As climate change continues to ravage our planetary home, deepening the divide between Earth and her stewards, churched and unchurched seekers alike are casting about for a spirituality that focuses on the natural world. Just in time, Green Gospel opens a window into the developing realm of ecotheology, defining foundational principles and outlining how these tenets can be lived out through worship and individual practice. To help readers connect with otherwise challenging concepts, Gatta’s Green Gospel draws on illustrative examples from literary works and liturgical texts to transport readers through these artistic portals to a world lit up by God’s grace.
Designed for parish reading groups or individual study, this encompassing yet compact introductory text unites the theological framework of the green movement with spiritual practice, setting forth a comprehensive vision that moves all the way from first principles of Christian doctrine to the practical consequences of today's pressing environmental issues.
John Gatta is an Emeritus Professor of English both at the University of Connecticut and at Sewanee: The University of the South, where he served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and guest lectured in the School of Theology. For decades he has been teaching and writing about topics related to American literature, the interplay between literature and Christian faith, and environmental matters. His publications include a numerous articles and six single-authored books, four of which address “green” topics. His first book, Gracious Laughter: the Meditative Wit of Edward Taylor, won the 1989 Academic Book-of-the Year Award from the Conference on Christianity and Literature. His work for non-academic audiences has appeared in The Living Church and in Baylor University’s Christian Reflection Series in Faith and Ethics. He lives in Tennessee.