Dear Self,
Admittedly late, I finally finished Pope Francis' Encyclical on Climate Change & Inequality. It was encouraging and thought-provoking.
While I've long been helping people to think of climate change as a human issue intimately tied to inequality, Pope Francis set the issue out in such a way that linked the two topics more naturally and strongly than I have seen them presented before.
It's easy to point to the ways that climate change negatively impacts people. Rising ocean levels. Less predictable weather. More severe weather. And then there is all the harm caused to people by the other ways we damage the environment such as pollution, driving species to extinction, over extraction of resources, mismanaging waste. Pope Francis clearly explained this aspect of the problem.
But he also explained that if we are pursuing the Christian virtues such as love, generosity, simplicity or humility, which contribute to the thriving of all people, then we cannot help but see the mistreatment of the environment as deeply troubling to the pursuit of justice. Additionally, many of the behaviours that harm the environment, such as over consumption and a growing economy based on cheap, throwaway goods, also contribute to the growth of inequality.
Another fascinating piece of the encyclical is how it shows the importance of creation care to a Christian's life from a Catholic perspective. Since I am not Catholic, the way he stated his reasoning seemed fresh and exhilarating.
One point is that humans have three fundamental relationships - with God, with neighbour and with the non-human members and parts of creation. In Eden we're shown all of these relationships in healthy harmony. However, after the Fall, each is damaged and changed. The cornerstone of Christianity is the restoration of one's relationship with God. It is commonly taught that this then extends to restore our relationship with other humans. However, it is rarely recommended that our renewed relationship with God should bring healing to our relationship with the earth even though ruling justly over creation was one of God's first commandments to humanity.
Another is that all creation - even the inanimate parts of it - praise God. Psalm 148 reads "Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created."
Similarly is the conviction that, to God, every creature has its own value and significance but that their ultimate purpose is not for us but for God. However, humans play an important part in leading all creation back toward restoration with God.
And finally, one of the overriding themes of the encyclical is that Christians have a unique role in the effort to care for the earth.
The reason for this is that climate change is not a scientific problem. Science helps to give us a picture of what is happening and can help to show us the rhythms of nature and the interdependence of ecosystems, but the biggest obstacle to climate change and environmental mistreatment is human behaviour.
Christianity, at its best, is fundamentally counter cultural in a way that encourages life and transforms hearts. Because of this, Christians ought to be uniquely suited to embody and demonstrate a way of living that both stomps out injustice and contributes to the thriving of our common home.
It is because of the way Pope Francis weaves these themes together so naturally that the encyclical gains its strength. For Christians, he gives a high responsibility that we are far from achieving. But it is also clear that Christians are rapidly becoming interested in caring for creation at a pace far quicker than they ever have. It is exciting to think about how Christians will influence the conversation and how a concern for all of creation will shape our understanding of our faith.
Thinking of you,
Yourself
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