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Climate Church, Climate World: How People of Faith Must Work for Change
Climate Church, Climate World argues that climate change is the greatest moral challenge humanity has ever faced; it multiplies all forms of global social injustice: hunger, refugees, poverty, inequality, deadly viruses, war. Environmental leader Reverend Jim Antal presents a compelling case that it's time for the church to meet this moral challenge, just as the church addressed previous moral challenges. He calls for the church to embrace a new vocation so that future generations might live in harmony with God's creation. After describing how we have created the dangers our planet now faces, Antal urges the church to embrace a new vocation, one focused on collective salvation and an expanded understanding of the Golden Rule (Golden Rule 2.0). He suggests ways people of faith can reorient what they prize through new approaches to worship, preaching, witnessing, and other spiritual practices that honor creation and cultivate hope.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published February 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 7, 2019
It’s difficult to review this book because I’m so conflicted. On the one hand, Antal draws a clear line between theology and science in explaining the catastrophe at hand. He also offers some concrete steps for action. His zeal, while commendable, does not exactly translate to the realities of parish life, particularly in liturgical traditions. While I am called as an Episcopal priest to engage in the work of creation care, I cannot make it my primary work. I cannot make my church a one-issue church, even if that issues means life or death. I will be praying more on how to apply what I learned from this book to ministry.
May 9, 2020
Although this book is mostly aimed at the American audience, it is relevant to the rest of us too. I think I had a couple of key take-aways:
Don't let the perfect stand in the way of the good. This is important because often so much judgment happens against climate activism from people who want to shame and blame. However, doing something is better than doing nothing.
The commitment to climate and climate justice is a spiritual practice. It requires the discipline and commitment that go into other spiritual practices, whether worship, prayer, or meditation. It also has the same kinds of deeper spiritual benefits--a life lived in greater harmony, sense of peace (even if it involves getting arrested), a life lived in solidarity with creation and creatures.
This book isn't all that much fun to read--although it's well written enough--because it challenges all of our status quo, and it pushes anyone of conscience (religious or not) to not stand passively by while the corporate interests control the climate agenda.
Don't let the perfect stand in the way of the good. This is important because often so much judgment happens against climate activism from people who want to shame and blame. However, doing something is better than doing nothing.
The commitment to climate and climate justice is a spiritual practice. It requires the discipline and commitment that go into other spiritual practices, whether worship, prayer, or meditation. It also has the same kinds of deeper spiritual benefits--a life lived in greater harmony, sense of peace (even if it involves getting arrested), a life lived in solidarity with creation and creatures.
This book isn't all that much fun to read--although it's well written enough--because it challenges all of our status quo, and it pushes anyone of conscience (religious or not) to not stand passively by while the corporate interests control the climate agenda.
June 27, 2021
From the time that I first learned about recycling, I started talking about it with everyone. I got my parents to set it up at our house; I led a milk-jug drive at my high school to build benches out of recycled materials; I talked about recycling and creation with everyone who would listen. Care for Creation remains my #1 value in how I structure my life. So I was excited that I had the opportunity to read this book.
Jim Antal’s approach is a wonderful mix of passion and explanation. He has clearly dedicated his life to sharing the story of the importance of preserving creation and puts it into a framework that many Christians can understand. While there are some Christian denominations that teach care for creation, there are others who don’t understand the call in quite the same way. Antal includes language for all Christians to hear how God calls humanity to care for the other creatures, plants, and the earth itself. He takes a critical look at his own passion, and walks the reader through the reasons that they should also care as much as he does.
He effectively uses Biblical citations and theological reasoning to call people of faith to make climate change a high priority of their ministry. God has clearly called him to share this message with all Christians. Antal, as part of his call, urgently calls all of us to join in the work of caring for creation. The book includes a variety of resources for personal and communal reflection, worship, and action steps. For the sake of all of us, I hope that we can clearly hear Antal’s call to action.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Jim Antal’s approach is a wonderful mix of passion and explanation. He has clearly dedicated his life to sharing the story of the importance of preserving creation and puts it into a framework that many Christians can understand. While there are some Christian denominations that teach care for creation, there are others who don’t understand the call in quite the same way. Antal includes language for all Christians to hear how God calls humanity to care for the other creatures, plants, and the earth itself. He takes a critical look at his own passion, and walks the reader through the reasons that they should also care as much as he does.
He effectively uses Biblical citations and theological reasoning to call people of faith to make climate change a high priority of their ministry. God has clearly called him to share this message with all Christians. Antal, as part of his call, urgently calls all of us to join in the work of caring for creation. The book includes a variety of resources for personal and communal reflection, worship, and action steps. For the sake of all of us, I hope that we can clearly hear Antal’s call to action.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 17, 2021
title: Climate Church, Climate World: How People of Faith Must Work for Change
author: Jim Antal
date: 2018
publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Jim Antal has written a helpful book addressing an issue that many are afraid to approach. We need more people like this who make the commitment and sacrifice that is needed in our day.
Jim says a lot of good things in this book. The main issue I have with it is something that is common to a lot of activists - he sees climate issues as "the" main issue facing our world. I think anytime we say that this is "the" key issue, we, unintentionally, minimize the hurt and pain of so many in our world.
With that caveat, Jim offers a reasoned approach for caring for this planet. Too many Christians, for too many years (hundreds), have taken an approach to the environment that is unbiblical, that ignores the creation mandate.
The commitment to climate and climate justice is a spiritual practice. Jim calls us to account for our lack of care. And calls us to new practices, for the sake of the environment, for the sake of others, because that's what we are called to.
Disclosure: I received this book free through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.
author: Jim Antal
date: 2018
publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Jim Antal has written a helpful book addressing an issue that many are afraid to approach. We need more people like this who make the commitment and sacrifice that is needed in our day.
Jim says a lot of good things in this book. The main issue I have with it is something that is common to a lot of activists - he sees climate issues as "the" main issue facing our world. I think anytime we say that this is "the" key issue, we, unintentionally, minimize the hurt and pain of so many in our world.
With that caveat, Jim offers a reasoned approach for caring for this planet. Too many Christians, for too many years (hundreds), have taken an approach to the environment that is unbiblical, that ignores the creation mandate.
The commitment to climate and climate justice is a spiritual practice. Jim calls us to account for our lack of care. And calls us to new practices, for the sake of the environment, for the sake of others, because that's what we are called to.
Disclosure: I received this book free through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 27, 2021
This book explores what religious communities, of any faith, and especially their leaders, can do to mitigate the coming climate catastrophe. As such, I think it could be helpful.
First the good: There are some real, author-tested, suggestions on changing people's attitudes, habits and actions regarding our stewardship of the earth. The concrete actions range from liturgy changes to being arrested at a climate protest. This is a welcome change from many of this type of book which talk about the problem at hand with no solutions offered.
I can easily imagine this book being used by a faith reading group, as the chapters are short with thoughtful discussion topics at the end.
As for the bad: I'm not sure who this book is aimed at. I, as a lay person, am never going to use the sermon topic suggestions, for instance. On the other hand, there are those chapter discussions.
All in all, this is probably a good book for helping get faith communities move toward addressing the climate crisis on a community level.
The Appendix provides an overview of each of the chapters, which could easily be helpful. The notes are fairly extensive, if hard to get to in the edition I read. The index is weak, but at least there is one.
First the good: There are some real, author-tested, suggestions on changing people's attitudes, habits and actions regarding our stewardship of the earth. The concrete actions range from liturgy changes to being arrested at a climate protest. This is a welcome change from many of this type of book which talk about the problem at hand with no solutions offered.
I can easily imagine this book being used by a faith reading group, as the chapters are short with thoughtful discussion topics at the end.
As for the bad: I'm not sure who this book is aimed at. I, as a lay person, am never going to use the sermon topic suggestions, for instance. On the other hand, there are those chapter discussions.
All in all, this is probably a good book for helping get faith communities move toward addressing the climate crisis on a community level.
The Appendix provides an overview of each of the chapters, which could easily be helpful. The notes are fairly extensive, if hard to get to in the edition I read. The index is weak, but at least there is one.
November 19, 2019
It took me a while to get through this book, but that is more of an indication of the hecticness of my life right now than a reflection on the book. This book is an insightful reflection on the role of the church in confronting the climate change crisis. If you want to keep burying your head in the sand in relation to climate change, then definitely you should NOT read this book! But for people who take the mission of the church seriously, it's a must-read. The author challenges the church to treat this crisis like the civil rights fight of the 60's and 70's, and have the courage to speak up, and keep on speaking up about human-caused changes that seriously threaten the goodness of the creation God has given to us as caretakers. He also calls us to consider how when Jesus calls us to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", that we should include in the "others" the generations which will come after us. Are we truly loving them if we destroy the goodness of this planet in order to satisfy our greed for more?
March 21, 2020
This review refers to the paperback edition; ISBN 13: 978-1-5381-1069-0. The church congregation i belong to was using this as a Lenten jumping off platform to discuss this oh, so very important, topic. And then the Covid 19 happens. Any relation to the topic at hand is still uncertain. Lack of Data and truthful discussion seem to always be a roadblock. One we can least afford. But, we now have to, as a species, work as a community. Finally, as Jim Antal is fond of telling all; the best individual action is to not be an individual.
Enough preaching. Find a copy, read it. Then discuss with others.
Enough preaching. Find a copy, read it. Then discuss with others.
April 8, 2020
This book goes into the depths of climate change as well as a church's approach to a major issue. It highlights Antal's approach and how he started the activism within the UCC conference. I found the book hard to get into at first because it rely's so heavily on research. However as I continued reading I really enjoyed the difference between science and theology that is found throughout the book. Science and Theology typically clash so seeing it highlighted when tackling a major economical issue was fascinating. Overall I really this book and all the new information that it had to offer.
January 10, 2020
read parts, specifically the chapter addressed to ministers
Notes
Antal will be speaking in our area. I hope to ask him how he approaches other ministers who are reluctant to include climate change in their sermons.
Also, I'm not surprised that white protestant congregations do not give climate change much attention (based on interactions with neighbors, etc) but can Antal explain why black and latino churches DO talk about it, as he states in the book.
Notes
Antal will be speaking in our area. I hope to ask him how he approaches other ministers who are reluctant to include climate change in their sermons.
Also, I'm not surprised that white protestant congregations do not give climate change much attention (based on interactions with neighbors, etc) but can Antal explain why black and latino churches DO talk about it, as he states in the book.
December 14, 2019
Written by an activist UCC minister, the author lays out the case of the place of the faith community in advocating action to meet the climate crisis. I read this in conjunction with a Sunday School class (PCUSA) which resulted in the church forming a Climate Action group.
December 28, 2021
I listened to the book.
After I listened to it I bought it for my library.
It’s best read in a group.
It is certainly challenging. It is certainly frightening.
It is hopeful.
Probably the best book on climate change for preachers that I have read.
After I listened to it I bought it for my library.
It’s best read in a group.
It is certainly challenging. It is certainly frightening.
It is hopeful.
Probably the best book on climate change for preachers that I have read.
July 26, 2022
I hadn't heard of the denomination this author is part of so didn't know quite where to place him. But I enjoyed the book. Great to hear of other christians who see this as an issue worth contending for. Some useful quotes along the way and the imprisonment story was very striking.
June 28, 2020
Enjoyed it. Learned about religious groups that care about the Earth and are activists. Some will even go to jail for their beliefs.
June 15, 2021
"I like to say that we all live at the same address."
October 25, 2021
Read for book group at church. Lots of good information...reality and hopeful for action.
December 31, 2021
Great book to use for my class on Climate Justice.
October 26, 2023
Excellent book filled with ideas for ways the church can respond to the climate crisis. This would be a great book for a church small group to use for a series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews