Great Conversation: Nature and the Care of the Soul

We are surrounded by a world that talks, but we don't listen. We are part of a community engaged in a vast conversation, but we deny our role in it. Belden C. Lane suggests that we can and must recover the ability to stand in the flow of the great conversation of all creatures and the earth for the survival of the world itself. The Great Conversation is a multi-faceted treatise on a spiritually centered environmentalism that pairs personal anecdotes with the writings of saints and sages to offer guidance for entering into a conversation with the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

We live in a world that is constantly talking, yet we seem to be deaf to its messages. We are part of a vast community engaged in a profound exchange of ideas, yet we fail to recognize our integral role in it. In the face of climate change, the loss of species, and the devastating destruction of our environment, the ability to participate in the grand conversation of all creatures and the Earth seems lost to the human race. However, Belden C. Lane offers a glimmer of hope by suggesting that we can and must reclaim this lost connection.

The Great Conversation is Lane's comprehensive exploration of a spiritually-oriented environmentalism. At its heart lies a belief in the inherent power of the natural world to serve as a teacher. Through a series of personal anecdotes, Lane intertwines his own experiences in the wilderness with the wisdom of saints and sages from diverse religious traditions. A night spent in a Missouri cave brings to mind the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, while the canyons of southern Utah evoke a response from the Chinese philosopher Laozi. When 500,000 migrating sandhill cranes settle in Nebraska, they remind us of the Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar. With each chapter, the humility of spiritual masters throughout history blends with Lane's encounters with natural teachers, providing guidance for reconnecting with the world.

Lane's approach is unique in its fusion of personal narrative and spiritual wisdom. He invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery, where they can learn to listen to the voices of the natural world and find solace and guidance in its embrace. The Great Conversation is not just about protecting endangered species and supporting vulnerable communities; it is about the survival of our planet itself. By reconnecting with the natural world, we can tap into its immense wisdom and resilience and work towards creating a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with the Earth.

In conclusion, The Great Conversation is a powerful and inspiring book that offers a fresh perspective on environmentalism. By embracing the power of the natural world as a teacher, we can reclaim our lost connection with the Earth and work towards creating a more sustainable and harmonious future for all living beings. Let us take Lane's words to heart and begin our journey of listening, learning, and living in harmony with the natural world.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190842673