Upper House hosted Behold the Earth, a film screening and discussion, on October 14, 2019. Here are readings and resources that our discussants, UW-Madison professor Rick Lindroth and emeritus professor Cal Dewitt, suggested for attendees. This list is by no means comprehensive; however, it is substantive.
Resources
Brown, E. 2018. Our Father’s World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation. Doorlight Publications, South Hadley, MA. (This readable book provides a compelling and practical perspective as to why Christians—both individually and corporately—must view creation care as a vital component of our redemptive mission in the world.)
DeWitt, C.B. 2012. Song of a Scientist: The Harmony of a God-Soaked Creation. Square Inch Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI. (In this book Cal DeWitt looks at nature through the eyes of the Creator, the eyes of a scientist, and the eyes of the psalmist. As you read, you will hear the heartbeat of God, the groans and hopes of a scientist, and a lilting rendering of songs of awe and wonder at God’s marvelous creation!)
DeWitt, C.B. 2012. Behold the hippo: a zoologist sings the doxology. The Christian Century (a subscription journal). [Reading is for attendees only.]
DeWitt, C.B. 2016. Earth stewardship and Laudato Si’. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 91: 271-284. (Cal DeWitt’s commentary on Pope Francis’ second encyclical letter, Laudato Si’, includes a summary of endorsements of the text by scientific and religious institutions, along with reflections on how the letter can shape our awe, wonder, and stewardship of the natural world. )
DeWitt, C.B. A Working Paper shared for our limited audience. Behold the Birds of the Air.
Lindroth, R. 2019. Our Climate Crisis: 2 Degrees, 11 Years, 17 Words. Biologos, an online journal that shows the harmony between science and faith. (Rick Lindroth’s reflections on climate change are both warning and encouragement. In a nutshell: It’s real. It’s us. It’s serious. It’s going to get worse. There’s hope if we act now.)
Lowe, B. 2009. Green Revolution: Coming Together to Care for Creation, InterVarsity Press, Westmont, IL. (A Senior Advisor for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, “Ben Lowe calls the present generation to come together and care for the earth in a way that recent generations have not. Telling real-life stories of community organizing on college campuses across the nation, Lowe shows us that little things can make a big difference when we all work together.”)
National Association of Evangelicals. 2011. Loving the Least of These: Addressing Changing Environment. (This 56-page document explores the biblical basis for Christian engagement, the science of a changing environment, how climate affects the poor, and practical ways to move forward. Available for free and PDF download.)
Pope Francis. 2015. Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home. (In this, his second encyclical, Pope Francis engages all Christians in a call to care for all living things on the planet, especially the poor and vulnerable. He writes, “I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.”)
Sampson, S. 2015. How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York. (This thoughtfully researched and wonderfully written book is an invaluable guide for parents and teachers who seek to help children, and themselves, connect with nature.)
