Thomas Berry had a gentle yet mesmerizing and luminescent presence that was evident to anyone who spent time with him. His intellectual scope and erudite manner were compelling, and the breadth, depth, clarity and elegance of his vision was breathtaking. He enthralled thousands of people who came to listen and learn from him in academic and public settings and he was an intellectual giant and cultural visionary of extraordinary stature. Thomas Berry's vast knowledge and specific expertise as a cultural historian -united with his concern for the future of the planet-reveals him to be a genuine original thinker. Those who knew him, in person or through his publications, were aware of his genius and his appeal for a viable future for humanity and the natural world. Many know of his proposal for a functional cosmology, the need for a new story, and a vital Earth sensitive spirituality, but few know the intellectual roots of his thesis because he presented his thoughts as a seamless and studied synthesis. This book is about those intellectual roots and particular emphases and insights that are hidden within Thomas Berry's proposal.These essays probe into and reveal distinct themes that permeate his work, but are not obvious upon first glance. The authors of this collection were students of Berry, and did their Ph.D. work using elements of his thought. More importantly, Thomas Berry's influence has both grounded and oriented their intellectual pursuits.

Thomas Berry had a gentle yet mesmerizing and luminescent presence that was evident to anyone who spent time with him. His intellectual scope and erudite manner were compelling, and the breadth, depth, clarity, and elegance of his vision was breathtaking. Berry was an intellectual giant and cultural visionary of extraordinary stature. Thomas Berry's vast knowledge of history, religions, and cultural histories is a unique blend revealing a genuine, original thinker. The ecological crisis, in all its manifestations, came to dominate Berry's concerns. He perceived that the greatest need was to offer the possibility of a viable future for an Earth community. Many know of his proposal for a functional cosmology, the need for a new story, and a vital Earth sensitive spirituality. Few know of his rich and varied intellectual journey. The Intellectual Journey of Thomas Berry: Imagining the Earth Community is about the roots and insights hidden within his ecological, spiritual proposal. These essays, written by experts on Thomas Berry's work, probe into, and reveal distinct themes that permeate his work, in gratitude for his contribution to the Earth.

Laudato Si’ insists on a revolutionary human response to the public challenges of our time concerning the ecological crisis. The volume takes up the revolutionary spirit of Pope Francis and speaks to the economic, technological, political, educational, and religious changes needed to overcome the fragile relationships between humans and Earth. This volume identifies various systemic factors that have produced the anthropogenic ecological crisis that threatens the planet and uses the ethical vision of Laudato Si’ to promote practical responses that foster fundamental changes in humanity’s relationships with Earth and each other. The essays address not only the immediate behavioral changes needed in individual human lives, but also the deeper, societal changes required if human communities are to live sustainable lives within Earth’s integral ecology. Thus, this volume intentionally focuses on a plurality of cultural contexts and proposes solutions to problems encountered in a variety of global contexts. Accordingly, the contributors to this volume are scholars from a breadth of interdisciplinary and cultural backgrounds, each exploring an ethical theme from the encyclical and proposing systemic changes to address deeply entrenched injustices. Collectively, their essays examine the social, political, economic, gender, scientific, technological, educational, and spiritual challenges of our time as these relate to the ecological crisis.