ABSTRACT
In Genesis, God draws dirt out of the earth, shapes it, and transforms it into human persons. The connection between violent conflict and mining has complex causes, contours, and possible solutions. Mining plays an enormous role in human flourishing today, too. Catholic social teaching frequently reminds the reader that peace is the fruit of right relationships. The violent conflicts that often emerge around mining illustrate what happens when certain goods or resources are pursued without attention to a larger common good. Questions around incremental moral improvement are a challenge in many areas of ethical reflection. The doctrine of creation is vitally important as a justification for care for the earth. Reconciliation is a major theme of Catholic peacebuilding; lasting peace is impossible without it, as many conflicts around the world have shown. In fact, technological specialization often makes it “difficult to see the larger picture”.
