For the Beauty of the Earth: Towards a Vision of Psalm 8 and Laudato Si’

Abstract

In the midst of today's ecological and environmental crisis that threatens human life and the existence of the planet, many are striving to redefine the relationship between humans and nature. The ecological and environmental crisis is the result of complex problems such as industrial pollution, exploitation of natural resources, plastic waste, environmental contamination, aggressive deforestation and the effects of the use of heavy military weapons. The backside of the crisis is related to the moral and ethical problems arising from parasitical anthropocentrism, greed and recklessness. It has been argued in some quarters that Christian tradition influenced an anthropological anti-ecological approach. The purpose of this essay is to re-examine biblical anthropocentrism in the light of Psalm 8 in order to restate the biblical perspective of the proper relationship between humans and nature. This task will be carried out through a lively interaction with the papal encyclical on care for creation, Laudato Si’, in a bid to further emphasize the living relation between Sacred Scriptures and the magisterium.