Sarah Tillett (Editor)
ISBN 9781841014395 (1841014397)
BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship), 2005
£8.99

Category: Christian Life & Discipleship

This book is a joint project with A Rocha, the organisation promoting Christians' involvement with conservation and environmental issues. It is easy to read as the chapters are all very short and vary between stories of A Rocha members working in different parts of the world and contributions from theologians and experts in particular areas.

The stories are beautiful vignettes of life in different parts of the world where there are A Rocha communities making a positive difference. These include rising populations of dippers in the Czech Republic, or bringing together the need to conserve the Asian elephant habitat with the needs of human communities struggling to survive in India. The stories vividly portray the interconnectedness of people and planet, weaving a picture of what it means to live gently with the earth and care for all its inhabitants. The restoration of broken relationships between individuals, communities, the land on which they depend and the God who loves is tenderly told.

Alongside these stories are articles which address environmental and theological issues. Themes such as being made in God's image, the fall, covenant, sabbath, jubilee and wisdom are explored. Other articles look at the incarnation, Jesus' relationship with creation, resurrection, community, mission and finally new heavens and earth.

All the articles serve to underline the fact that creation care is woven into the biblical message from beginning to end. This book is a starting point for those who want a brief introduction to these themes, with more detail to help show how such a theology might be lived out. Included at the end are some discussion starter questions which relate to the theological themes addressed. Using this book and the questions suggested could be the start of a life changing process. Why not suggest your bible study group or home group looks at this? You never know what might happen!

Jo Rathbone, June 2006

Jo Rathbone is EcoCongregation Co-ordinator at the Arthur Rank Centre. Her review appears here courtesy of Country Way magazine.

A Rocha

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