The metaphorical richness of Christological imagery in late antiquity and the Middle Ages offers a potent lens for exploring counter-images and utopian thought in the face of the current environmental crisis. This paper takes its starting point from the «dissimilar images» employed by Pseudo-Dionysius, specifically the identification of Christ with the worm in Psalm 22:7.
The image of Christ the worm - a representation of profound humility, vulnerability, and connection to the natural order - persisted in medieval commentary, where it further illuminated Christ's identification with the lowest and most despised aspects of creation. This theological tradition emphasizes that Christ's devotion to the world can be seen especially in that which is rejected, broken or degraded, challenging anthropocentric narratives and opening a theological imagination attuned to ecological solidarity.
This study probes the potential for dissimilar Christological images to serve as counter-images against modern ecological devastation. These images, far from merely symbolic, can articulate a radical utopian vision: they reject triumphalism and domination in favor of vulnerability and restoration, pointing toward a reconciled relationship between humanity and the natural world. In contrast to «Deep Incarnation» theories, which emphasize Christ's participation in the material universe but risk sliding toward docetism or weakening dogmatic commitments, these dissimilar images are rooted in traditional Christological frameworks that remain dogmatically robust.
The paper proceeds in two parts. First, it examines sources - from Pseudo-Dionysius to medieval commentaries - employing dissimilar images of Christ as linked to nature's vulnerability. Second, it develops theoretical observations on how these images can inform ecological theology and utopian thought, arguing for their relevance in a robust and theologically sound response to the environmental crisis.