Abstract
The ecological crisis continues to be identified as the most significant social breakdown in the world. One of the important foundational influences on the development of an adequate religious response is the thought of cultural historian Thomas Berry. He affirmed the critical role that the world’s religions have in developing a spirituality that supports the sacrifices, visions, and dreams needed to live in an integral way with the Earth’s community of life. Such a spirituality provides the psychic energies we need to adequately respond to the crisis. The author of this article argues that Berry’s thoughts continue to be relevant, especially in the context of the emergence of a renewed sense of Catholicity. This article presents an overview of the breadth and depth of the study that led to Berry’s articulation of a new human orientation needed to reverse the path of devastation. It offers Berry’s insights into the reasons why it is difficult for Christianity to effectively respond to the present crisis and calls for a new Catholicity that functions out of the comprehensive context of an evolutionary and emergent universe.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
In the context of this Special Issue on ‘Catholicity’ as the emergent process of ‘faith making wholes,’ and participative faith functioning within a world characterized by evolution (Delio 2015; John 2011), this article argues for the relevance of Berry’s thought by presenting the background to his ecological insights, the particular challenges faced by Christianity in responding to the ecological crisis, and the implications of his ideas regarding a new story of the universe for such a renewed understanding of Catholicity, especially within the Catholic church
Berry indicated how remarkable it is that Christianity goes beyond the notion of the divine as pure simplicity, a notion that is common to other religions, to speak of the inner life of the divine as community
Summary
If Catholicism is to adequately respond to ecological issues, the principles of Catholic social teaching need to be extended to include the Earth. A healthy planet starts to be understood as another condition for fulfillment and the achievement of the common good, not just for human persons and for all other-than-human beings. This development of a Catholic response led to the publication of the 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home (Francis 2015). In the context of this Special Issue on ‘Catholicity’ as the emergent process of ‘faith making wholes,’ and participative faith functioning within a world characterized by evolution (Delio 2015; John 2011), this article argues for the relevance of Berry’s thought by presenting the background to his ecological insights, the particular challenges faced by Christianity in responding to the ecological crisis, and the implications of his ideas regarding a new story of the universe for such a renewed understanding of Catholicity, especially within the Catholic church
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
