How does St. Francis’ theology of creation inspire contemporary environmental ethics today?
It is first worthwhile to note that his impact on modern day environmentalism is not direct and must be inferred in the context of Christian theology. Unlike renowned contemporary environmentalists such as Jane Goodall or E.O Wilson, St. Francis did not highlight or target specific issues of human degradation on the environment as would a modern-day environmental activist.
How does the Franciscan tradition spark an ethic of care for creation then? The fundamental theological significance that nature bears, communicates, glorifies, and draws humanity to God facilitates the translation of seeing the environment as unexclusive of the moral community. It is in St. Francis’ conviction of a relational God and perception of the fraternity of nature that this sense of shared creaturehood is birthed.
St. Francis’ theology of creation asserts that care for the earth and its ecosystems should not be a novel or appended notion of ethical environmental concern but should remain at the essence of human living. Shifting from mere obligatory duties to a natural human responsibility from genuine love and care for the environment implicates the way we view our impact on the environment today. The Franciscan way does not condone an ethics based on rationality alone rather it emphasises the expressions of love, sympathy, empathy and responsiveness. This ethic of care for creation and the duties that accompany it complements both a justice and care morality