Down to Earth: Religious Paths toward Custodianship of Nature - Softcover

He utilizes facts, sound science, and (no pun intended) down-to-earth prose to explain what is happening in five areas: population growth, waste, energy, air, and biodiversity. Readers get the unvarnished truth. -- William Bryan Martin, 13th president and only chancellor, Franklin College I love Dr. Cain's unique approach...Drawing on his expertise as an environmental theologian, and with specialties in world religions and environmental ethics, Dr. Cain walks us through the sacred texts and thoughts of many of the world's religions, seamlessly weaving their insights together with our most pressing environmental problems...he illustrates in very specific ways how these ancient texts and varied world religions speak profoundly still today, calling us to reflect and renew ourselves and our environment. One hopes this might encourage sustained dialogue, understanding, and action... -- Dr. David Chandler, professor of philosophy, Franklin College Professor Cain has produced an admirable, readable, and very topical book about our relationship with the natural order....it could well make theologians generally more alert to environmentalists' issues and vice-versa....it could help up-date, incorporate, and build on such religious insights, and help address these issues more effectively at a time when they are pressing hard....This book is particularly timely....in the old, religious texts, there may be a deeper and indeed more practical wisdom, which needs to be re-interpreted and revived. Professor Cain's book may help do that. -- John Armson * Reviews in Religion & Theology, Vol 18 Issue 3 *

Down to Earth scientifically describes the multitude of environmental problems besetting planet earth and indicates why these environmental problems are, at their root, a spiritual or religious challenge. Simply learning about the scientific description of these environmental threats will not be sufficient to solve them, the author argues, for attitudes must be changed and behavioral patterns must be altered. This need for change invariably confronts the core values that we hold and the routine actions that we undertake. Through an examination of the worldviews and sacred texts of eight spiritual traditions, we learn of the common insights and powerful resources that these world religions can offer. The author believes that it is necessary to join an ecological conscience to an ecological consciousness for humans to exercise custodianship of nature both responsibly and sustainably.