

Prof. Erickson is currently open to receiving proposals for PhD and postgraduate research, especially in the areas of:
  • Constructive Theology, Theopoetics, and Ethics
  • Religion and Ecology, Ecotheology, Anthropocene Studies, Climate Ethics, Ecojustice, Ecospirituality, and the Environmental Humanities
  • Posthumanisms, Critical Animal and Plant Studies and Religion
  • Negative Theology, Mysticism, and Ethics
  • Queer Theory and Theology, Religion and Sexuality
  • Process Theology and Philosophy

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • "Theophanic Materiality: Political Ecology, Inhuman Touch, and the Art of Andy Goldsworthy" in, editor(s)Catherine Keller and Mary-Jane Rubenstein , Entangled Worlds: Science, Religion, Materiality, New York, Fordham University Press, 2016, pp203 - 220, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2016
  • "Irreverent Theology: On the Queer Ecology of Creation" in, editor(s)Whitney A. Bauman , Meaningful Flesh: Reflections on Religion and Nature for a Queer Planet., Punctum Books, 2017, pp55 - 80, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2017
  • "Tools for Religious Conviviality: Ivan Illich, Process Thought, and Political Ecology on a Multireligious Planet." in, editor(s)Santiago Slabodsky and Roland Faber , Living Traditions and Universal Conviviality: Prospects and Challenges for Peace in Multireligious Communities, Lanham, MD, Lexington Books, 2016, pp183 - 196, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2016
  • "Falling in Love with the Earth: Francis' Faithful Ecology" in, editor(s)John B. Cobb, Jr., and Ignacio Castuera , For Our Common Home: Process-Relational Responses to Laudato si', Anoka, MN, Process Century Press, 2015, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2015
  • "The Apophatic Animal: Towards a Negative Zootheological Imago Dei" in, editor(s)Stephen Moore , Divinanimality: Animal Theory, Creaturely Theology, New York, Fordham University Press, 2014, pp88 - 99, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2014
  • "Doxological Diversities and Canticle Multiplicities: The Trinitarian Anthropologies of David H. Kelsey and Ivone Gebara" in, editor(s)Wesley Ariarajah and Chris Boesel , Divine Multiplicity: Trinities, Diversities and the Nature of Relation, New York, Fordham University Press, 2014, pp175 - 192, [Jacob J. Erickson]Book Chapter, 2014
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Atmospheric Flesh, Syndicate, (February), 2017, p1-4, 41-49Journal Article, 2017, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Marion Grau, Sacred Texts, Theory, and Theological Construction Unit of the American Academy of Religion, November 18-21, In:AAR, 2017, BostonMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2017
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Promiscuous Vines: On the Queer Emergence of a Theological Botany, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, November 18-21, 2017, pp1-15Conference Paper, 2017
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Book Review of Eco-Reformation: Grace and Hope for a Planet in Peril, Review of Eco-Reformation: Grace and Hope for a Planet in Peril, by Lisa E. Dahill and James B. Martin-Schramm , Worldviews, 22, (3), 2018, p289-291 (3)Review, 2018, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Whispering Forests, Sacred Groves: Welcome to Night Vale's Abominable New Animism, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 17th - 20th, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Laughing at the Anthropocene: De-Fanging Environmental Despair, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 18-21, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Religions (Special Issue), Verdant: Knowing Plants, Planted Relations, Religion in Place, 9(11), (2018), Jacob J. Erickson and Lisa Dahill, [eds.]Journal, 2018
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Ghost Species: The Haunting of Inner Animalities, An Und Fur Sich, 2019Journal Article, 2019, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Toxic Creativity, Deep Time, and Moral Pleasure: An Ecospirituality of Technology, Concilium: International Journal for Theology, (3), 2019Journal Article, 2019
  • Dialog: A Journal of Theology, Wiley Blackwell, [eds.], 2018-2021Editorial Board, 2018
  • Jacob J. Erickson, On the Perpetual Desire for Oil: Apophatic Excess, Toxic Creativity, and a Spirituality of Prospective Failure, Religion/Water/Climate: Changing Cultures and Landscapes; International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (ISSRNC), Cork, Ireland, June 13-16, 2019, 2019Conference Paper, 2019
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Being an Environmentalist in a Time of Despair: A Counterpoint Conversation, Religion/Water/Climate: Changing Cultures and Landscapes; International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (ISSRNC), Cork, Ireland, June 13-16, 2019, 2019Conference Paper, 2019
  • Jacob J. Erickson, A Gentle Reminder of the Earth: Sensual Theopoetics in Deep Time and the Expanded Present, Papers Session on the work of Anne Dufourmantelle, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA, 2019Conference Paper, 2019
  • European Journal of Food, Drink and Society, Dublin, Ireland, ARROW@TU Dublin, 2019Editorial Board, 2019, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Review of Ecological Solidarities: Mobilizing Faith and Justice for an Entangled World , by Krista E. Hughes, Dhawn B. Martin, and Elaine Padilla , Dialog: A Journal of Theology, 2020Review, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Marion Grau, co-chairs, Sacred Texts, Theory, and Theological Construction Unit, American Academy of Religion, Nov, 2019, In:American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, 2019, San Diego, California, USAMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2019
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Marion Grau, co-chairs, Sacred Texts, Theory, and Theological Construction Unit, American Academy of Religion, Nov. 2018, In:American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, 2018, Denver, COMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2018
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Grief and New Creation: Theopoetics for a Pandemic, Dialog: A Journal of Theology, 2020, -Miscellaneous, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, An eschatology for today's world, SEARCH, 42, (2), 2020Journal Article, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Divine Hydrophilia: A Response to Just Water, Syndicate Theology, 2022, p1 - 10Journal Article, 2022
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Process Theology: Response to John Cobb and Catherine Keller, Theology in a Time of Crisis, University of Edinburgh (Virtual), June 24th, 2020, University of EdinburghInvited Talk, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, The Ambiguity of Jehu: A Reexamination of Sanctioned Violence in 2 Kings 9-10, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, New Historicism and the Hebrew Bible Unit, San Diego California, November 17th-20th, , 2007Conference Paper, 2007
  • Jacob J. Erickson, [Forthcoming, Working Title] On the Floodtide of History: Climate Grief and the Theopoetics of Planetary Feeling, (Under Contract with Fortress Press), 2022Book, 2022
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Review of Christianity in a Time of Climate Change, by Kristen Poole , Dialog: A Journal of Theology, 2020Review, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Composting Christ: A Response to Tripp Fuller's Divine Self-Investment, Christ Among the Disciplines: An Online, Interdisciplinary Conference on Christology, Virtual, November 18-24, 2020Conference Paper, 2020, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Kris Kvam, Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit, American Academy of Religion, November 20th - 23rd, In:American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting 2021, 2021, San Antonio, TX, usaMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2021, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Review of Creation as Sacrament: Reflections on Ecology and Spirituality, by John Chryssavgis , Reading Religion, 2021Review, 2021, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Response to Michael Marder, The Garden and the Dump: Across More-than-Human Entanglements, Aarhus University (Virtual), Denmark, Sept. 15th-16th, 2021Conference Paper, 2021, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Kris Kvam, Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit of the American Academy of Religion, AAR Annual Meeting, November 19th-22nd, 2022, Denver, Colorado, USAMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2022, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Environmental Futures Roundtable Discussion, Philosophical Life of Plants, Bristol, UK, April 28th-29th, 2022Invited Talk, 2022, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Epiphanic Ecologies: Queer Theopoetics for a Planet in Process, Center for Process Studies, 50th Anniversary, Claremont, California, February 15th-17, 2023Conference Paper, 2023, URL
  • Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, Brill, 2024Editorial Board, 2024, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, The Apophatic Botany of Agnes Arber: Toward a Vegetal Mysticism, American Academy of Religion Annual meeting, San Antonio, Texas, USA, November 18-21, 2023, 2023Conference Paper, 2023
  • Jacob J. Erickson and Marit Trelstad, Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit, American Academy of Religion, 23-26 November, 2024, San Diego, California, USAMeetings /Conferences Organised, 2024, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, On Noah's Arkive, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA, 23-26 November, 2024Conference Paper, 2024, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Feminist Theology and Theopoetics, Saint Olaf College, 4-1, 2018Invited Talk
  • Jacob J. .Erickson, Queer Identity and Religion: Enemies or Strange Bedfellows?, Identity Politics and Memory Contests, Trinity Long Room Hub, February 5th, 2019, Identities in Transformation ThemeInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, "Who Speaks for Christianity and Islam?", UCC - Cork, April 9th, 2018, Study of Religions - School of Asian Studies, in Cooperation with UCC LGBT Staff Network and Cork's Three Faiths ForumInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Faith & Sexuality, Launch of Dublin Pride, Dublin - City Council, June, 2018, Dublin PrideInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Behind the Headlines: Trump's America, 60 Days In, Trinity Long Room Hub, March 20th, 2017, Trinity Long Room HubInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Encountering the Other: Lutheran Theology, Religious Ministry Formation Programme - Loreto House, March 14th, 2019Invited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Social Media for Academics/Researchers, Trinity Long Room Hub, April 1st, 2019Invited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Of Uncommon Perceptions: A Memorial Lecture on Ecofeminist Theologian Anne Primavesi, Sacred Gaia: A Memorial Day in Honour of Anne Primavesi Pioneering Irish Eco-Feminist Theologian, Dublin, Ireland, November 2nd, 2019, Woman Spirit IrelandInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, The Queer Matter of Ecospiritual Despair, Insight Colloquium, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, April 13th, 2019, Prof. John J. ThatamanilInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Echo Effects of a Groaning Creation: Environmental Despair and its Theopoetics, University of Glasgow Graduate Seminar, February 6th, 2020, School of Critical StudiesInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Encountering the Other: Lutheran Theology, Religious Ministry Formation Programme: Loreto House, Loreto House, April 19th, 2018, Loreto HouseInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Animating Ecological Desires: Prismatic Values for the Anthropocene, Green Values, Religion and Secularism, Trinity College Dublin, July 1st, 2017Invited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Encountering the Other: Lutheran Theology,, Religious Ministry Formation Programme, March 19th, 2020, Loreto HouseInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, On Seeing that it's Good: Theologies of Climate for the Next Decade, 2020, -Miscellaneous
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Pat Kenny Show, Newstalk , 2017, -Miscellaneous
  • Jacob J. Erickson, 'Religious identities, or any identity, should never be reduced to a violent caricature', thejournal.ie, 2017, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, "Laudato si': Pope Francis and his Love Letter for the Earth": Workshop for RE Teachers in Ireland, 2018, -Miscellaneous
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Laudato si': A Springboard for Ambitious Climate Action in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, November 16th, 2017, Trocraire, The Loyola Institute, Jesuit Centre for Faith and JusticeInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Vibrant Spirits and Resilient Matter: Expanding Horizons of Ecofeminist Thought, Woman Spirit Ireland Lecture Series, October 23rd, 2017Invited Talk, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Graduate Seminar, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, "Planetary Feeling: Theological Ethics and Ecospiritual Despair in an Era of Climate Crisis" Theology and Ethics Research Seminar, Edinburgh, Scotland, February 5th, 2020, Edinburgh School of DivinityInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Panel response to theologian Dr. Mary Hunt, Mary Hunt in Trinity College, Mac Neill Theatre, Arts Building, Nassau Street, Trinity College Dublin 2, Ireland, September 10th, 2018, Trinity Centre for Gender and Women's Studies, Woman Spirit IrelandInvited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, "What is ecopiety?", Review of Ecopiety: Green Media and the Dilemma of Environmental Virtue, by Sarah McFarland Taylor , The Christian Century, (June 5th), 2020Review, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Plagues and Pandemics: Behind the Headlines, Dublin, Ireland, March 26th, 2020, Trinity Long Room HubInvited Talk, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, A Climate Grief, Observed: Transforming Our Ecologies and Theologies of Magical Thinking, 2020, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Tripp Fuller, Homebrewed Christianity Podcast, 2020, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Lauren Boland, Neither religion or sexuality have ever been only one thing, 2019, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, COVID-19 Crisis Blog: Are we there yet? Beyond Apocalypse Fatigue and the New Normal, 2020, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Review of Encountering Earth: Thinking Theologically with the More-Than-Human World, by Trevor Bechtel (Editor), Matt Eaton (Editor), Tim Harvie (Editor) , Reading Religion, (August 14th), 2020Review, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Irish Inter-Church Meeting Workshop on Climate Justice and Care of Creation, St. Finian's Lutheran Church Dublin, November 14th, 2017, Irish Inter-Church MeetingInvited Talk
  • Prof Naomi Oreskes, Prof. Linda Doyle, Dr Susan Murphy, Dr. Jacob J. Erickson, Why Trust Science Panel, Tent of Bad Science - European Researchers' Week, Trinity College Dublin, November 24th, 2020Invited Talk
  • Jacob J. Erickson, 'Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology: Spotlights Podcast/Videocast', Episode 13, 2020, -Broadcast, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Wild Spirituality: Queer Grief and Grievance in an Age of Extinctions, Virtual, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, April 15th, 2021, Union Seminary, The Insight ProjectInvited Talk, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Specters of Sorrow: Eco-Grief, Ambiguous Loss, and Religious Creativity, 2021, -Miscellaneous, URL
  • Tripp Fuller, Jacob J. Erickson, and Catherine Keller, Apocalypse and Process, A Process Party Live Stream, June 28th, 2021, Dr. Tripp Fuller of University of EdinburghInvited Talk, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Anti-Intellectualism and Science: From Vaccinations to Climate Change, LERU Summer School: Re-evaluating the Role of the Expert, Trinity College Dublin (Virtual), August 11th, 2021Invited Talk, URL
  • Aoife King (ed), Rita Duffy, Caitríona Lally, Jacob J. Erickson, Donna Lyons et al., What the Pandemic Means: Perspectives from the Trinity Long Room Hub Covid-19 Blog Collection, 2021, - 1-56Miscellaneous, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Frances Flannery, Matt Williams, Karen Jeffares, Zand Craig, Gillian Kingston, Eco-justice and Peace on the Island of Ireland and Beyond, ISE at 50 Webinars, Zoom, 2nd June, 2022, Irish School of Ecumenics, Dong Jin KimInvited Talk, URL
  • Jacob Erickson, Christ Made Flesh: Ecological Embodiment, Christologies of the People: Embodiment and Proclamation, Virtual, January 19th, 2023, Westar InstituteInvited Talk, URL
  • Jacob J. Erickson, Lament and the Climate Crisis, Homebrewed Christianity - Theology Camp, Denver, Colorado, 17-19 October, 2024Invited Talk, URL

Research Expertise

  • Title
    A Contemplative Pedagogy for our More-Than-Human World
    Summary
    The goal of this $7000 grant is to create a virtual learning community that queries and practices a contemplative pedagogy that is ecologically engaged.
    Funding Agency
    Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
    Date From
    2021
    Date To
    2022

Earth and related environmental sciences, Other Humanities, Humanities and the arts, Other social sciences, Philosophy, Ethics and Religion,

Recognition

  • Helen LePage and William Hale Chamberlain Prize, Drew University May 2019
  • Digital Salon on Theological Education, Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion 2020-2021
  • School Award - Trinity Excellence in Teaching 2024
  • Grants for Advanced Theological Study, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 2010-11, 2011-12, 12-13, 13-14, 14-15
  • Junia Prize, St. Olaf College Religion Department May 2006
  • Kierkegaard Summer Research Fellowship - Kierkegaard Library, Northfield, MN, USA 2009
  • Wilbur Award - Religion Communicators Council April 2016
  • Human Rights Campaign Summer Institute Fellowship Award. HRC Scholarship and Mentorship Program for Religious and Theological Study. 2011
  • Fellow, Christ Seminar, Westar Institute 2021
  • Fellow, Panentheism and Religious Life Project, John Templeton Foundation 2021
  • American Academy of Religion (Co-Chair of the Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit)
  • European Forum for the study of Religion and the Environment
  • The International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
  • Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit, American Academy of Religion, Steering Committee Member 2018 - 2020
  • Martin Luther and Global Lutheran Traditions Unit, American Academy of Religion, Co-Chair 2021 - Present
  • Sacred Texts, Theory, and Theological Construction Unit of the American Academy of Religion. Co-Chair 2014 - 2020
  • Honors Examiner, Religion. Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania USA. 2021 -