The Garden of God: Toward a Human Ecology

Description

Genesis, the rst book of the Bible, tells of the creation of the world and our dominion over it. But is this the whole story? The planet on which we live is ecologically fragile, and all people of good will have a respon- sibility to take care of this most precious gift. During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI repeatedly drew attention to the environment, whether in terms of preserving it―such as his address concerning Amazonia and his letter regarding the Arctic―or distributing its vital resources―such as water―more equitably. What is more, during Benedict's papacy, the Vatican became the rst, and remains the only, carbon-neutral country in the world. This book gathers together the audiences, addresses, letters, and homilies of Benedict on a wide-ranging set of topics that deal with the world about us. The major themes and connections he explores are cre- ation and the natural world; the environment, science, and technology; and hunger, poverty, and the earth's resources. In these pages, Benedict insists that if we truly desire peace, we must be increasingly conscious of and nurture all of creation. Further- more, he argues convincingly that as our love of God should cause us to protect the environment, so should our heightened sense of appre- ciation of the natural world draw us closer to God. Benedict speaks out against the spread of nuclear weapons, threats to biodiversity, and in favor of alternative energy. He urges sustainable development, equita- ble distribution of food and water, and an end to hunger. This book is a valuable resource for all those who seek to under- stand more fully the relationships among the environment, Catholic social teaching, and theology. Whether speaking to a vast crowd, meet- ing with a small group of scientists, or writing letters to world leaders, Benedict has shown a clear path towards a theologically cogent con- cern for the planet on which we live. About the Author Born in 1927 in Germany as Joseph Ratzinger, POPE BENEDICT XVI became head of the Roman Catholic Church in April 2005. A prolific author, theologian, and pro- fessor, Ratzinger served as an expert at the Second Vatican Council; led the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising; and, in 1981, was called to Rome by Pope John Paul II to head the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he served until his papal election. In 2013, he became the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign office Foreword: The Urgency of a Human Ecology ix Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès Part 1. Creation and Nature In Contact with Nature, Individuals Rediscover That They Are Creatures “Capable of God” 3 Creation Is a Gift So That It Might Become the Garden of God and Hence a Garden for Men and Women 4 Creation, with All of Its Gifts, Aspires Above and Beyond Itself 7 The Amazon River, a Fountain of Life 10 The “Ecology of Peace” 13 Man Has Received Creation So That He Might Implement God’s Plan 18 The Arctic: Mirror of Life 19 The Wonder of Creation and the Scars Which Mark the Surface of the Earth 21 What Air Is for Biological Life, the Holy Spirit Is for Spiritual Life 27 The Protection of Creation 32 The Keys to the Earth Are in the Hands of Man 35 Creation Is Marked by Finitude 36 If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation 38 The Protection of Creation, an Element of Peace and of Justice 52 The Word of God and the Protection of Creation 61 In Contemplating Creation Man Has a Profound Sense of Gratitude and Recognition, but Also of Responsibility for Tilling and Keeping the Work of God 63 vi contents The World Is a Product of Creative Reason 65 The Earth Seen from Space Is Beautiful and Fragile 71 Human Ecology Is an Imperative Need 73 The Created World Is Not Merely a Scenario into Which God’s Saving Action Is Inserted, but Rather the Very Beginning of That Marvelous Action 76 Be Praised My Lord through All Your Creatures 83 Part 2. The Environment, Science, and Technology The Harmony of Faith and Knowledge 91 Remembrance of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Tragedy at Chernobyl 94 Environment, Human Person, Spiritual Values 95 The Irresponsible Exploitation of the Environment Reflects an Inhumane Concept of Development 98 Scientific Knowledge and Technology Are Always Applied in Full Respect for International Rights 102 Strengthening the Alliance between Man and the Environment 103 Family, Human Community, and the Environment 104 New Men for a New World 106 Natural Law as a Guarantee against Manipulations and Abuses against Man 108 More Modest Lifestyles to Slow Down Environmental Degradation 109 The Use of Alternative Energies Contributes to Mankind’s Desire to Be Better Stewards of God’s Creation 111 Man Knows the Advantage That the Universe Has over Him; the Universe, Instead, Knows Nothing 112 Even the Decisions of Individuals, Families, and Local Administrations Are Fundamental for the Preservation of the Environment 116 Social Responsibility Means More Attention to the Needs of Workers, the Good of the Community, and the Respect of the Environment 118 Science as a Place of Dialogue, the Meeting between Man and Nature and Potentially Even between Man and His Creator 121 vii contents Unlimited Speculation Has a Negative Impact on the Environment and on Man Himself 124 Ecology of Man, Ecology of the Environment 125 The Church Must Encourage Governments to Protect the Fundamental Goods Which Are the Earth and Water 134 Part 3. Hunger, Poverty, and the Earth’s Resources Nourishing the World’s Population with Respect for Biodiversity 139 Without Solidarity between Countries There Is a Risk of Impeding the Work of International Organizations Committed to Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition 141 A New Europe Free from the Unique Form of “Apostasy” from Itself 145 When the Logic of Sharing and Solidarity Prevails It Is Possible to Direct the Course toward an Equitable and Sustainable Development 149 The Right to Food 150 Justly Administering the Fruits of Creation 154 Selfishness and Speculation as Obstacles to the Fight against Hunger 157 Fighting Poverty to Build Peace 160 An Equitable Access to the Earth’s Resources Should Be Guaranteed to Everyone 174 Integral Human Development in Charity and in Truth 177 An Integral Human Development to Give Voice to Every Nation 189 More Agricultural Investments in Poor Countries 195 For Development to Be Sustainable It Is Necessary to Aim at a Balance between Farming, Industry, and Services 197 The Farmer as a Model of a Mentality That Unites Faith and Reason 199 Adequate Food Concerns the Fundamental Right to Life 200 Agricultural Work as an Objective Strategy of Growth and Integral Development 205 Scriptural Index 211 General Index 213