Grounded: Finding God in the World--A Spiritual Revolution

For several decades, church attendance has been on the decline in the West, prompting many cultural commentators to speak of a parallel decline in Christian faith. But increasingly, people of all religious persuasions are living out their values through engagement with one another and the world. In her eighth book, Grounded, religious scholar Diana Butler Bass (Christianity After Religion) explores this shifting spirituality, arguing that a spiritual revolution--not a slump--is underway.

Bass examines the "new" spirituality through two lenses: connection with the natural world (earth, water, sky) and connection among human beings (home, neighborhoods, common spaces). She cites examples of socially conscious faith communities and the ways they are working to embrace and care for the world: community gardens, environmental activism, a commitment to local businesses. Bass shares her own stories of shopping at her local farmer's market (buying lamb from a Mennonite farmer and herbs to season it from a Muslim vendor) and participating in cleanup days at the Potomac River, near her house. The chapters on human connection explore the difficulty and importance of knowing one's neighbors in a world fractured by terrorism and fear of the unknown. Throughout, Bass blends anecdotes from her own experience with incisive social commentary and interviews with people committed to making a difference in their communities.

"This world, not heaven, is the sacred stage of our times," Bass asserts. Grounded is sure to encourage conversation among people of faith looking for practical ways to engage in the world's unfolding story. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

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