Thomas Berry, Dreamer of the Earth: The Spiritual Ecology of the Father of Environmentalism

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A tribute to the visionary contributions and prophetic writings of Thomas Berry, spiritual ecologist and father of environmentalism

Contains 10 essays by eminent philosophers, thinkers, and scientists in the field of ecology and sustainability, including Matthew Fox, Joanna Macy, Duane Elgin, Sean Esbjrn-Hargens, Ervin Laszlo, and Allan Combs

Calls for a transformation of consciousness to resolve todays global ecological and human challenges

Includes a little-known but essential essay by Thomas Berry

When cultural historian and spiritual ecologist Thomas Berry, described by Newsweek magazine as the most provocative figure among the new breed of eco-theologians, passed away in 2009 at age 94, he left behind a dream of healing the Earth community. In his numerous lectures, books, and essays, Berry proclaimed himself a scholar of the earth, a geologian, and diligently advocated for a return to Earth-based spirituality.

This anthology presents 10 essays from leading philosophers, scientists, and spiritual visionaries--including Matthew Fox, Joanna Macy, Duane Elgin, Sean Esbjrn-Hargens, Ervin Laszlo, and Allan Combs--on the genius of Berrys work and his quest to resolve our global ecological and spiritual challenges, as well as a little-known but essential essay by Berry himself. Revealing Berrys insights as far ahead of their time, these essays reiterate the radical nature of his ideas and the urgency of his most important conclusion: that money and technology cannot solve our problems, rather, we must reestablish the indigenous connection with universal consciousness and return to our fundamental spontaneous nature--still evident in our dreams--in order to navigate our ecological challenges successfully.

Reviews

Thomas Berry, Dreamer of the Earth offers an introduction to one of the most extraordinary thinkers of the twentieth century. His stature cannot be fully appreciated unless one brings to mind such axial personalities as Pythagoras or Confucius, thinkers who gave rise to civilizations. The deep structure of human beings is undergoing a seismic shift, which Thomas foresaw and in part evoked. To understand this new planetary mode of consciousness, there is no substitute for a close study of his ideas. * Brian Swimme, California Institute of Integral Studies, coauthor, with Thomas Berry, of The Universe *
While the religious community is starkly divided on the issue of environmentalism. Thomas Berry was not. A Passionist priest and self-described cosmologist and geologian he came down firmly on the side of environmentalism and was a pioneer in the field. . . This book is an admirable introduction to that quest. * Marlene Y. Satter, ForeWord Magazine, March 2011 *
. . . an impressive job of conveying the sometimes complex spiritual perspectives of a contemporary visionary. * SpiralNature.com, April 2011 *
Here is another book calling us to reconnect with the natural world and to find all the meaning we need in an Earth-based spirituality. * Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Practice, June 2011 *
Thomas Berry was one of the Greats, and this collection by Laszlo and Combs is a wonderful tribute. * Spirituality-and-Religion.com, October 2011 *
Spontaneously I am inclined to shouting out an energetic, resounding (green) hallelujah of affirmation to the foregoing expression. Indeed, Bill Plotkins essay is superlative in a volume that is reader worthy and excellent from start to finish. Space does not allow me to do equal justice to the contributions from Joanna Macy, Duane Elgin, Stanley Krippner, Geneen Marie Haugen, Matthew Fox and the others. * Dream Network Journal, September 2012 *
The ten authors of this book review and extract the essence of Thomas Berrys thinking regarding our societys movement towards a sustainable environment and for saving our earth from destruction, destruction imposed upon it by the profit seeking industrial-business segment of our society. Thomas Berry goes beyond what many millions of us are doing to save the earth by pointing out that it is the nature of our consciousness with regard to how we see life and our role as part of the universe and the earths environment that needs to change and evolve...I found this reading especially exciting and most important for our survival. * Nicholas E. Brink, Imagination, Cognition and Personality, October 2013 *

Author Bio

Ervin Laszlo, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is editor of the international periodical World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution and Chancellor-Designate of GlobalShift University. The founder and president of the Club of Budapest and the author of 83 books, he lives in Pisa, Italy. Allan Combs is professor of transformative studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies, codirector of integral studies at the Graduate Institute of Connecticut, and a founding member of the Integral Foundation. The author of more than 100 articles and books, he lives in Santa Rosa, California.