Publication Date
12-4-2023
Abstract
Christianity, specifically Catholicism, is an inherently anthropocentric religion, with humans having the most dignity of all mortal creatures due to their divine image. However, what does such a lofty view of humanity mean for the current environmental crises? Are Christianity and environmental stewardship mutually exclusive paradigms? Pope Francis has sought to maintain human dignity while at the same time encouraging the Church to recognize that the environment, as God’s creation, is not to be exploited. In other words, an anthropocentric perspective does not equal a disregard for other aspects of creation. His 2015 landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, sought to highlight what the Church’s and humanity’s roles were in addressing the environmental crises of our day. In this essay, I analyze his encyclical, explaining that the Christian Ethic is not only accommodating of environmental justice, but that it is actually obligated to ensure that such justice is realized.
Recommended Citation
Kriplean, Brandon
(2023)
"Laudato Si' and the Christian Ethic,"
Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 5, Article 3.
Available at:
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umurjournal/vol5/iss1/3
