Felix Wilfred’s cosmo-centric vision calls for a world where people and nature thrive together. This cover story explores how his inter-religious eco-theology inspires hope and transformation.
A UN report states that nearly 32 million people got displaced due to climate-related hazards in 2022, which represents a 41 per cent increase compared to 2008. Apart from displacements caused directly from extreme weather, climate is called a ‘threat multiplier.’ It magnifies the impact of other factors that contribute to displacement such as poverty, loss of livelihoods, and tensions relating to dwindling resources, and finally creating environment that will lead to conflict and displacements. These staggering figures represent the prime victims of humanity’s actions toward the earth.
Fr. Felix Wilfred, in an interview, spoke of two fundamental options that had shaped his life. First, his commitment to the cause of the poor and the marginalized and the second, his concern for plurality and diversity. His thoughts, theologies and proposals had always been viewed through these lenses. To address the ecological crisis, he called for a deeper listening to the cries of the victims, both the poor and the earth. He urged us to review our foundational views and approaches towards nature and humanity, and proposed a people-centred and nature-flourishing theology and praxis.
Fr Ricopar Royan SDB
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