Much of David Orr’s book I found relevant and engaging. In the climate change debate I found his analogy with ‘Pascal’s Wager’ (79) to be compelling. As he puts it–if we act on the belief that climate change is real we have everything to gain; but if we don’t act, believing that it’s not real–we have everything to lose. Who wants to make that wager?
The essays revolve around the basic theme of stewardship broadly conceived. As in his essay on Virtue (60) he calls the current failure to steward the environment to be a failure of virtue–a moral failure. I found very compelling his idea that the economy, in our vice-filled society, is “dependent on sin” (62).
Basic to Orr’s thought is the concept that true intelligence, true virtue, true human mastery is shown in sustainability and the wisdom to act not just in short-sighted self interest but in the interest of the whole–of our whole human/nature ecosystem. As he states in his essay on Education, “True intelligence is long range and aims toward wholeness” (11).
I agree with Orr’s basic thesis which seems to be that morality must be ecological. I wonder how our society can begin to reverse some of the systemic “sins” which we daily participate in.
How can we repent of these sins and produce the “fruits that are in keeping with this repentance?”
So much of our society seems to be unsustainable and out of harmony with the natural cycles of the earth. The Church may be in need of a radical change in vision and practice. How can this be enacted from within the Christian narrative? Do we need to rethink our theology–re-teach our communities?
