Theorizing Ecclesial Ecocriticism: Pathetic Fallacy in Ecclesiastical Literature on Climate Change

André Kaboré

doi:10.13189/eer.2016.040307

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to show the Catholic Church's concern with ecology in its literature, its use of literary devices to enhance an effective response to the call for nature's protection and to show to what extent one can hypothesize ecclesial ecocriticism as a theory different from its literary counterparts. The methodology that will be used is that of ecocriticism or green study; this paper is a stylistic investigation of the Catholic Church's discourse on climate change, namely Pope Benedict's encyclical letter Caritas in Veritate on Integral Human Development in Charity and in Truth (2009), and Pope Francis's encyclical letter Laudato Si on Care of our Common Home (2015). Reading these works, one becomes aware that Catholic Church leaders are engaged in a particular type of ecocriticism. How is this different from literary ecocriticism? And for what purpose do church leaders use literary figures in their discourse? These are the questions around which the discussion will be held. The paper will argue that there is an ecclesial ecocriticism endowed with its special characteristics. Our hypothesis is that the use of personification and pathetic fallacy in the two popes' works on nature leads to two types of pathetic fallacies, namely, humanization of nature and naturalization of the human being, thus strengthening this conception of nature as God's creation and gift to humanity, and thus efficiently pleading the latter for nature's protection.

Highlights

Catholic bishops and Episcopal conferences [see 12] have issued ecological exhortations, excerpts of which appear in Concern for the environment or nature is increasingly the Laudato Si
It may help us get a deeper understanding of religious classics or literary texts written by religious people than general theory of ecocriticism do
The discussion proceeds by textual analysis of ecclesial literature on climate change, informed by the literary theory of ecocriticism, in a comparative perspective

Summary

Introduction

Catholic bishops and Episcopal conferences [see 12] have issued ecological exhortations, excerpts of which appear in Concern for the environment or nature is increasingly the Laudato Si. Rarely do ecocritics consider such works, preoccupation of governments, politicians, scientists, writers, because of their religious context. Do ecocritics consider such works, preoccupation of governments, politicians, scientists, writers, because of their religious context It is against this hostile critics, and religious leaders. This explains the necessity of theorizing ecclesial theory of ecocriticism. It may help us get a deeper understanding of religious classics or literary texts written by religious people than general theory of ecocriticism do. It might be useful when reading non-religious texts, as it valorizes ecological aspects in a way that secular ecocriticism doesn’t

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