Salon Theology Special: Brother Sun and Sister Earth

Description

Franz of Assisi as a catalyst for ecological thinking
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Franz of Assisi's death, the lecture by PD Dr. Marcus Knaup (Hagen/Freiburg) addresses the lasting relevance of this extraordinary figure for current environmental ethical and spiritual issues. The focus is on Franz of Assisi as a figure in whom mystical world experience and ethical responsibility for creation are inextricably linked. Based on the transmitted testimonies of his life and the prayers and hymns attributed to him, it is shown that his attitude towards nature stems from a deep experience of creatureliness and connectedness of all beings. The well-known address of the sun, moon, animals, and elements as "brothers" and "sisters" points to a relational worldview, in which humans are not rulers over nature but part of a comprehensive network of relationships. This view has far-reaching ethical consequences: humility, contentment, and non-violence become fundamental attitudes for a responsible approach to the natural environment. His spirituality opens perspectives for an environmental ethics that understands ethical action as emerging from a deepened relationship with creation and God. Speaker: PD Dr. Marcus Knaup, philosopher, bioethicist, and Catholic theologian, who deals with environmental ethical questions. He was a scholarship holder of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Scientific Excellence Center for Integrative Bioethics at the University of Zagreb (Croatia), is a private lecturer for philosophy at the FernUniversität in Hagen, and a visiting scholar at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM, online Target audience: all interested parties Source: www. weiterbildung. swiss

Highlights

• Lecture by PD Dr. Marcus Knaup
• On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Franz of Assisi
• Discussion of environmental ethics and spirituality

General Information

The lecture explores the significance of Franz of Assisi for current environmental ethical issues. PD Dr. Marcus Knaup discusses the connection between mystical world experience and ethical responsibility for creation.

Location

Pfingstweidstrasse 28, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland

Hide Map

Loading map...

How to get there

Get Directions