Pope Francis and the Laudato Si' encyclical

Religious education

Stewardship versus dominion

Khalifah: Muslim perspectives on the earth

Tikkun Olam and the role of personal responsibility

Peter Singer and animal rights

Mary Midgley and why animals matter

In this unit pupils will investigate how worldviews adapt teaching in the light of contemorary concerns. They will examine how Christians and Jews have responded to ideas of dominion with a focus on responsibility for the earth. They will examine attitudes to animals and Islamic ideas of reason.

Changing world: How should the Earth's resources be used?

public letter from the Pope developing Catholic teaching

Match the key words to their definitions.

Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’ to encourage us to care for our common ...

helping the poor and reducing harm to nature

What does Laudato Si’ connect care for the Earth with?

a famous scientist’s theory about the Earth

St Francis of Assisi’s love for animals and nature

a letter from a group of bishops in Africa

True – the Church is only for its own members.

False – the Pope focuses only on religious laws, not people or nature.

False – the Pope addressed his message to the whole world.

The Catholic Church only cares about Catholics and personal morality.

What does stewardship mean in religious teachings?

humans should build more cities to help nature

nature is dangerous and must be controlled

What did Mary Midgley argue about humans and nature?

a person responsible for protecting the Earth

the idea of repairing and improving the world

God giving humans power to rule over the Earth

What is dominion in the Judeo-Christian tradition?

Pope Francis and the Laudato Si' encyclical

Lesson outcome