Norman Wirzba

Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology; Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics; Director of Research for the Office of Climate and Sustainability

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Office

211A Gray

Duke Divinity School
Box 90967
Durham, NC 27708-0967

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 ChristianityFrom 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 to learn more.

Selected Podcasts & Videos

Yale Center for Faith & Culture
In this episode of a podcast from the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Evan Rosa welcomes Norman Wirzba to discuss his recent book, Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis.
Christians Caring for Creation
This episode focuses on Wirzba's recent book "Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community and the Land" (2022). It's a call for everyone to embrace the agrarian spirit of knowing, nurturing, and protecting the land.
Learn how Duke Divinity School forms students for ministry that reaches beyond the walls of the institution and the church.

In the Media

Monday, November 18, 2024

Norman Wirzba on "Love's Braided Dance"

The ecoChristian Podcast
Thursday, October 31, 2024

Norman Wirzba on "Textures of Hope"

BioLogos
Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Norman Wirzba on Love's Braided Dance: Agrarian Hope for a World in Crisis

Yale Center for Faith and Culture

News and Stories

Norman Wirzba Named Director of Research for Climate and Sustainability

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

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

Recent Courses on Scholars@Duke