The Ecologic Crisis and the Relation of Humankind with Nature

Abstract

Ecology is a scientific discipline that deals with connections, the reciprocal and integral relationships between the living and their environment. It is well known, however, that alongside their developments to improving their life, human beings are damaging the balance of this relationship. With economic growth and with the promotion of consumerism and the free market, humankind is using up more resources that the planet can provide. As a result of egoism, self-interests seeking, and arrogant ignorance of the scientific warnings, the environment is being widely polluted. Among others, global warming of the planet is also an effect of these attitudes, that brings with itself natural disasters, linked to extreme weather conditions (such as droughts, flooding, heat waves, etc.), and the daily extinction of species just to mention a few effects. It’s been pointed out by climate scientists and experts that the way people think will affect this crucial relationship between humankind and nature. The ecological crisis and its solution is therefore dependent on how we humans think, act, and relate to the environment we live in. Therefore, I would like to outline the evolution of the Church’s teaching on this issue starting with an article that argues that the roots of the ecological crisis are largely religious.