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Title: With Roots and Wings: Christianity in an Age of Ecology and Dialogue (Ecology and justice) by Jay B. McDaniel ISBN: 1-57075-001-7 Publisher: Orbis Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.00

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Average Customer Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Creative, soaring, earthy, and practical faith.
Comment: I highly recommend this work; it has the rare quality of being a book both academically challenging and thoughtful while remaining personal, conversational, and applicable. The title comes from a rabbi friend of McDaniel's, who noted that in raising children we should give them roots and wings.

Prof McDaniel has given us a rich book with two distinct yet connected sections. In part I, 'Roots in the Earth,' McDaniel uses the metaphor to critique 'rootless' consumerism and 'wingless' fundamentalism. He writes from a Christian point of view, but consciously includes those who are not Christians in his conversation by acknowledging his perspectives up-front and outlining ways that his non-Christian conversation partners might disagree and add their own voices. Perhaps the best section of part I is the one detailing what he calls 'Red Grace and Green Grace.' Green grace is 'the healing that comes to when we enjoy rich bonds with other people, plants and animals, the Earth.' Red Grace is experienced in living and experiencing solidarity with suffering, accepting complicity with the causes of suffering, and 'entering into the ways of peacemaking.' As a Christian, McDaniel sees the example of this type of grace best exemplified by the crucifixion and self-giving nature of Jesus. One will not find here Anselm's satisfaction theory of the atonement, which makes God into a sadomasichist and tyrant. Rather, McDaniel reclaims a christology remarkably similar to Abelard's, but more grounded in contemporary faith. For McDaniel, this grace is red because 'red is a metaphor for the blood, and red grace is a name for the healing that can come when we come to grips with the violence, cognizent not only that we have been the victims but also the victimizers, and that healing is possible even for us. Red grace is a way of coming to grips with our own finitude as earthlings among earthlings.'

Part II, 'Adventures in Dialogue,' contains chapters devoted to conversations between Christianity as a faith committment and Judaism, Buddhism (particularly Zen; McDaniel is a practitioner), Hinduism, Goddess traditions, and Native American faiths (he is strongly critical of the 'spiritual materialism' of selling Indian religions as poular commodities and New Age paths of enlightenment). He is sensitive to these traditions, letting members of the faiths speak for themselves, and then giving a Christian response. McDaniel identifies himself as a 'liberal Christian,' but he often nuances his interpretations of various aspects of faith by giving an evangelical reading as well (living and teaching in Conway, AR, he has ample opportunity to encounter evangelical conservatives on their own terms). His work never fails to stimulate.

I see this book as having four main audiences: (1) Self-identified Christians of any persuasion who are interested in the ideas McDaniel writes about, (2) People who have left the faith because they never knew or weren't told that there was more than legitimate one way to interpret the symbols of the Christian faith, especially the feminine, earth-centered symbols. McDaniel does not import them to prop up a flagging patriarchial system, he shows how they are inherent in the Christian religion, (3) People of other religions who would like to see how a thoughtful, academically trained yet layperson-oriented believer works out his relation to their faith(s), and (4) Professors and teachers who want an introductory book that approaches issues of Christianity and ecology or Christianity and world-religions not from a comparative stance, but a constructive stance. McDaniel does not compare--he builds, he thinks out loud. This is one of the finest aspects of the book.

McDaniel's volume is part of the Orbis Press Ecology and Justice Series, which also includes authors such as John Cobb, Reubin Habito, and Leonardo Boff. I say that to allay any fears that the title might put off readers interested in a 'serious book.' It is a shame that I feel the need to do that, but I know that this is a book that the academy would do well to read, and it tends to like titles much more pithy. I like the title myself. The book is an example of the kind of writing that I would love to see more of, intellectually sound and well-thought out, but practical. I cannot recommend the book more highly.

Rating: 5
Summary: life-changing look at the real possibilities of faith
Comment: Read this book! If you are Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, agnostic, or athiest, these pages hold valuable insights and truths into the need for and possibilities of an eco-sensitive, spiritual life. If you are one of the many disenchanted Christians or former Christians ("but I still consider myself spiritual") out there, prepare yourself to see Christianity in a new and brighter light. I have bought copies for every member of my disbelieving, scientific family.

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