ECA#Saturday 10.00am: Chris Todhunter

The Great Work

Thomas Berry, the author of this book, is one of the most eminent cultural historians of our time. We will discuss the book in detail, two chapters each week. Human presence on the planet earth in the opening years of the 21st century is the subject.

Just now we seem to be expecting a wonder world to be attained through an ever greater dedication to our sciences, technologies and commercial projects. But we are causing immense ruin in the world around us. Let us then reflect on the wonder of earth, how it came to be the garden planet of the universe and what might be our human role in this context. We need to ensure that human technologies are coherent with the ever-renewing natural technologies of the planet itself.

Intimacy with the planet in its wonder and beauty and the full depth of its meaning is what enables an integral human relationship with the planet to function. Aside from extinction, it is the only possibility for humans to attain their true flourishing; and we must while honouring the other modes of earthly being.

That we can now understand and work towards this fulfilment is the challenging future that opens up before us in these coming years of the 21st century.