“Rooted and Rising” Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis

Two questions from the Foreword of the book set the theme. Is climate change not a moral challenge? If it is, where are the widespread responses from religious communities to speak for the earth? Most of the essay writers are of some religious background or other. It is not a book dominated by scientists or politicians.

The book is divided into seven sections: 1) Rooting in interfaith friendship; 2) Rising in local activism; 3) Rooting science and policy in faith and spirituality; 4) Rising from the margins; 5) Rooting in liturgy, moral vision, and vocation; 6) Uprooted, planted, and rising; 7) Grief, love and trees.

One can’t but note the theme of trees throughout the book that signals the health of trees as a reflection of the health of the earth, all flora and fauna, including human beings. Author, Christina Leano caught my attention by mentioning she had gone a retreat of “forest bathing.”

That meant communing with trees to get a sense of how to approach the climate emergency we are facing. Living in the Chippewa National Forest of northern Minnesota, I can relate to her experience, as I often walk among the trees to contemplate, and my home is surrounded by trees that I treasure highly.

The book is ideal for small group study. At the end of each section there are questions for discussion and a suggested spiritual practice exercise. There is also a helpful bibliography for further reading and scripture index that various authors refer to. The editors want readers to understand that we won’t respond to climate change until – “we see climate disruption as a moral issue and a spiritual challenge.” For people of faith, climate justice is heart and soul of our faith in God who has created all things out of love for all of creation.