Ecological Spirituality by Diarmuid O'Murchu
- John Scoble
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 17
This author is one of the leading contemporary anthropologists and theologians. He challenges existing paradigms and seeks to reflect current human knowledge into our spiritual frameworks.
Spirit connecting with spirit
His central theme is to define spirituality as Spirit connecting with spirit. He adopts an understanding of God as an energizing and creative Spirit, inviting us into a deeper and wider engagement with the whole creation and not merely with church or religion. He argues that our understanding of God will need to change away from the ruling, patriarchal Father to the energizing Spirit who empowers everything from within.
A crisis of values
He suggests humanity is undergoing a crisis of values. Humanity needs to outgrow the highly destructive dualistic splitting of the sacred and the secular so that our economics, politics, and social policies can incorporate spiritual values into all our engagements with the web of life.
He regards the concept of eco-spirituality as a wide range of discourses. Their common interest is in showing that the current ecological crisis is an essentially spiritual crisis of values. Answers to it should not be merely technological or material but should be sought on a spiritual level, through the foundation of an “inner ecology” and an enlightened reflection about the meaning of life, the Other, the sacred.
O’Murchu acknowledges the 2009 Hindu Declaration on Climate Change which asserts: Humanity’s very survival depends upon our capacity to make a major transition of consciousness, equal in significance to earlier transitions from nomadic to agricultural, agricultural to industrial, and industrial to contemporary technology. We must transit to complementarity in place of competition, convergence in place of conflict, holism in place of hedonism, optimization in place of maximization.
He adds that consciousness can be explained as the love of God poured out in energizing empowerment for everything in creation, humans included. The dualistic split between sacred and secular has no place in this divine synthesis.
Re-imagining God
Another important theme in the book is the need to reframe and reconfigure our understanding of God. He suggests the Christian tradition and understanding of God needs to reflect creation and ecology. Just as several Indigenous Peoples around our world recognise the Great Spirit,
we are called to recognise how God, as energizing and creative Spirit, invites us into a deeper and wider engagement with the whole creation.
Part of this change in God paradigm importantly includes the desire among a growing number of scripture scholars to move away from imperial language related to kings and kingdoms. Instead they seek to use language that is likely to better represent what Jesus desired in the liberation and empowerment of gospel faith. To that end, O’Murchu uses the Aramaic-related translation companionship of empowerment.
Humanity is not the centre of the universe
Throughout this book O’Murchu highlights a major challenge to our contemporary anthropology. We need to outgrow our species domination in favor of viewing ourselves as a derived species, one that depends on the life of the larger web for everything that constitutes our being and becoming. Eco-spirituality requires us to outgrow and abandon our superior status and view the earth (and its resources) not as an object but as a lifeform that begets all other lifeforms, humanity included.
Rejecting patriarchy and power as the basis of community
No analysis of contemporary spirituality would be complete without acknowledging this shift in consciousness away from power from on high and toward empowerment from the center outward. All major religions, not merely Christianity, are wrapped up in power structures that are no longer credible today. He asks: “Can we patriarchal humans, addicted to domination and control, die to our power compulsion so that we can be raised to a more egalitarian, mutually empowering way of being for our own benefit and that of all creation?”
O’Murchu’s views are challenging but deserving of careful reflection. One cannot help but think that, given the state of the world, a total re-set is required for survival of our species. Otherwise, total collapse seems inevitable.
FAQs: Ecological Spirituality by Diarmuid O'Murchu
What does Diarmuid O’Murchu mean by ecological spirituality?
Ecological spirituality is about recognising God’s Spirit alive not just in sacred buildings or private rituals but in the entire web of creation. O’Murchu calls us to move beyond seeing nature as scenery and start seeing it as kin. It’s a spirituality of belonging - one that values rivers, forests, soil, and sky as participants in divine life, not just resources for human use. (Source: A St Lucia Spirituality perspective; O’Murchu, Ecological Spirituality)
How is ecological spirituality different from environmentalism?
Environmentalism often focuses on laws, activism, or policy shifts that protect the planet. Ecological spirituality includes those actions but adds a deeper story: the conviction that creation is sacred and infused with divine presence. O’Murchu invites us not just to recycle or protest but to reimagine our identity as earthlings woven into the web of life. It is a change of heart as much as a change of behaviour. (Source: A St Lucia Spirituality perspective)
Why is ecological spirituality important in today’s world?
Our planet is under pressure. The UN reports that nearly 1 million species face extinction, with ecosystems declining faster than at any point in human history (United Nations, 2019). Ecological spirituality matters because it addresses more than data and policy - it shifts how we value life itself. By rooting environmental care in spiritual awareness, O’Murchu suggests we build a lasting motivation that fuels both personal practice and collective action. (Source: UN Global Biodiversity Outlook; A St Lucia Spirituality perspective)
How does O’Murchu reimagine the language of God and faith?
Instead of describing God as a distant ruler, O’Murchu reimagines God as Spirit dwelling within creation, constantly energising and empowering life from within. This reframes prayer as gratitude for the air we breathe, ethics as how we treat the earth beneath our feet, and worship as honouring the sacred in both the neighbour and the natural world. (Source: A St Lucia Spirituality perspective; O’Murchu, Ecological Spirituality)
What practices help bring ecological spirituality into daily life?
It can start small. Time outdoors without distraction, saying grace that includes gratitude for soil and farmers, reducing waste, planting pollinator-friendly flowers, joining community repair groups, or advocating for fair climate policy. Studies show even short daily nature contact reduces stress and boosts wellbeing by 20–30% (Harvard Medical School, 2019). O’Murchu would add that these practices are not just healthy but holy - a way of aligning your life with the Spirit that animates all creation. (Source: Harvard Medical School; A St Lucia Spirituality perspective)
At St Lucia Spirituality we believe the journey is richer when it’s shared. If you’re seeking a place to explore questions, practice mindfulness, or simply belong to an inclusive spiritual community, we invite you to join us. From online discussion groups and meditation gatherings to our growing library of resources, there’s space here for every seeker. Step into the conversation, connect with others, and discover how community can nurture your spiritual growth.
About the Author - John Scoble
John's journey began in the heart of a traditional Roman Catholic family in Sydney, where he was raised with steadfast faith and reverence. Now residing in the serene surroundings of St Lucia, Brisbane, alongside his beloved wife, John finds solace and inspiration in the tranquil rhythms of life. With four adult children and a cherished grandchild also calling Brisbane home, John's family is his anchor, providing love, support, and a sense of belonging.
While spirituality has always been a cornerstone of his life, it was three transformative events in 2012, including a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, that ignited a profound shift in John's spiritual trajectory. Embracing retirement as an opportunity for deeper exploration, John immersed himself in extensive reading and soulful reflection.
Over the course of a decade, this journey of self-discovery has led John to reevaluate and transcend many of his traditional beliefs, embracing instead the timeless wisdom and cosmic perspective inherent in Christianity. Influenced by luminaries such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, and Richard Rohr, John's spiritual evolution has been marked by a deepening resonance with the essential truths of his faith and a profound connection to the divine unfolding within and around him.
Comments