The Ecological Spirituality of Elizabeth Ann Seton

We are living in an unprecedented age when ecological concern is rising as the most critical issue for humanity. It is not a lack of scientific knowledge that makes environmental problems so difficult to solve, but rather human arrogance. There are ecologists, however, who draw upon religious traditions to establish models for a healthy and harmonious relationship between nature and humanity. Sr. Sung-Hae Kim interprets the writings of Elizabeth Ann Seton from the perspectives of four contemporary ecological philosophers: Arne Naess, Anthony Western, Murray Bookchin, and Aldo Leopold. Sr. Kim presented the four characteristics that emerge as constitutive elements in Seton’s own ecological spirituality, and which marry contemporary ecological philosophy to Elizabeth Seton’s world-view. Lecture was recorded at Richardson Library at DePaul University on April, 27, 2016.