Issue 9: Eco-Spirituality – Caring for God’s Creation

“ … Something is emerging that I think can be called a planetary spirituality … Many have undergone, and are still undergoing, a process of conversion as they commit themselves to a life-style and a politics that involves respecting and protecting other species and enabling them to flourish, conserving the forests, the rivers, the seas and land, and handing on to future generations the bounty of our planet.”

–          Denis Edwards

The link between ecology and spirituality is becoming more recognised, as we see an obvious connection between creation and balance of all life. In reconnecting with nature and rediscovering our love for the Earth, we awaken and reconnect to our own inner nature and that of God.

The importance of caring for creation is paramount as Pope Francis prepares his encyclical on the ecology and the environmental crisis. In Evangelii Gaudium, the pope is concerned with the state of the environment and greed of humankind: “I think also about the pain of the earth itself as it is exploited and ruined through our desire for power and money. Today in places, the earth is a wasteland. We must protect our fragile earth.” [215/216]

As a global community we need to adopt an ecological conversion where every form of life is valued and there is respect for the dignity of each human being. We hold stewardship and as such we have accountability to the future of life on Earth. This emerging experience of ecological spirituality is shared by those of other faith traditions.

This edition of REmail is designed to provide some simple prayers, lesson plans and activities that will investigate our responsibilities for stewardship of God’s creation.

Notably, these teacher resources will help you:

• Encourage students to respect our planet by becoming active stewards in taking care and protecting our environment and all living things.
• Develop an understanding of how to embrace ecological conversion to ensure we lead a sustainable lifestyle.
• Explore the ways in which students can follow Jesus’ example of his connection with the natural world through Scripture.
•  Identify and communicate how God’s creation is intended to enjoy fullness of life in light of scientific revelations.

Find an outstanding number of RE resources in our new 2015 Education Catalogue