Product Information

Author / Bruce Nicholls

Edited by / Bruce Nicholls and Julie Belding

ISBN / 9789719480358

Publisher / Asia Theological Association (ATA), Manila

Publication Date / 2010

Series / ATA Monograph Series No. 2

Format / Paperback (Softcover)

Language / English

Number of Pages / 40

Dimensions / 21 x 15 x 0.3 cm

Weight / 80 g

Author Description

Dr Bruce Nicholls, a cross-cultural theologian and educator with 35 years experience in India, is an active member of the Forest and Bird Society and A Rocha International. His hobby, as a lover of nature, is tramping in the foothills of the Himalayas and in the mountains of New Zealand. He is also the editor of the Asia Bible Commentary series.

Asia Theological Association (ATA) is composed of theological educational institutions, committed to evangelical faith and scholarship, which are networking together, to serve the Church in equipping the people of God for the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. ATA was established in 1970 as a direct outcome of the need expressed at several Asia wide conferences and consultations. Since then, it has grown into a movement committed to serving its members in the development of evangelical biblical theology by strengthening interaction, enhancing scholarship, promoting academic excellence, fostering spiritual and ministerial formation, and mobilizing resources to fulfill God's global mission within diverse Asian cultures.

Product Description

Is There Hope For Planet Earth?

"Many people say climate change is the biggest threat our world faces today," says Dave Bookless.

Author Bruce Nicholls agrees and disagrees.

The increase in floods, cyclones, droughts and tsunamis, the ozone hole over the Antarctic, melting ice, warming oceans and the increase of carbon dioxide in the air cannot be denied. But the greater danger, according to Nicholls, are the human factors—an exploding global population, greed, selfishness, corruption and collapsing moral values. These result in the unethical destruction of primal rain forests, uncontrolled mining, and the pollution of air, land and sea, threatening the future of planet Earth. The poor are the first to suffer.

He discusses the elusive search for an environmental ethic, for scientific technology, eastern religions and New Age spirituality seem to have had little influence. Many churches are indifferent to the ecological crisis, while those who are involved are fragmented. The author appeals to the God-given universal human conscience for moral support, but this too is corruptible. Ultimately his hope is in God’s direct intervention now and on the last Day. He argues that the Bible alone provides a work ethic to sustain creation, and emphasises the Sabbath rest for renewal and reflection on the wonder of God’s world. God will hold his people accountable for their stewardship of this beautiful planet entrusted to their care.

Contents

Planet Earth is under pressure

The human factor in climate change

The population factor in climate change

The fresh water factor in climate change

The rape of the forests in climate change

The scandal of sustainable biofuels in climate change

The pollution of Planet Earth

Pollution of the sea

Who is responsible for climate change?

The search for an environmental ethic

The expectation of science and technology

The search for a bio-centric ethic

New Age Spirituality

The Christian ethic for saving planet earth

The ethics of a good and bad conscience

The foundation for a sustainable ethic

God the creator of all things

Christ the Redeemer of Creation

Impact of the Fall

Called to be bearers of hope

An invitation to wonder

Signs of hope for the earth

Keeping the Sabbath rest

Our response to climate change

Conclusion