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    Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning
    Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning
    Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning
    Ebook139 pages4 hours

    Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning

    By Kenyon Wright

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    About this ebook

    This book presents and analyses two basic assertions

    Life in the 21st century is threatened by an unprecedented global crisis, which is the
    result of the exponential increase in the impact of human activity on the earth.

    Properly understood, the Christian concept of Creation and of human relationships
    based on Gods Covenant, off er the clearest light on the meaning and nature of, and eff ective
    response to, the crisis, and the most realistic Hope for the future.

    It owes much to James Lovelock, the originator of the concept of Gaia - the earth seen as
    a single coherent living interlocking system - who challenges those of faith to develop a
    theology of creation that could include Gaia. Recognise that human rights and needs are not enough; those with faith could accept the Earth as part of Gods creation and be troubled by its desecration.

    This book is written to accept that challenge.

    This Book owes much to the Churches Vision 21 Group in Scotland, both in its development and making, and in support for its publication.

    Rated Four Stars (out of Five) by Foreword Clarion Review

    If the news media is to be believed, science and religion can never agree about global warming and humanitys role in climate change. However, Kenyon Wright, who has spent decades studying both perspectives, points to some common ground in Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning, a well-researched exploration of the issues Cosmic Crisis and Creation offers a rich tapestry of thought on how humanity has managed its relationships At once realistic and hopeful, this book can serve as an excellent starting point for productive discussions about Earths future. Foreword Clarion Review

    (The author) Wright has drafted an informative, emboldened call to action for unity in matters
    of reason and faith Wrights book is a fast, but important read. It serves as a fin introduction to the pattern of economic growth known as sustained development, which champions the fulfi llment of the needs of the current generation without damaging future generations Yet, while our present state may seem grim, Wright never falls into melodramatic pessimism. His message is optimistic. He believes wholeheartedly that the Christian faith can make all things new again... BlueInk Review, July 2012

    Wright analyzes global ecological collapse from a Christian theological perspective. The link between the environmental movement and Christianity hasnt always been a strong one. But in his fi rst book, Wright traces the connection between Christian teaching on Creation and the commitment to environmental stewardship it implies. His brief, thoughtful argument for theological activism contributes to the growing voice of the Christian left... Kirkus Reviews, May 2012
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse UK
    Release dateMay 1, 2012
    ISBN9781468503425
    Cosmic Crisis and Creation: The Search for Meaning
    Author

    Kenyon Wright

    As director of the Centre for International Reconciliation in the famous new cathedral of Coventry, Kenyon Wright was responsible for projects in many parts of Europe, East and West, in Ireland, in Asia, and the Middle East. Previously, he served as director of an industrial institute in India and went on to play a leading role in founding the Scottish Parliament. For this, he was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

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      Book preview

      Cosmic Crisis and Creation - Kenyon Wright

      © 2012 by Kenyon Wright. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Published by AuthorHouse 09/18/2012

      ISBN: 978-1-4685-0340-1 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4685-0341-8 (hc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4685-0342-5 (e)

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Contents

      About The Author

      Dedication

      Introduction

      Part I Cosmic Crisis And God’s Creation

      Chapter 1 You’ve Never Had It So . . . Grim.

      Chapter 2 Creation Or Chance?—Discredited Myth Or Giver Of Meaning?

      Part II Cosmic Crisis And Covenant Relationships

      Chapter 3 "Learn From History—Or Be Condemned To Repeat It Analysis Of The Origins And Causes Of The Crisis

      Chapter 4 The Covenant—The Meaning Of Relationships In History?

      Part III Cosmic Crisis—And Hope For Tomorrow?

      Chapter 5 "Things Can Only Get . . . Better—Or Worse? The Future: Where Is It Going?—Who Is Telling The Truth?

      Chapter 6 Hope Springs Eternal—Meaning And Purpose For The Future?

      A Historical Analysis of the Crisis of Civilisation of the 21st Century,

      and the Relevance of the Christian understanding of

      Creation and Human Life.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Kenyon Wright has served as Director of an Industrial Institute in India, as Director of the international ministry of reconciliation of Coventry Cathedral, and as Chair of the Constitutional Convention which planned the new Scottish Parliament, for which he was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire). He founded and chaired the Scottish Environmental Forum, and Vision 21, the Scottish Churches group on the Environment.

      DEDICATION

      Berthold Brecht once wrote "Those who laugh have not yet heard the terrible news"

      The evidence for that terrible news is now beyond dispute. It shouts so loudly that it can no longer be drowned out by the clamour of vested interests, dismissed by the myopic, or ignored by the wilfully deaf.

      This book is dedicated to those in every nation,

      • who DO hear plainly, yet have not lost their laughter;

      • who DO see clearly, yet dare to dream;

      • who DO know what is happening, yet live in hope

      • who meet the terrible news of our time, with the good news of the living God

      INTRODUCTION

      "Every few hundred years in western history there occurs a sharp transformation. Within a few short decades society—its worldview, its basic values, its social and political structure, its art, its key institutions—rearranges itself . . . We are currently living through such a time."

      Peter Drucker

      This book presents and analyses two basic assertions

      • Life in the 21st century is threatened by an unprecedented global crisis, which is the result of the exponential increase in the impact of human activity on the earth.

      • Properly understood, the Christian concept of Creation and of human relationships based on God’s Covenant, offer the clearest light on the meaning and nature of, and effective response to, the crisis, and the most realistic Hope for the future.

      This book has three Parts, which present the Cosmic Crisis respectively in its present character; its past development; and its future prospects;, and relate these to 3 central biblical themes—Creation, the Covenant and Hope.

      Part I, in 2 Chapters (1 & 2)

      • analyses in an accessible way the contemporary scientific evidence for, and views on, the reality and nature of our present cosmic crisis

      • presents the case that the Christian understanding of CREATION sheds clearest light on the meaning of human life and relationships, and therefore on the current crisis.

      Part II, again in 2 Chapters (3&4)

      • analyses the historical development of human society

      • presents the case that the Christian understanding of the COVENANT gives meaning to history

      Part III (Chapters 5 & 6)

      • analyses the various views on the future of human civilisation

      • presents the case that the Christian understanding of the true nature of HOPE gives meaning and purpose to human efforts and hope

      A recent Consultation on Theological Education asked the question . . .

      "Can there be a modern and scientific view of theology entering into dialogue with the forces that shape society—in a day when God’s absence is felt more radically and painfully than was his hiddenness and mystery before?"

      James Lovelock, the originator of the concept of Gaia—the earth seen as a single coherent living interlocking system—challenges those of faith to develop

      "a theology of creation that could include Gaia. Recognise that human rights and needs are not enough; those with faith could accept the Earth as part of God’s creation and be troubled by its desecration."

      This book is written to accept these challenges. It owes much to the work done in Scotland in the Churches Group on Sustainable Development—"Vision 21"

      PART I

      Cosmic Crisis and God’s Creation

      CHAPTER 1

      You’ve never had it so . . . grim.

      What is really happening?—The contemporary Human Crisis analysed

      "I am concerned about the burden we will leave for our children and grandchildren. A moral burden, as species disappear from the planet, as people are displaced by rising seas, or impoverished by increasing droughts in the sub tropics and by increased floods and climate variability in other regions Science does not leave the opportunity for us to claim ignorance of the consequences . . ."

      Scientist James Hansen,

      addressing an audience including the Queen.

      The current obsession with Climate Change is in great danger of mistaking a symptom for the disease. Until there is much greater understanding of the nature, dimensions and inter-connectedness of the crisis, the debate about climate change will remain academic, and the feeble efforts to respond to it will remain ineffective, given the influence and money of big business with a short-term interest in opposing effective action, combined with public scepticism, apathy and paralysis.

      Climate Change can only be fully understood or effectively tackled, as one of the consequences (among several) of the rapidly growing human impact on the planet, which is undeniable, and which justifies calling this a Crisis.

      The central reality which creates the crisis is the exploding impact of human activity on the planet. This is defined by the formula

      I(Impact) = P (Population) x A (Affluence) x T(Technology)

      In this formula Affluence is measured by the global GDP (Though this of course ignores the gross inequality in the distribution of wealth), and Technology is measured by the growth in Patent applications.

      By this formula, if we take the total Impact in the year 1900 as a base of 1, then by 1950 it was 10—and by 2011, it was a massive 1300.

      The Human Impact on our planet and home, which grew very slowly up to the industrial revolution, started to grow steadily since, but has exploded into exponentially increasing growth after World War II.

      Many scientists call it the great acceleration.

      In assessing the Human Impact, the many factors that together form the current crisis, fall into two categories.

      1. The global direct Causes (as defined above)—Population, Affluence and Technology.

      2. The global Consequences—Climate Change, Biodiversity, the Poverty Gap, Pandemic disease, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Human Psychology and expectations.

      This analysis exposes the weakness of the current obsession with Climate Change alone, and sets it firmly in context—as one of several important symptoms. Some do question the reality of changes in the Climate, or of their cause in human actions (though of the tiny minority who do, many are supported by vested interest in the energy, oil and other industries) but the fact of the massive and increasing impact of human activity is now beyond serious doubt.

      1. The Global Direct Causes of the Cosmic Crisis

      a) Population Explosion—The Threat of an Overcrowded Planet

      "We have grown in numbers to the point where our presence is perceptibly disabling the planet like a disease."

      James Lovelock

      Having slowly increased over previous centuries, the number of people on the planet is exploding. From an estimated 1 billion at most, at the start of the 20th century, it had reached about 6 billion by the end, and is projected to rise by 2050 to between a minimum of 8 billion and a projection of nearly 12 billion. The huge difference is explained by the assumptions made in each case. The 12 billion is based on the continuation of present trends uncontrolled, while the lower figure, though still huge, is based on the possible implementation of measures agreed at the UN Cairo Conference on Population and Development in 1994. UNICEF argued that "Family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to the human race" and estimates the cost at about £5 billion per year. Unfortunately UNICEF’s optimism took no account, either of the lack of political will in a world which spends £5 billion a week on war and weapons, or of the resistance to birth control in societies without the safety nets of social care and welfare. The lack of progress in the years since that UN conference, and the practical and religious obstacles to birth control measures, make their proposals look like a triumph of hope over experience, and give us every reason to believe that by 2050 we will be nearer the higher population estimate than the lower. Moreover, this increase will be disproportionately among the poor, bringing even closer the spectre of hunger and widespread famine, already a reality in parts of India, Bangladesh and the Sahel. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) forecast that, if all present trends continue, we would need nearly three planets to sustain life. We have only one.

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