Responding to the extreme crisis of life on our planet is surely the great task we face as a human community in the twenty-first century. It demands a major conversion in our way of seeing, feeling, thinking, and acting with regard to the natural world, as well as with one another. In this context, Laudato Si’ offers a deeply theological, spiritual, and ethical inspiration and road map. It is no exaggeration to suggest that Laudato Si’ may be the most important church teaching document of this century. It requires responses at all levels of church life, very much including theology, and this volume, edited by Vincent Miller, is an excellent example of such a response.
Miller begins the volume by exploring the central theme of Laudato Si’: “Everything is connected.” There are two important scientific chapters, on climate (Robert Brecha) and on the interconnectedness of Earth's systems (Terence Ehrman). Five key theological themes are addressed: creation (Elizabeth Groppe), anthropology (Daniel Castillo), spirituality (Douglas Christie), liturgy (Sandra Yocum), and the option for the poor (María Teresa Dávila). Two contributions explore Laudato Si’ from the perspective of economics (Anthony Annett, and Ottmar Edenhofer with Christian Flachsland). In the more practical section at the end of the volume, Robert Brecha returns to deal with climate mitigation, Daniel DiLeo takes up personal life choices, and Erin Lothes Biviano explores communal responses to the climate crisis.
As a theologian, I value the diversity and depth of the theological contributions to this volume. There are wonderfully rich and fresh insights in the work of my theological colleagues represented here. Because of my limited background in their disciplines, I am particularly glad of the contributions of those who write from the perspective of science and economics for the breadth and clarity of their chapters. Many theology teachers and students will find the chapters on climate change and ecological science to be particularly useful.
The Theological and Ecological Vision of “Laudato Si’” provides readers with tools to receive the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical, see it in interdisciplinary terms, grasp its meaning for themselves, and open up pathways of lifestyle and committed action. Vincent Miller's editing allows this volume to model the theme he sets at the beginning: “Everything is related.” I do not have real criticisms of this volume, but it will be helpful to be critically aware of theological issues not taken up in this volume, and not much taken up in Laudato Si’, such as the pain and loss built into an evolutionary world, and the relationship between the Incarnation and the natural world. These are part of the agenda that Laudato Si’ sets for the wider theological community.
In my view, this volume is a much-needed resource for the reception of Laudato Si’. Thankfully, it is one of a growing number of such resources, and it is among the best I have seen. It will be useful to theologically minded general readers, and to those in reading groups that take up Laudato Si’. I see it as particularly suitable for use in both undergraduate and graduate classes, and as a must-buy for college and university libraries.
