Laudato Si
A World without Birds?
Who hasn’t stopped to admire the majestic flight of a hawk or eagle? Or woke up in the morning to a bright sky overhead and the sound of birds chirping and felt refreshed and renewed? Or heard the joyous (or annoying, depending on one’s viewpoint) sound of a woodpecker pecking? Or stopped to watch the…
Read MoreWhat’s So Bad About Idolatry?
Typically, we view the condemnation of idolatry simply as a rule mandated by the first commandment (in Exodus 20:3-6 and Deuteronomy 5:7-10). We may even go beyond the first commandment as a rule to understand that God rejects idolatry because He is a jealous god (Exodus 34:14), though what this means can be problematic given our tendency, noted by…
Read MoreWater Usage and Environmental Responsibility
Although in the Pacific Northwest we appear to be blessed with an abundance of water, water remains a valuable and potentially scarce resource. In fact, in the twenty-first century, our region has witnessed an unprecedented level of drought as well as some protracted periods of drought. Currently, 86.7% of the Pacific Northwest is experiencing a…
Read MoreThe Science of Science Denial
We often encounter the argument that there is no consensus among scientists that climate change is occurring, much less that it is caused by human activity. We even sometimes encounter the argument that global warming is a hoax. This line of attack follows a familiar pattern that emerged in response to the polio vaccine in…
Read MoreBee Populations and the Looming Catastrophe
Like many of the Patristic Fathers, St. Gregory of Nyssa believed that we can come to a knowledge of God simply by observing the world around us. He singled out bees as one of his examples: as social insects, each bee works for the common good of the colony; and each colony builds a hive…
Read MoreCatholicism and Science
Perhaps more than at any other time in American history, science and scientific knowledge are under attack, with much of the opposition to science coming from Christians. Typically, this hostility to science stems from its rejection of supposed Biblical truths (e.g., evolution versus creationism) or because it supposedly promotes politically motivated hoaxes (e.g., climate change). …
Read MoreYou Don’t Have to Be an Environmental Superhero!
While it is true that our common home is dying, and that we are approaching a crisis point at which it may no longer be able sustain life, it is also true that you don’t have to be an environmental superhero. Change must begin somewhere, and each small step can have an enormous impact in…
Read MoreWhat is the meaning of dominion?
In the first of the two creation stories in Genesis (Genesis 1:1-2:3), God gives man dominion over his creation (Genesis 1:26,28). For many people of faith, these verses have justified a mastery-over-nature orientation: dominion is seen as the right to dominate and to possess absolute control over the entire earth. We get an inkling that…
Read MoreDishwashing and Environmental Responsibility
Although dishwashing tends to be somewhat less impactful on the environment than doing laundry, there are nevertheless steps that we can take to ensure that our dishes do not become clean at the expense of the environment: Run the dishwasher with full loads only. This saves water, minimizes the use of detergent, and reduces electrical…
Read MoreThe Power of Saying Grace Before Meals
We live in a culture in which human relationships are breaking down and selfishness has become a virtue. As one of the actions that helps us change the way that we relate to the world around us, Pope Francis urges us to say grace before meals. Saying grace can help us to reorient our thinking…
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