Santmire's much-acclaimed The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology documented the unfortunate legacy of many Christian theological notions in the use, abuse, and destruction of the natural world, along with its positive aspects. This new brief, but penetrating, look at Christian theological concepts of nature returns to the fray, this time to reclaim classic, mostly pre- modern Christian themes and re-envision them in light of the global environmental and cultural crisis. 
This revisionist work--to revise the classical Christian story in order to identify and to celebrate its ecological and cosmic promise--mines Christian cosmology (the Great Chain of Being), Christology, Creation, and Eucharist, so that the Christian story can be then rediscovered (history), reshaped (theology), re-experienced (spirituality), and re-enacted (ritual).

Nature Reborn: The Ecological and Cosmic Promise of Christian Theology (Theology and the Sciences)

History

Santmire, H. Paul

World

Fortress Press

Is the Christian faith ecologically bankrupt? Theologian H. Paul Santmire has responded forcefully to that frequently voiced question by maintaining that, notwithstanding ambiguities, a single Christian tradition of long standing has something profoundly promising to say about nature and human life in nature.

Ritualizing Nature: Renewing Christian Liturgy in a Time of Crisis (Theology and the Sciences)

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

As the global climate crisis worsens, many churches have sought to respond by instituting a movement to observe a liturgical season of creation. Scholars who have pioneered the connections between biblical scholarship, ecological theology, liturgy, and homiletics provide here a comprehensive resource for preaching and leading worship in this new season. Included are theological and practical introductions to observance of the season, biblical texts for its twelve Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, and astute commentary to help preachers and worship leaders guide their congregations into deeper connection with our imperiled planet.

The Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentary

Rhoads, David

Open Questions in Worship explores current issues and emerging practices in the church's worship from a variety of open perspectives. This series invites all who care for the church's life and mission to renew their understanding of the church's worship. Each volume features three essays on the question, along with bibliography for further inquiry.

What Are the Ethical Implications of Worship? (Open Questions in Worship)

Torvend, Samuel

Larson, Stephen

Augsburg Fortress Pub

Before Nature caps a set of themes first brought to the fore in Santmire's previous work, most notably the classic The Travail of Nature. Here Santmire continues the pursuit of a theology bound up with nature and its condition, especially the fragility and fervent expectation of nature's redemption. Out of this concern, Santmire invites readers on a theological and spiritual journey to a prayerful and contemplative knowledge of the Triune God, in which practitioners are inducted into a bountiful relationship with the cosmic and universal ministry of Christ and the Spirit uniting all of nature in a single vision of hope and anticipation. Scholarly, practical, and accessible.

Before Nature: A Christian Spirituality

Behold the Lilies draws from the riches of the author's long-standing work in the theology of nature and ecological spirituality, especially from his classic historical study, The Travail of Nature (1985), and from his Franciscan exploration in Christian spirituality, Before Nature (2014). In this new volume, Santmire maintains that those who would follow Jesus are mandated not just to care for the earth and all its creatures but also to contemplate the beauties of the whole creation, beginning with ""the lilies of the field."" His first-person reflections range from ""Scything with God"" to ""Rediscovering Saint Francis in Stone,"" from ""Taking a Plunge in the Niagara River"" to ""Pondering the Darkness of Nature."" Behold the Lilies offers brief spiritual reflections that can be read in any order, over a period of time. This accessible primer will be welcomed not only by those who have already identified themselves with the way of Jesus but also by others who are searching for a contemplative spirituality attuned to global ecological and justice issues. ""What a lovely small book, and what a powerful antidote to Twitter, Facebook, and all the rest. To be immersed in the world around us is one of the greatest of gifts!"" --Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth ""H. Paul Santmire's Behold the Lilies is shocking theology. In a day when theology is responding to crises on every side, up and down, he commands us (as Jesus did) to look at creation and see its beauty, God's beauty, in nature. The power of beauty to move us is greater than the power of worry, fear, and rage at injustice to draw us into a more graceful relation to God, nature, and each other. Santmire's beautiful meditations are among the beauties through which we are brought into a better state as good creatures."" --Robert Cummings Neville, Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology, Boston University; author of Seasons of the Christian Life ""By contemplating the lilies as Jesus would ask us to, our creator God shines through the beauty of nature. Veteran theologian of nature H. Paul Santmire evokes in his reader wonder, awe, and grace."" --Ted Peters, coeditor, Theology and Science and Nurture in Time and Eternity ""One of the pioneers of Christian eco-theology, H. Paul Santmire has blessed us with a delightful new book. As the subtitle indicates, it is full of wise reflections on following Jesus and contemplating the natural world. How do we take seriously the summons to behold the world around us? Paul shows us how. Insightful, honest, hope-filled, and engagingly written. I highly recommend it."" --Steven Bouma-Prediger, author of For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care H. Paul Santmire has been a pioneer in the field of ecological theology and spirituality. His works include Brother Earth (1970), The Travail of Nature (1985), Nature Reborn (2000), Ritualizing Nature (2008), and Before Nature (2014

Behold the Lilies

Wipf and Stock

Behold the Lilies draws from the riches of the author's long-standing work in the theology of nature and ecological spirituality, especially from his classic historical study, The Travail of Nature (1985), and from his Franciscan exploration in Christian spirituality, Before Nature (2014). In this new volume, Santmire maintains that those who would follow Jesus are mandated not just to care for the earth and all its creatures but also to contemplate the beauties of the whole creation, beginning with "the lilies of the field." His first-person reflections range from "Scything with God" to "Rediscovering Saint Francis in Stone," from "Taking a Plunge in the Niagara River" to "Pondering the Darkness of Nature." Behold the Lilies offers brief spiritual reflections that can be read in any order, over a period of time. This accessible primer will be welcomed not only by those who have already identified themselves with the way of Jesus but also by others who are searching for a contemplative spirituality attuned to global ecological and justice issues.

Behold the Lilies: Jesus and the Contemplation of Nature - A Primer

Cascade Books

Sometimes it is helpful to take one step backward, in order to take two steps forward. In this insightful volume, H. Paul Santmire draws on his long-standing and widely recognized engagement with ecological theology to propose that the traditions of the Protestant Reformation, rightly read, offer rich resources today for those who are struggling to move forward to respond theologically to the crisis of a planet in peril and thereby to celebrate nature by faith.

Celebrating Nature by Faith: Studies in Reformation Theology in an Era of Global Emergency

Celebrating Nature by Faith

Ecoactivist Testament is written for those who are now at the front lines of discipleship in this era of planetary emergency, especially for those who sometimes feel spiritually isolated or exhausted. In this forthright and plainspoken book, longtime Christian ecojustice activist and well-known ecological theologian H. Paul Santmire, inspired by the witness of Saint Francis of Assisi, tells a powerful personal story as he explores the riches of a biblically informed theological vision of God’s love for the whole creation. This engaging first-person narrative will appeal both to faith-based ecoactivists of long standing and to those who are pondering this calling for the first time.

EcoActivist Testament: Explorations of Faith and Nature for Fellow Travelers

Biographies & Memoirs

Professionals & Academics

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Books by Santmire, H. Paul