religion and the environmental crisis [View All]

My last post was a story about a woman who does amazing things. The hostility of many of the replies has me stunned. See my last response to dmallind at the bottom of the thread. I have had requests to know more about the carbon-free footprint building I referred to. In a day or two I will copy here the newspaper column I wrote about that building. The column is really about the preservation of the earth, which is the theme of the final two paragraphs. If you don’t care about the building, you may want to read just the final sentences.


Every major religion has as its root a concern for the earth, not some speculation about heaven. One cannot separate Christianity from environmental concerns. In the 13th century, a monk, who grew up rich and left it all to live in nature wrote the following canticle.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Perhaps the major theme in every seminary and in most progressive churches is about the crisis we are facing with the despoiling of the earth. Later on I’ll talk about how some of us are working on this issue.