Overview

"Can religious people save the environment? Can the environmental challenge save religion? Our planet is in trouble, and it will take an amazingly large and powerful force to shift into a more sustainable way of living. Spiritual leader and environmental activist Andrea Cohen-Kiener tells us that people of faith have the numbers, the passion and the mandate to do it—and that nothing else is strong enough to counterbalance ""business as usual."" In this urgent call to action, Cohen-Kiener gathers insights from ecology coalitions, emerging theologies and spiritual and environmental activists to rally and inspire us to work across denominational lines in order to fulfill our sacred imperative to care for God's creation. Cohen-Kiener and contributors clearly outline the shared values of our faith traditions that drive our commitment to care for the earth. Acknowledging the challenges in working together to implement positive change, they present steps—both big and small, for individuals and groups—for reversing our direction from consumption to sustainability. Contributors include: Rev. Woody Bartlett, founder, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Rev. Tom Carr, National Council of Churches Working Group on the Environment Rev. Donna Schaper, senior minister, Judson Memorial Church, New York City Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Religious Witness for the Earth Eboo Patel, executive director, Interfaith Youth Core Dr. Lowell “Rusty” Pritchard, national director of outreach, Evangelical Environmental Network"

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9781683360100

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Reviews

The people and ideas captured here are at the heart of transforming our tired and broken relationship with the planet we live on. It's a vital book. Bill McKibben, author, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future An exquisite interweaving of stories and insights inspires us, as the Prophet Muhammad said, to move from knowledge of tongue to knowledge of heart. Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community Church, Seattle; coauthor, Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi and an Imam A stirring theological and spiritual exploration of one of the most pressing moral issues of our day our relationship to God's creation. Deep, yet easy to read; stirring yet hopeful. [It] will touch your soul as well as your heart, head, hands and feet! Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director, Faith in Public Life Beautifully, passionately written. Does a brilliant job of explaining why we no longer have the 'luxury of allowing our various religious beliefs to separate us, but must use our shared earth as a reason to bring us together. This is not a harangue; it s a love story. John Lionberger, author, Renewal in the Wilderness: A Spiritual Guide to Connecting with God in the Natural World; founder, Renewal in the Wilderness There are few things more significant than finding common ground among religious communities for caring for our planet. This book is a valuable contribution in this direction. Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD, Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University; author, Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase Excels beyond the boundaries of any tradition in teaching the process of healing our wounded earth as both intimate embodied in our every act and macrocosmic rooted in God s beneficence and magnificence. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center (www.shalomctr.org); author, Torah of the Earth: Exploring 4,000 Years of Ecology in Jewish Thought Unique carries you through the nittty gritty of what it means to act as a person of faith on environmental concerns. [Offers] a wealth of ideas for affecting change in your own community using the powerful assets of faith. Rev. Bud Heckman, director for external relations, Religions for Peace; author, InterActive Faith: The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook

The people and ideas captured here are at the heart of transforming our tired and broken relationship with the planet we live on. It's a vital book. Bill McKibben, author, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future An exquisite interweaving of stories and insights inspires us, as the Prophet Muhammad said, to move from knowledge of tongue to knowledge of heart. Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community Church, Seattle; coauthor, Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi and an Imam A stirring theological and spiritual exploration of one of the most pressing moral issues of our day our relationship to God's creation. Deep, yet easy to read; stirring yet hopeful. [It] will touch your soul as well as your heart, head, hands and feet! Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director, Faith in Public Life Beautifully, passionately written. Does a brilliant job of explaining why we no longer have the 'luxury of allowing our various religious beliefs to separate us, but must use our shared earth as a reason to bring us together. This is not a harangue; it s a love story. John Lionberger, author, Renewal in the Wilderness: A Spiritual Guide to Connecting with God in the Natural World; founder, Renewal in the Wilderness There are few things more significant than finding common ground among religious communities for caring for our planet. This book is a valuable contribution in this direction. Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD, Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University; author, Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase Excels beyond the boundaries of any tradition in teaching the process of healing our wounded earth as both intimate embodied in our every act and macrocosmic rooted in God s beneficence and magnificence. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center (www.shalomctr.org); author, Torah of the Earth: Exploring 4,000 Years of Ecology in Jewish Thought Unique carries you through the nittty gritty of what it means to act as a person of faith on environmental concerns. [Offers] a wealth of ideas for affecting change in your own community using the powerful assets of faith. Rev. Bud Heckman, director for external relations, Religions for Peace; author, InterActive Faith: The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook Review: Claiming Earth as Common Ground is a great discussion-starter for any parish group. With question guides for each chapter, action steps and further resources, the book is designed to be very practical. The time for platitudes is past, writes author Andrea Cohen-Kiener. She and contributors from other faiths delve into the nitty-gritty issues of race, class and theology that prevent groups from making progress on environmental issues. But this book isn't just about religious people saving the environment. The environmental crisis is the manifestation of a spiritual problem, says Cohen-Kiener. Confronting this crisis might also save religion. -Megan Sweas, Associate Editor, U.S. CATHOLIC--Megan Sweas U.S. Catholic Magazine (11/16/2009) The author begins with the premise that the ecological problems we face today are in part symptoms of a spiritual crisis; therefore, religion can save the environment and the environment can save religion. She calls for seeing beyond denominational boundaries to create a project that allows going forward together to fulfill the common imperative to care for God's creation. As she develops the rationale for cooperation, she includes the work of collaborators from several faith denominations. This book is an easy-to-read interweaving of stories and facts for those who have avoided the more scientific treatises on the ecological crisis facing the world today. Its connection with the basic tenets of all religions touches the depths of spirituality. Through the reflections of the author, who is Jewish, several Episcopal priests, a Baptist minister, a Muslim environmental consultant, a Catholic farmer and greenhouse manager, a resource economist and national director of outreach for the Evangelical Environmental Network, readers travel through the United States and Israel learning of interdenominational programs doing things from changing light bulbs in housing projects to baking matzo with wheat made from ancient seeds in Israel. The chapters of green conversion and the new Sabbath are a must-read for all. They focus on the need for time apart, taking time to be in nature, to recharge, to take time to be people of prayer, to steep ourselves in the life of God. The appendices give a checklist for reducing one's ecological footprint creating a sustainable civilization based on Joanna Macy s theoretical foundations, thoughts for discussion and action and a format for an eight-week study session, based in each one of the chapters.--Ann Lynch Catholic Library World (06/01/2011)

The people and ideas captured here are at the heart of transforming our tired and broken relationship with the planet we live on. It's a vital book. Bill McKibben, author, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future An exquisite interweaving of stories and insights inspires us, as the Prophet Muhammad said, to move from knowledge of tongue to knowledge of heart. Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community Church, Seattle; coauthor, Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi and an Imam A stirring theological and spiritual exploration of one of the most pressing moral issues of our day our relationship to God's creation. Deep, yet easy to read; stirring yet hopeful. [It] will touch your soul as well as your heart, head, hands and feet! Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director, Faith in Public Life Beautifully, passionately written. Does a brilliant job of explaining why we no longer have the 'luxury of allowing our various religious beliefs to separate us, but must use our shared earth as a reason to bring us together. This is not a harangue; it s a love story. John Lionberger, author, Renewal in the Wilderness: A Spiritual Guide to Connecting with God in the Natural World; founder, Renewal in the Wilderness There are few things more significant than finding common ground among religious communities for caring for our planet. This book is a valuable contribution in this direction. Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD, Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University; author, Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase Excels beyond the boundaries of any tradition in teaching the process of healing our wounded earth as both intimate embodied in our every act and macrocosmic rooted in God s beneficence and magnificence. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center (www.shalomctr.org); author, Torah of the Earth: Exploring 4,000 Years of Ecology in Jewish Thought Unique carries you through the nittty gritty of what it means to act as a person of faith on environmental concerns. [Offers] a wealth of ideas for affecting change in your own community using the powerful assets of faith. Rev. Bud Heckman, director for external relations, Religions for Peace; author, InterActive Faith: The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook Review: Claiming Earth as Common Ground is a great discussion-starter for any parish group. With question guides for each chapter, action steps and further resources, the book is designed to be very practical. The time for platitudes is past, writes author Andrea Cohen-Kiener. She and contributors from other faiths delve into the nitty-gritty issues of race, class and theology that prevent groups from making progress on environmental issues. But this book isn't just about religious people saving the environment. The environmental crisis is the manifestation of a spiritual problem, says Cohen-Kiener. Confronting this crisis might also save religion. -Megan Sweas, Associate Editor, U.S. CATHOLIC--Megan Sweas U.S. Catholic Magazine (11/16/2009) The author begins with the premise that the ecological problems we face today are in part symptoms of a spiritual crisis; therefore, religion can save the environment and the environment can save religion. She calls for seeing beyond denominational boundaries to create a project that allows going forward together to fulfill the common imperative to care for God's creation. As she develops the rationale for cooperation, she includes the work of collaborators from several faith denominations. This book is an easy-to-read interweaving of stories and facts for those who have avoided the more scientific treatises on the ecological crisis facing the world today. Its connection with the basic tenets of all religions touches the depths of spirituality. Through the reflections of the author, who is Jewish, several Episcopal priests, a Baptist minister, a Muslim environmental consultant, a Catholic farmer and greenhouse manager, a resource economist and national director of outreach for the Evangelical Environmental Network, readers travel through the United States and Israel learning of interdenominational programs doing things from changing light bulbs in housing projects to baking matzo with wheat made from ancient seeds in Israel. The chapters of green conversion and the new Sabbath are a must-read for all. They focus on the need for time apart, taking time to be in nature, to recharge, to take time to be people of prayer, to steep ourselves in the life of God. The appendices give a checklist for reducing one's ecological footprint creating a sustainable civilization based on Joanna Macy s theoretical foundations, thoughts for discussion and action and a format for an eight-week study session, based in each one of the chapters.--Ann Lynch Catholic Library World (06/01/2011)

Author Information

Andrea Cohen-Kiener is director of the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (Connecticut's Interfaith Power and Light) and spiritual leader of Congregation Pnai Or of Central Connecticut. As a teacher, rabbi and community organizer, she has practiced the art of bringing a spiritual perspective to problem solving for over three decades. Rev. Sally Bingham is an Episcopal priest and founder of the Regeneration Project, a nonprofit organization that created a national Interfaith Power and Light Campaign to unite all faiths in efforts to prevent the catastrophic effects of global warming.

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