For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture) [Paperback]

Steven Bouma-Prediger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001 | Series: Engaging Culture

Thomas Aquinas once stated that "any error about creation also leads to an error about God." At a time when it seems humans have erred much in their treatment of the planet, this book explores the relationship between Christianity and the natural world in the most thorough evangelical treatment available on a theology of creation care. An esteemed scholar of ecology and theology, Steven Bouma-Prediger claims that "authentic Christian faith requires ecological obedience." This substantive yet accessible book argues that true Christianity acknowledges the responsibility and privilege Christians have been given as stewards of the earth. Sure to provoke dialogue, For the Beauty of the Earth will be welcomed by professors and students of theology, ecology, and contemporary culture.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Any error about creation also leads to an error about God." -Thomas Aquinas At a time when it seems humans have erred much in their understanding and keeping of the planet, For the Beauty of the Earth explores the relationship between Christianity and the natural world in the most thorough evangelical treatment available on a theology of creation care. "This accessible and engaging, but theologically sophisticated book will rightfully command the attention of parish pastors, church lay leaders, and Christian university students, as well as academic theologians.... Most important, For the Beauty of the Earth will demonstrate why, on sure and certain biblical grounds, ecological theology and environmental ethics can no longer be the province of only a few theological specialists: why, in these times of global ecological crisis, divine hope for a desecrated earth is the good news that the whole church urgently must embody and then fervently proclaim to the whole world." -H. Paul Santmire, author of The Travail of Nature and Nature Reborn "Take up and read! Behind this cover is crucial content for restoring our's and our churches' life-giving relationship with our Creator and Jesus Christ who holds all things together in sustaining love. And...it is engaging, refreshing, and beautifully written." -Calvin B. DeWitt, University of Wisconsin at Madison and director of Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies "This book is both straightforward and subversive, a clarion call to extend the witness of our faith to the glory of all creation. You may pick it up casually, but you will put it down committed to doing something about these most urgent of all problems." -Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature "This is an important book. Steven Bouma-Prediger combines theological depth with ecological savvy to issue a profound call to environmental discipleship. He makes his case in a way that both informs and inspires!" -Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary

About the Author

Steven Bouma-Prediger is associate professor of religion at Hope College. His works include Evocations of Grace: The Writings of Joseph Sittler on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics, and The Greening of Theology: The Ecological Models of Rosemary Radford Ruether, Joseph Sittler, and Jürgen Moltmann.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801022983
• ISBN-13: 978-0801022982
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven Bouma-Prediger is Professor of Religion and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. A graduate of Hope College, his Ph.D. is in religious studies from The University of Chicago.

His most recent book is For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care, revised second edition. The first edition received an Award of Merit by Christianity Today as one of the books of the year for 2001. Other books include Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement, co-authored with Brian Walsh, and The Greening of Theology.

He has won numerous teaching awards, including in 1999 being voted the recipient of the Hope Outstanding Professor-Educator Award and in 2001 being chosen to receive Hope's Outstanding Faculty Award.

His wife, Celaine, is a marriage and family therapist and an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America. They have three girls--Anna, Chara, and Sophia--and many pets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Love of God...It's about time., December 15, 2004

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Neville G. Kiser "NGK" (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture) (Paperback)

Prof. Steven Bouma-Prediger does a wonderful job at doing a very hard thing: speaking to the Evangelical Christian audience (and all Christians for that matter) about why they should care about the environment, the air, the land, and more holistically, the earth. In his carefully written and discerningly provocative book, Bouma-Prediger gives any and every thinking Christian a run for their money when it comes to thinking right theologically about ecology. Sure, the book only dabbles in the pool of ecological problems our Earth is currently facing (he could have spent 500 pages doing that I suppose), but it is a good "survey" or "intro" for every Christian who's sick and tired of NOT thinking about social redemeption as well as spiritual, human redemption.

Bouma-Prediger gives the very high call (not just good stewards of the earth, but serving and caring...this is what the biblical call "dominion over the earth" means) and it's nothing short of profound considering these times we live in. While Bouma-Prediger should give the Biblical conservative plenty to think and re-think about, he never comes off as speaking down to his reader, which is the thing I most appreciated while reading his book. His writing is beautiful, his argument convincing and in our world today which tends to be divided between Christians who care about humans and the world who cares more about the Earth, he does a splendid job at bridging this huge gap. Read and be inspired!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beauty of the Earth, September 11, 2010

By 

Terry E. Meyers (Corwith, IA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture) (Paperback)

I loved the book! It was used but the condition was as the seller described it and the price was worth it.