Kristendommen og Pave Frans

det religiøse sprog og naturen

Abstract

The present article explores ways of speaking and writing about nature in the Judeo-Christian tradition which many researchers consider important causes for the current environmental and ecological crisis. Moreover, the article analyses another perspective, namely how the present Pope Francis formulates an alternative understanding of the relationship between God, human beings and nature in his encyclical Laudato Si. In this encyclical, he advocates an attitude of respect, protection and safeguarding of nature that requires a different way of life. In order to understand the meanings and consequences of these different understandings and ways of describing nature, the article uses the philosophy of language and, especially, the religious language of Wittgenstein; particularly his claim regarding the importance of religion as language game, which is different from the language of science. According to Wittgenstein, religion enables us to value everything that exists, and together with ethics and art, religion provides us with guidelines of how to live and relate to the world. Other important concepts used in the analysis of the different religious perspectives are metaphors and models.