Ecological Sin: Ethics, Economics, and Social Repentance

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople of the Eastern Orthodox Christian ecumene has been a longstanding advocate for the development of an ecological consciousness among both Orthodox Christians and the people of the world at large. Arguably, one of his most salient contributions to ecological ethics has been his usage of the idea of “ecological sin” yet, despite the growing body of what may be dubbed an: “Orthodox Christian eco-theology,” the ethical dimensions of the concept of “ecological sin” remain under examined. Hence, my aim is to further the conversation by offering an analysis of the notion of sin as it relates to the ecological crisis in order to contribute to the development of an applied Orthodox ecological ethics as well as demonstrate the ways in which Orthodox Christian ideas, values, and practices may serve as a source of ecological wisdom, even for those whom do not practice the faith. In doing so, I will illustrate how our global civilizational ethos contributes to the ecological crisis and will examine the practical dimensions of what it means to engage in repentance for our ecological sinfulness by suggesting ways in which humanity can reform its current ethos and begin to develop a more ecologically virtuous mindset and way of life.