Norman Wirzba pursues research and teaching interests at the intersections of theology, philosophy, ecology, and agrarian and environmental studies. He lectures frequently in Canada, the United States, and Europe. As Director of Research at Duke’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, he is working with colleagues from across the university to develop the multi-disciplinary teams and research programs that can address the many social and ecological dimensions of climate change. He recently completed his role as the director of a multi-year, Henry Luce-Foundation-funded projected entitled “Facing the Anthropocene.” In this project, housed at Duke’s Kenan Institute for Ethics, he worked with an international team of scholars to rethink several academic disciplines in light of challenges like climate change, food insecurity, biotechnology and genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, species extinction, and the built environment.
Professor Wirzba has published several books, including Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis, Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land, The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age, Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight, Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity, From Nature to Creation: A Christian Vision for Understanding and Loving Our World, Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating (in its 2nd Edition), and (with Fred Bahnson) Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation. He also has edited several books, including The Essential Agrarian Reader: The Future of Culture, Community, and the Land and The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry.
Professor Wirzba serves as general editor for the book series Culture of the Land: A Series in the New Agrarianism, published by the University Press of Kentucky, and is co-founder and executive committee member of the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology.
Visit normanwirzba.com Link opens in new tab to learn more.
Recent Books
In the Media
Norman Wirzba on the role of food in religion Link opens in new tab
Norman Wirzba discusses his new book, "Love's Braided Dance" Link opens in new tab
Norman Wirzba receives Virtues & Vocations New Book Award for "Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in Times of Crisis" Link opens in new tab
News and Stories
Norman Wirzba Named Director of Research for Climate and Sustainability Link opens in new tab
Norman Wirzba, Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology, has been named the director of research for the office of climate and sustainability, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Read the article on Duke Today.
Interfaith Conference Engages Young Faith Leaders on Climate Change
A January conference on climate change hosted at Duke University brought young faith leaders together to learn from Duke faculty and others, look to their own faith traditions for guidance and hope, and share strategies for responding to the climate crisis.
Norman Wirzba Wins 2022 Aldersgate Prize Link opens in new tab
Wirzba won the award for his book This Sacred Life, which advocates embracing God's gift of life and seeking a harmonious life with creation and God.
Recent Publications on Scholars@Duke
- Wirzba, N. Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis, 2024.More info
- “Major Reviews.” Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 78, no. 1 (January 2024): 66–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/00209643231202005.More info
- Jorgenson, Kiara A. “NormanWirzba, Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2022, 264pp. $29.00.” International Journal of Systematic Theology 26, no. 1 (January 2024): 139–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijst.12675.More info
Recent Courses on Scholars@Duke
- XTIANTHE 999: Directed Study More info
- XTIANTHE 990: Topics in Theology More info
- XTIANTHE 890: Theological Topics More info
- XTIANTHE 812: The Doctrine of Creation and Theological Anthropology More info
- XTIANETH 999: Directed Study More info
- UNIV 102: Let's Talk About Climate Change More info
- RELIGION 999: Special Readings More info
- PARISH 999: Directed Study More info
- PARISH 806: Caring for Creation More info
- ENVIRON 997: Duke Environmental Leadership: Independent Studies and Projects More info