Creation Corner Column for October 2018
Review: The Sacred in Nature, Frederick W. Krueger, editor.
This 2017 anthology, sub-titled "The World's Inspired Writings on Religious Responsibility for Earth" demonstrates that we, global citizens of a shared planet and united across generations by a religious literature covering all faith communities, need to affirm our responsibility to protect our natural resources. Harmony among diverse sources provides hope for cooperation to preserve the world.
In nearly 600 quotations from nearly 300 authors, we are inspired to learn from one another. Common themes are in chapters such as: (1) God (the sacred) is within the creation ("in, with, and under all things"); (2) that we encounter such in nature; (3) can learn from it; (4) should have respect for and find solidarity with all creatures, great and small; (5) and trees and forests; (6) we can provide witness to wilderness; (7) and have a land ethic; (8) how we are imperiled by what is known as a "nature deficit disorder" and how some of our healing may be found in the environment; (9) that we can seek to grow in holiness so as to better serve God, ourselves and nature; (10) and by doing so we can be inspired to transform the earth.
Without needing to provide an extensive treatise of our ecological concerns that science attempts to address, the role of religion, as Krueger sees it, is to provide a moral and ethical direction to remedy a crisis wrought by selfish greed, exploitation and apathy.
Invoking "timeless principles and requirements for a healthy earth," Krueger's "messengers" call for a restraint of technology that amplify human capabilities to disrupt the integrity of creation. The book illustrates the needed "vision, advocacy, support, direction and healing action."
This 236 page book has 25 pages of contributor biographies, and a 5-page author index. Among the authors frequently cited (with six or more quotes) are Ecumenical (Green) Patriarch Bartholomew of the Worldwide Eastern Orthodox, Gautamu Buddha, Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther, The Prophet Mohammad, John Muir, Sigurd F. Olson (American Baptist), Dr. Philip Sherrard (U.K. theologian), New Theologian Saint Symeon (949-1022), and Henry David Thoreau.
Krueger, an Eastern Orthodox Christian, is the executive director of the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care. Among his other books are
2014 Religion and Global Climate Change: An Activist's Handbook
2012 Greening the Orthodox Parish: A Handbook for Christian Ecological Practice
1995 The Lord's House: A Guide to Creation Careful Management of Church Facilities
1988 Christian Ecology: Building an Environmental Ethic for the Twenty First Century: The Proceedings from the First North American Conference on Christianity and Ecology
Krueger's current series will include a forthcoming volume 2, (with chapters on stewardship, global climate change, inter-faith theologies of creation, etc.) and a third volume (chapters include themes of holy dominion, wisdom and symbolism in the world's design, earth healing, etc.).
Also note that the upcoming November 1-7 Parliament of the World's Religions in Toronto will include an InterFaith Climate Action Assembly and Program Initiative Climate Action | parliamentofreligions.org
This "Creation Corner Column" by Lutheran layman Michael Ochs began 21 years ago this month under the auspices of the 70+ year old ecumenical United Churches of Lycoming County, based in Williamsport PA.
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Mike Ochs blogs at http://lutheransrestoringcreationblog.blogspot.com .
He earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College (1965), and a Master's from Lock Haven University (1989), where he studied the international Green Party movement.
