Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Open Access)
Department
Colby College. Science, Technology and Society Program
Advisor(s)
Professor Jim Fleming
Second Advisor
Professor Debra Campbell
Abstract
Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home brings together the spheres of science and religion. In this document, Francis puts forth a call for action towards religious and non-religious communities alike to address climate change. The strength of the document lies in the way Francis expresses his call. By drawing on scientific and religious tradition, he situates the encyclical in a broader conversation about the moral obligation for humans to care for the environment. This thesis explores the reception of Laudato Si by religious and environmental communities through political cartoons, written critiques, and personal interviews. Current conversations surrounding the document show that Francis successfully conveyed his ideas about working towards the common good through dialogue to listeners from a variety of backgrounds.
Keywords
Pope Francis, Laudato Si, environment, Catholic, environmental ethics
Recommended Citation
Shimer, Sarah Jeanne, "Entering Into Dialogue with Pope Francis' Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home" (2016). Honors Theses. Paper 804.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/804