Recently Pope Benedict XVI has focused on the theme of education, and has given centrality to two concepts: 1. a steadfast patience and 2. truth. Both of these have implications for the environment. 1. In an address to university students in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI quoted St. James who urges us to have the attitude […]
Category: Theology
To “Sister Nature” – Youth and Environment
Recently Pope Benedict XVI gave an address to an organization called ” Sister Nature”, which focuses specifically on environmental matters. Before getting into the content it is important to keep in mind the Pope’s introductory words, which explain why he decided to give a speech to this apparently small and obscure organization: he wanted to […]
Habermas, Ratzinger and the Crisis of Europe – II
In the first part of the post on Habermas, Ratzinger and the Crisis of Europe we ended considering Ratzinger’s call for the recognition of Europe’s deeply religious roots, and Habermas’ ‘religious opening’. Recently there has been some talk of Habermas experimenting some form of conversion, one spanish article heading called “Saint Jurgen Habermas” and Peter […]
Nature, not Naturalism
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7n9BUnr1as&feature=player_embedded] In a previous post I have talked about the philosophical tendency towards naturalism. “From the Stoics through the Latins like Lucretius and Cicero there was a strong Naturalistic tendency in Western thought. Augustine, using Plato, rescues the centrality of God and resist this naturalism, while Boethius nails naturalism’s coffin and puts ‘nature in its place’.” In a recent […]
Cardinal Pell on Climate Change
Here is a speech Cardinal Pell gave last week on Climate Change. This was taken from Crisis Magazine, and can also be found on The Tablet and Catholic Culture. He has also spoken before on the issue. Climate Change, Galileo, and the New Inquisition George Cardinal Pell Four centuries ago Galileo was condemned by the […]
Habermas, Ratzinger and the Crisis of Europe – Part I
With the roller coaster experiences of Greece and the G20 Summit, these are opportune times to speak about the crisis of Europe. The media is full of it. But for many other thinkers this crisis has been seen coming in its very foundations. Among these thinkers are Habermas and Ratzinger, whom I have mentioned before […]
A Jewish Reflection on Harmony in Creation and Viral Videos
A recent viral video of a cute baby sharing Cheerios with a dog has reminded me of a speech by Rabbi Rosen at the Assisi conference, on which I commented recently. While I don’t think the baby and the dog have necessarily overcome a pragmatic peace with “the knowledge of the Lord”, it perhaps can […]
Assisi and the Spirit of St. Francis
UPDATE: Sandro Magister has a new post on the controversy surrounding the term “Spirit of Assisi” and its perceptions in the Vatican. Read more here. This week, world religious leaders gathered in Assisi to pray for peace. Several news outlets reported the event, here and here, as well as a good summary by Sandro Magister […]
The Buddhist Connection
I have written before about the Dalai Lama and some environmental insights and approaches. In the context of the Assisi meetings this week, of which I will say more about soon, I think it is appropriate to take a look at another set of discussions with the Dalai Lama here. Clearly the buddhist idea of […]
Food, Gift and Behavior
Pope Benedict XVI continues to express abundant thoughts and teachings concerning Creation and the environment. Last week the Pope gave a catechesis on psalm 136, the Great Hallel traditionally sung by the Jews on the night of the Passover. While it is clear that the central and unifying concept of the psalm is the enduring […]