Toward the Humilocene: The Embodied Rhetoric of St. Francis of Assisi

In support of abandoning the term Anthropocene in favor calling our current epoch Humilocene, this essay addresses Lynn White, Jr.’s critique that a particular understanding Christian creation theory is cause ecological crisis, briefly discussing contemporary attempts to read Old and New Testaments manner harmonious with White’s critiques recommendations, explores embodied rhetoric St. Francis Assisi. I argue Francis’s embodying three Cicero’s canons relevant rhetoricians deep ecologists. rhetorical style an assists advocacy by transforming everyday experiences, builds community through embrace agapē, and, adoption position “servant,” helps establish more equal distribution power. Franciscan offers equipment for moving humiliation, humility, redemption Humilocene.