Episode 372 - The Activity of Spirit in Animals with Daniela Rizzo
Daniela Rizzo joins The Spiritual Forum to discuss her research on the connection between faith, the Holy Spirit, and the lives of animals, drawing from her new academic book, Animal Pneumatology. She shares how a profound experience with her cat led her to ask how the Spirit might work through animals, and prompting her PhD research. Daniella and host Rev. Carol explore animal sentience, and the biblical and theological grounding for why animals matter to God. They discuss the ethical implications of our current ecological dominion, emphasizing a shift in consciousness toward a “peaceable kingdom” where animals and humans flourish together.
Bio - Daniela is a lecturer in theology at Alphacrucis University College, Melbourne. Her research focus explores the connection between faith, the Holy Spirit, and the lives of animals. Daniela's work brings together theology and care for creation, asking how God’s presence and love extend beyond human life to the whole created world. She is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and is actively involved in global conversations around creation care and animal ambassadorship. Daniela is the author of Animal Pneumatology, the first academic book that explores the relationship between animals and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Daniela’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdanielarizzo/
Daniela’s books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/3032187222?lv=shuf&language=es&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
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