Posted on January 12, 2026 by PLT Staff

In his virtual presentation, Professor Larry Rasmussen reflected on the emotional and ethical challenges of climate crisis and ecological distress, weaving together personal stories, theological insight, and social-ethical analysis. He began with an anecdote about his young grandson’s early awareness of mortality, illustrating how existential dread emerges naturally yet does not define us, and that humans move between fear and resilience. Rasmussen then recalled theologian Dorothee Soelle’s reminder that many people “don’t have the luxury of despair,” noting that while some communities struggle simply to survive, students and scholars have the privilege, and responsibility, to reflect on climate anxiety and moral change.

• Video Information
• Date Recorded:December 2, 2025