by Vincent Di Stefano of Melbourne, Australia

Link to article on original blog posted April 19, 2012

thehealingprojectweblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/thomas-berry-healing-savaged-earth.html

Despite the fact that we have clearly entered uncharted territory in relation to the effects of industrial civilisation on the fate of the earth and her creatures, big government of all persuasions seems intent on relentlessly pursuing economic growth, environmental plunder and social and political control at every level.

In view of our gathering predicament reflected in such intangibles as steadily rising carbon dioxide levels, deepening ocean acidification and accelerating methane exhalations from formerly locked under-sea and tundra deposits – to say nothing of the numerous social, political and environmental pathologies that continue to assail humanity – it may be instructive to revisit the thoughtful offerings of Thomas Berry, a wise elder who sought to awaken us all to the changes that have already occurred and those that will inevitably follow.

“Healing a Savaged Earth” is a tribute to the prophetic insight, vision and integrity of cultural historian Thomas Berry. Though others viewed him as a depth theologian and cultural guardian, he chose in his later years to call himself a “geologian” as an acknowledgement of his earth-centred philosophy which drew strongly from the insights of Taoism, Confucianism  and the mysticism of Teilhard de Chardin and Henri Bergson.

This post offers an audio presentation drawn primarily from “The Ecozoic Era”, a lecture given by Thomas Berry in 1991.

thehealingprojectweblog.blogspot.com.au/2012_04_01_archive.html

Thomas Berry. Healing a Savaged Earth can be streamed using the media player above. A CD quality mp3 file is also available for download here.

In bringing this program to formation, I am grateful for the inspiration offered by chazk of Virtual Renderings in his remarkable 2008 tribute to Thomas Berry, Notes on Thomas Berry’s Great Work, and for his more recent exploration of the transitional time within which we presently find ourselves, Notes From the Great Turning.

www.youtube.com/watch

Published on April 29, 2012 by thegreatstory (Connie and Michael)

One of the last videos made of Thomas Berry (1914 – 2009) speaking to an audience (Asheville, North Carolina). This performance captures the artistic, playful side of a beloved and influential leader in “Earth literacy” and a deeply meaningful celebration of an evolutionary understanding of this ancient cosmos and of the human journey within it. Filmed by Lou Niznik (1932 – 2011).

Here are the time stops below to instantly access that portion of the video:

00:45 – “Awaken to a Youth”

02:24 – “We are all children of the forest”

06:00 – “The Quiet Hills of Carolina”

10:05 – “Valentine Season” (“The Great Red Oak”)

14:40 – “Earth’s Desire”

18:05 – Late Summer in Carolina

20:52 – (story of his family and especially of his mother)

24:23 – “The Old House” (“There were lilies in the field”)

33:03 – “A Solstice Poem” (winter celebration at Cathedral St. John the Divine)

43:53 – “An Appalachian Wedding”

Listen to short excerpts of Thomas Berry reciting from his book “The Great Work”
https://thegreatstory.org/tb-audio.html

Other websites on Thomas Berry:
https://www.earth-community.org/
https://www.thomasberry.org/

“We have a new story of the universe. Our own presence to the universe depends on our human identity with the entire cosmic process. In its human expression, the universe and the entire range of earthly and heavenly phenomena celebrate themselves and the ultimate mystery of their existence in a special exaltation. Science has given us a new revelatory experience. It is now giving us a new intimacy with the Earth.” — Thomas Berry, “The Dream of the Earth” 1988.

Video, 9:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aceiu6CscNY

In 1986 comedian Charlie Varon performed live a 14-minute skit that is an absolute stitch: "I'm proud to be related to a tree shrew!" he shouts. The audience chimes in with "Praise Darwin!" This vid is richly illustrated with photos taken all around North America by videographer ghostsofevolution, also with playful paleo paintings by Ray Troll (of "Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway" fame), plus downloadables from the web. Oh, don't be ashamed to praise him!

From Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd via Betty Kissilove. Thanks Betty.