Spiritual Life On A Burning Planet

Spiritual Life on a Burning Planet draws on scientific research in developing religious perspectives on anthropogenic climate change. Its four chapters are entitled “Tolling Bells,” “Burning Planet,” “Eschatology in the Anthropocene,” and “The Downward Passage.” “Tolling Bells” introduces the topic of climate change and several of its emotional and biblical implications. “Burning Planet” provides an overview of the science of climate change and surveys the effects of global warming on human life later this century. The essays in “Eschatology in the Anthropocene” develop theological interpretations of climate change and examine its moral, spiritual, social, and psychological dimensions. “The Downward Passage” focuses on Christ's descent, the harrowing of hell, understood as a point of doctrine and an exemplary image of forthcoming challenges as we advance more deeply into the Anthropocene. A spiritual path suited to the Anthropocene is outlined. Its watchword is penthos, a traditional practice with sufficient power to convey a person through the grief and mourning that represent a true grasp of our having forced the earth into a new geological epoch.

Burning Center, Porous Borders articulates what the church is and is called to be about in the world, a world now globalized to the point that the local is lived globally and the global is lived locally. The church must respond creatively and prophetically to the challenges-economic disparity, war and terrorism, diaspora, ecological threat, health crisis, religious diversity, and so on-posed by our highly globalized world. It can do so only if the church's spiritual center burns mightily. Conversely, it can burn mightily in the spirit of Christ only if its borders are porous and allows the fresh air/spirit of change to blow in and out. While there is much rhetoric about change, the most common response to change is to continue doing business as usual. This is particularly the case in the face of perceived global threats. In spite of the hoopla and euphoria of the global village, walls of division and exclusion are rising, hearts are constricting, and moral imagination shrinking. In response to this context, Burning Center, Porous Borders proposes alternative ways or images of being a church: burning center and porous borders, wall-buster and bridge-builder, translocal (glocal), mending-healer, radical hospitality, community of the earth-spirit, household of life abundant, dialogians of life, and community of hope. In Burning Center, Porous Borders congregational vitality and progressive praxis kiss and embrace!

This issue of The Ministry of the Word contains a complete record of the twelve messages given during the July 2023 semiannual training, held in Anaheim, California. The Key Statements on the following page embody and summarize the crucial truths and main burdens covered in these twelve messages. The Reports and Announcements section contains "An Update concerning Europe," a "Summer 2023 Mass Distribution Update," and important information concerning upcoming conferences and trainings hosted by Living Stream Ministry plus a website link to information on similar events in Europe and Israel.

Christians from a low-church background do not have to be afraid of liturgy and sacraments. On the contrary, these ancient ways of engaging with Scripture and faith, help us see the beauty and taste the grace of heaven through the incarnation of Jesus. Earth Filled with Heaven is an evangelical introduction to the theological framework and habits of the sacramental life. Author and Anglican priest Aaron Damiani translates this sometimes strange-to-us way of Christ-centered faith in an invitational and pastoral manner. He orients readers around a weekly celebration of the Lord’s supper, water baptism, liturgical prayer, the church calendar, the daily office—rhythms that quietly nourish us with the life of Jesus. As there are no recent lay introductions for protestant Christians who desire to deepen their roots in the ancient practices of the church, Earth Filled with Heaven speaks to a growing group of faithful Christians discovering these historic church practices for the first time.

An explanation is provided for our creation, spiritual reality and purpose in life. Out of body experiences during near death experiences indicate that our consciousness exists independently of the body. It implies that we are part of and created by God's consciousness. Our spirituality and soul are a part of his consciousness. Hence, we are spiritual beings living a mortal life. Due to our free will, we can make good and bad choices. Our purpose on earth is to test and develop our spiritual and moral worth, in order to become worthy of God's love. In effect, our life on earth is a morality play. On earth, we live in a one dimensional system called time. When we pass over after the demise of our body, we remain as part of God's consciousness. At that time, we live in a three dimensional system consisting of the past, present and future. We will review our former life on earth, judge our behavior, and feel the pain that we may have caused others.