ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS IN CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS
REFLECTIONS ON LAUDATO SÍ
Keywords:
Laudato Si, Theology, God, Jesus, Ecological ConcernsAbstract
All Christians believe that God has created the world and God found it
good. God expects us to protect and maintain Nature and to be
responsible in the use of natural resources and other living beings. The
mother earth today is heavily exploited and her existence is constantly
threatened. Many of the natural calamities are the result of human
irresponsibility, selfishness and greed. Keeping this in mind, in his
recent encyclical Laudato Sí, Pope Francis invites all of us for a true
conversion and ecological approach based on the reality of our society.
References
Times of India, “Air Pollution, A Top Killer in India,” Times of India, 14.02.2013, pages 1 and 11.
Information from WHO: http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/14/news/economy/india-delhi-air-pollution/
Gaudencio B. Rosales, C.G. Arevalo, ed., For All the Peoples of Asia, Quezon City: Claretion Publication, 1992, 320, No. 13. (Hereafter Rosales).
Jürgen Moltmann, Who is Christ for us Today? Germany: Chr. KAISER, 1994, 93: “Violence against the poor confirms the violence against the weak nature. Where there is no social justice, there is no ecological justice as well.”
Paul Knitter, Jesus and the Other Names, Oxford, 1996, 11.
Jeevan Kumar, “Quest for Social Justice,” in Ambedkar and Social Justice,ed., Shashi S.S. Vol. I, New Delhi: Veerendra Printers, 1992, 269.
Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens, 21, AAS 63 (1971) 416-417.
John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, 37-38, and Evangelium Vitae, 42.
