Customer Reviews

Cherishing the Earth

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Having read other books on how best we may deal with, and relate to, the Creation as portrayed in the Christian Bible, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Usually, I have read how we are somehow "Above" or are a "Separate" creation to that of the Creation in toto. However, this husband and wife team - Martin is a scientist and Margot is a theologian - have written a book that does not devalue us as humans but rather, at least to me, have elevated the rest of the Created world, including the animals, to a level where we are on the same level. The book is written from each authors' own field of expertise so we learn what are the Scientific and Scriptural arguments to each issue discussed. This style of writing is a truly remarkable one as we learn that the two schools can, and do, compliment one another.

This book looks at Scripture, how it has been interpreted down through history and, by extension, what this means for the Creation today, in terms of environmental impact by humans. There are many useful facts here and a lot of quotes from past teachers, to help us reflect deeper on our personal beliefs in relation to the Natural World. For instance, there is a citation by the Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (1135-1204) from his THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLXED (1190), where he wrote that "The universe does not exist for man's sake but each being exists for its own sake, and not because of some other thing." This view is very similar to that taught under the philosophy of Panpsychism.

There are many Notes at the rear of the book itself. I was so taken in by the facts and the biblical references, that I found myself constantly having to refer to these Notes. Personally, I felt these may have been better served as page footnotes, this being my only criticism of an otherwise fascinating and spiritually uplifting book.

Cherishing the Earth is a marvelous book that gives a call for Christians everywhere to get involved in the preservation of our environment. The authors Martin and Margot Hodson bring a wide range of scientific and theological learning to the debate of whether Christians are called to the work of saving the planet.

They begin with a description of Creation and move toward a theological understanding of our place in the ecology. Rather than putting either humans or animals or even the environment at the center, they place God's purpose for Creation at the center. Humans are not called to vacate the wilderness, and neither are they allowed to despoil it for their profit. Instead the authors suggest that as stewards of the planet we are called to help the natural world reach fulfillment in a co-operative manner.

As they talk about humanity's sad history of interaction with nature. they point out that we have already changed the vast majority of the Earth's ecology. What we have changed for the worse out of selfishness, we can also change for the better. Taking care of the planet is not just about making it a nicer place to live, it is also about justice. The developing world will be hardest hit by the continuation of global warming. Food will continue to get higher in price and lower in quality if we don't reconnect food production with a concern for the land.

What I particularly like about this book is that it is not just doom and gloom. Martin and Martha Hodson pull no punches when it comes to describing the devastation we have wrought on our home. But they also tell stories of hope such as the recovery of Sudbury. They made me believe that there is hope. They talk about what our response to the issue can be as individuals, communities, and as a species. At no point do they suggest that the solutions will be easy or simple, yet they do describe the solution as possible with the help of God.

Armchair Interviews says: This book is thought-provoking, educational and gives hope we can make needed changes.