Ervin Laszlo

Thomas Berry, Dreamer of the Earth: the Spiritual Ecology of the Father of Environmentalism, a Worldshift Book Ervin Laszlo

Jacket Description/Back: SPIRITUALITY / ECOLOGY "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 Story, and author of The Universe Is a Green Dragon 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 Esbjorn-Hargens, Ervin Laszlo, and Allan Combs--on the genius of Berry's 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 Berry's 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. 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. Brief Description: "A tribute to the visionary contributions and prophetic writings of Thomas Berry"--Provided by publisher. Biographical Note: 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. Review Quotes: "Thomas Berry was one of the "Greats," and this collection by Laszlo and Combs is a wonderful tribute."Review Quotes: ." . . an impressive job of conveying the sometimes complex spiritual perspectives of a contemporary visionary."Review Quotes: ""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."Review Quotes: "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."Review Quotes: "Spontaneously I am inclined to shouting out an energetic, resounding (green) hallelujah of affirmation to the foregoing expression. Indeed, Bill Plotkin's 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."Review Quotes: "The ten authors of this book review and extract the essence of Thomas Berry's thinking regarding our society's 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 earth's environment that needs to change and evolve... I found this reading especially exciting and most important for our survival."Review Quotes: "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."Marc Notes: A Worldshift book.; Includes bibliographical references and index. Table of Contents: The WorldShift 2012 Declaration Foreword: The Dreamer of the Earth -- Ervin Laszlo Thomas Berry, Earth Scholar: A Brief Biography 1 The University of the Earth: An Introduction to Thomas Berry -- Allan Combs 2 The Emerging Ecozoic Period -- Thomas Berry 3 Some Thoughts on Thomas Berry's Contributions to the Western Spiritual Tradition -- Matthew Fox 4 Thomas Berry and the Evocation of Participatory Consciousness -- Geneen Marie Haugen 5 Inscendence--The Key to the Great Work of Our Time: A Soulcentric View of Thomas Berry's Work -- Bill Plotkin 6 Dreaming in Sacred Sites: A Study and Tribute to Thomas Berry -- Stanley Krippner, Paul Devereux, Adam Fish, Robert Tartz, and Allan Combs 7 The Double Life of Thomas Berry: Emergence and Evolution -- Duane Elgin 8 Ecological Interiority: Thomas Berry's Integral Ecology Legacy -- Sean EsbjOrn-Hargens 9 Earth Community: What It Tells Us About Faith and Power -- Joanna Macy 10 Berry and the Shift from the Anthropocentric to the Ecological Age -- Ervin Laszlo Notes Contributors Index Publisher Marketing: 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 EsbjOrn-Hargens, Ervin Laszlo, and Allan Combs - Calls for a transformation of consciousness to resolve today's 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 EsbjOrn-Hargens, Ervin Laszlo, and Allan Combs--on the genius of Berry's 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 Berry's 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. Review Citations:

Booklist 03/01/2011 pg. 23 (EAN 9781594773952, Paperback)

Foreword 03/25/2011 (EAN 9781594773952, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Laszlo, Ervin Peter Seidel (MS Ill. Inst. of Technology) was a student of Mies van der Rohe and planner L. Hilberseimer, and has taught at universities across the globe. A systems oriented environmental planner and architect, he is a widely published author on environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable community planning. Contributor Bio:  Combs, Allan Allan Combs is professor of transformative studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies, co-director 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.