Ecology

A powerful warning of the perils of global warming and a mobilization of the Christian conscience to change our thinking, our ways of acting, and so to save our planet.

The recent Gulf oil spill is just the latest depredation against the planet. From every direction come signs of global warming and other forms of ecological disaster that threaten the future of all living beings. In this sobering assessment of our condition, Paul Collins examines the nature of this crisis and how we got here including a review of the mental habits of thought, including religious worldviews, that have contributed to our dilemma and continue to inhibit effective action.

As Collins shows, if religious ideas have contributed to the problem, there are also powerful resources within the Christian tradition that can help us both in scripture, and in the work of prophetic geologians like Thomas Berry and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Drawing on these resources, Collins lays out the elements of a theology aimed at saving the earth and ourselves.

Like no other religious thinker, Thomas Berry has been a prophetic voice regarding Earth s destruction and the urgent need for human response from the Christian community. This book collects Berry s signature views on the interrelatedness of both Earth s future and the Christian future. He ponders why Christians have been late in coming to the issue of the environment. He reflects insightfully on how the environment must be seen as a religious issue, not simply a scientific or economic problem.

In powerful and poetic language Berry presents a compelling vision of the sacredness of the universe and the interrelatedness of the Earth community. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas and Teilhard de Chardin he brings the Christian tradition into a cosmology of care for the whole of creation.

Steven Chase’s innovative On Earth As it Is uses a compelling blend of theological, scriptural, historical, and cultural discussions to reclaim the role of nature in the formation of Christian spiritual and moral identity. His thought-provoking “creation practices” will lead readers into more profound knowledge of themselves and their Creator, guide them to greater compassion for their neighbors, instill in them reverence for and companionship with nature, and awaken in them a greater commitment to creation care. · Encourages Christians to read the Bible, pray, and worship out of doors. · Demonstrates the power of nature to soothe and heal the soul. · Advocates “befriending” God’s creation as a crucial element in Christian growth. · Show how the Bible is full of natural images — and how nature itself can function as a holy text, testifying to the glory of God. Offers stories, anecdotes, research, scriptural tie-ins, practical advice, and contemplative exercises to help readers experience God in nature.

Theologians and ethicists reflect on the most serious crisis of our time.

The magnitude of the problem of environmental degradation and climate change requires a complete rethinking and reorienting of our way of being in the world. Responding to the environmental crisis requires not only a conversion of the will but even more fundamentally a transformation of the imagination that is, the capacity to think of other ways of being, thinking, and acting in the world. These essays, by a distinguished group of Catholic scholars, assess the gravity of the situation and offer resources from the biblical and theological traditions for the necessary mobilization of will and the conversion of our imaginations.

Christians have God's mandate to be good stewards of his creation, but it is a challenge to discover a wise and biblical perspective on issues of creation care, apart from the political rhetoric. Care of Creation offers a biblical foundation and practical guidance about how Christians can personally exercise responsible care of God's good creation.

This book will--

Concerned Christians will gain much needed biblical perspective on one of the most pressing issues of our time and will learn practical ways to exercise proper care of the world God has given us.

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good."
—Genesis 1:31

As an emergency room doctor, Matthew Sleeth saw a disturbing increase in asthma, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and other environmentally related health issues. Although he considered himself an environmentalist, he lacked the commitment to do anything about it. One slow night in the ER, Sleeth picked up a Gideon's Bible in the waiting room. Although raised in a Christian home, he had long ago abandoned his childhood beliefs. Reading the gospels that night, Sleeth became a Christian, and to his shock, he began to uncover in the Scriptures an enormous wealth of environmental answers that he had been seeking. As a result, his family took an account of their lifestyle, drastically reduced their reliance on electricity and fossil fuels, and began sharing their inspirational journey with others. Here, Sleeth invites you on his family's journey as they realize that one cannot be a Christian without recognizing the Bible's call to care for God's creation.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with instructions on how we can demonstrate our love for the Creator by caring for the earth. Sleeth leads us on a highly creative journey through Scripture, visiting some of the most important characters in the Bible and discovering what they can teach us about issues such as stewardship, caring for our neighbors, climate change, and pollution. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden teach us the importance of physical work in relation to discovering fulfillment and a sense of human purpose, the prophet Daniel calls us to question our dietary habits, and the story of Noah addresses key issues for life on earth: how do we relate to the Creator, to others in the human community, and to the rest of the natural world? With passion and faith, Sleeth provides a new green lens through which we can read the Bible to discover answers to our biggest questions about the environment and how to care for it.

How can we bring about the profound conversion of mind and heart that is necessary if we are to protect and preserve our planet at this critical point in history? Loving Creation shows that only when we are touched by God will we find new ways of relating to all other species and the Earth itself. Rich in tradition, the book draws from ancient and contemporary sources to fashion a holistic Christian spirituality, one that unites ecological concerns with social justice, personal struggles with those of the planet, theological reflection with scientific findings, and everyday grace with global outreach.

Filled with stories and practical suggestions, Loving Creation will serve as a handbook for prayer, guiding its readers to a broader vision of Christian maturity and a solid hope in the Spirit s power to shape us into the people we are meant to be. A work of practical theology, it builds on the ecological thinking of recent decades, while taking a fresh look at key areas of an Earth-centered spirituality emotion, imagination, wonder, desire, asceticism, and legacy. In the process, the book suggests ways to incorporate greater ecological awareness into classical spiritual practices.

Loving Creation faces directly the force of our cultural dark nights, but grounds our faith in the future that God desires for our universe. Clear and readable, it will provide the spiritual foundation for sustained ecological action.

This guide outlines fifty ways in which you, your congregation, and your local community can help fight global warming and enjoy participation in a vital part of Christian discipleship. 50 Ways to Help Save the Earth makes a clear connection, in a practical and unintimidating way, between stewardship of the earth and living one's faith.

This easy-to-follow book consists of seven chapters on topics related to global climate change: "Water," "Energy," "Transportation," "Food and Agriculture," "People," "Other Species," and "Wilderness and Land." Each chapter begins with a statement on how the content relates to global warming, followed by seven action items ranging from individual efforts to activities that encourage the involvement of the congregational and wider communities.

Like no other religious thinker, Thomas Berry has been a prophetic voice regarding Earth s destruction and the urgent need for human response from the Christian community. This book collects Berry s signature views on the interrelatedness of both Earth s future and the Christian future. He ponders why Christians have been late in coming to the issue of the environment. He reflects insightfully on how the environment must be seen as a religious issue, not simply a scientific or economic problem.

In powerful and poetic language Berry presents a compelling vision of the sacredness of the universe and the interrelatedness of the Earth community. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas and Teilhard de Chardin he brings the Christian tradition into a cosmology of care for the whole of creation.