This volume is a response to Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si’. Published in 2015, the encyclical urges us to face up to the crisis of climate change and to take better care of the Earth, our common home, while also attending to the plight of the poor.
In this book the Pope’s invitation to all people to begin a new dialogue about these matters is considered from a variety of perspectives by an international and multidisciplinary team of leading scholars. There is discussion of the implications of Laudato Si’ for immigration, population control, eating animals, and property ownership. Additionally, indigenous religious perspectives, development and environmental protection, and the implementation of the ideas of the encyclical within the Church are explored. Some chapters deal with scriptural or philosophical aspects of the encyclical. Others focus on central concepts, such as interconnectedness, the role of practice, and what Pope Francis calls the "technocratic paradigm."
This book expertly illuminates the relationship between Laudato Si’ and environmental concerns. It will be of deep interest to anyone studying religion and the environment, environmental ethics, Catholic theology, or environmental thought.
Table of Contents
Part 1 Introduction
1 The Challenge and the Opportunity: Some Perspectives on Laudato Si’
Part 2 Implementation
2 Laudato Si’ and Private Property
Eric T. Freyfogle
3 Reading Laudato Si’ in a Rainforest Country: Ecological Conversion and Recognition of Indigenous Religions
Zainal Abidin Bagir
4 The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor
5 Laudato Si’ and Population
6 Rethinking our Treatment of Animals in Light of Laudato Si’
7 ‘We were nowhere. We’ve got somewhere.’ Does Laudato Si’ go far enough, and is the Church on board for the climate journey?
Part 3 Theological, Scriptural, and Philosophical Aspects
8 Laudato Si’ and the reinterpretation of Scriptures in light of the ecological crisis
9 Sources of Authority in Laudato Si’
Cristina L.H. Traina
10 A Constructivist Engagement with Laudato Si’
Kieran P. Donaghy
Part 4 Central Concepts
11 A New Anthropology? Laudato Si' and the Question of Interconnectedness
12 ‘Realities are More Important than Ideas’: The Significance of Practice in Laudato Si’
Gretel Van Wieren
13 Opposing the ‘technocratic paradigm’ and ‘appreciating the small things’
Robert McKim is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He specialises in the philosophy of religion and applied ethics and has published extensively in these areas. He has written these books: Religious Ambiguity and Religious Diversity (2001); On Religious Diversity (2012); and Religious Diversity and Religious Progress (2018). In addition, he has edited or co-edited these books: The Morality of Nationalism (1997); Religious Perspectives on Religious Diversity (2017); and Climate Change and Inequality (2018).
'This is a timely publication. It places Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis) at the heart of a wide and deep exploration of issues pertinent to life today. Students of Religious Studies, Citizenship, Ethics and Education will find this a great resource.'
Dr. Leonardo Franchi, University of Glasgow, UK
"This volume of essays by leading scholars in the fields of environmental studies, economics, and religion explores the key themes and implications of Pope Francis' historic encyclical. These essays offer clear, appreciative and illuminating insights into the encyclical, but this is not just a celebratory volume -- it also offers constructive criticism and invites reflection on remaining questions. This volume makes an important contribution to our engagement with the encyclical, and it will also be of great interest to anyone concerned with the environmental crisis today."
Jean Porter, University of Notre Dame, USA