Chriastianity, law and Ecology

This thesis investigates the relationship between Christianity, legal thought, and environmental ethics, with particular attention to how Catholic and Protestant traditions contribute to contemporary ecological discourse. It challenges the long-standing perception of Christianity as inherently anthropocentric and environmentally detrimental, arguing instead that Christian theology offers a conceptual innovation when compared to the pagan worldview, which typically attributed to nature a predominantly utilitarian value. Since its earliest formulations, Christian thought has recognised creation as having contemplative, theophanic, and eschatological dimensions. These foundational insights—developed by early Church Fathers and Doctors and further elaborated in successive theological traditions—continue to inform the doctrinal, moral, and juridical positions adopted by the principal western Christian denominations. Structured across three interrelated levels—doctrinal-theological, legal-normative, and practical-institutional—the research reassesses historical critiques of Christianity’s ecological legacy, compares internal legal and theological approaches to environmental issues within Catholic and Protestant systems, and examines their global advocacy. Drawing on theological texts, legal sources, and institutional practices, the study argues that Christianity provides the basis for a theologically grounded and ethically coherent ecological conscience. It concludes by highlighting the role of Christian institutions as relevant actors in shaping environmental transformation. Index: Introduction. Chapter I The roots of the Christian environmental doctrines and laws. Par. 1 Christian contemporary debate on ecology from an evolutionary perspective. Par. 2 A global environmental doctrine: between pagan personalism and Christian universalism. Theological and juridical perspectives. Par. 3 Christianity. A green religion? Chapter II Different ‘Christianities’ for different ecologies. A comparison of the Catholic and Protestant doctrines and laws on environmental preservation. Par. 1 Ecological sin. The emergence of the concept within the Church social teaching and its relevance in both the internal and public debate in a de jure condendo perspective. Par. 2 Protestant ecology, its development and perspectives. An ‘ecclesiological’ and legal analysis. Par. 3. Different paths, (almost) same destination. Capther III Shaping environmental policies. Christian advocacy on ecological issues and its effects on laws and policies. Par. 1. The catholic multilevel ecological advocacy between international dialogue and direct commitments. Par. 2. The path from pulpit to policy in protestant environmental advocacy. Conclusions.