Educational Media Reviews Online

This loving celebration of the life and work of Passionist priest, historian of religion and eco-theologian Thomas Berry celebrates in particular his efforts to re-sacralize the universe, finding in its intricate movements and processes the sacred story of ourselves. Viewing sacred story as humanity’s basic orientation to the universe, Berry’s pioneering ideas tie a notion of grace (in his words, the moment when something happens that cannot be explained) to the miracle of creation (a universe that recreates itself over and over again through the aegis of divine impetus). Standing on the theological thinking of Aquinas, Teilhard de Chardin and Confucius as well as countless cosmological narratives from Asian and native cultures, Berry argues that humanity has learned to be alienated from nature. Thus, humanity’s commodification of the natural world means we have power without a sense of sacrality and ultimately, fall prey to a mechanistic, hollow sense of who we are and what the universe is about. Quoted several times in the video, his bedrock awareness is that we are a “communion of subjects, not a collection of objects,” wherein all life is established as a story and it is the task before us to unravel and understand what that story is trying to communicate to us.

At times referred to as an eco-theologian, in other places a “geologian,” this video strives to honor Berry’s cornerstone ideas in the field of religion and ecology. Lacking any sort of critical interrogation or negative reproach, Berry’s ideas are presented with great reverence and esteem. This is a festschrift, in some regard, to Berry’s life work and in that respect, does not so much engage his thinking as revere it.

Amidst a backdrop of breathtaking vistas and fantastic images of stars and planets as well as music and images from the Paul Winter Consort, briefly-identified leaders from the Teilhard Association, St. John the Divine and Genesis Farm (N.J.) speak with deep admiration for the motivational spark each received from the work and impact of Fr. Berry. In addition, several of his works are referenced, although not clearly identified for non-scholars of Berry’s opus.

For students of eco-theology as well as spirituality, this will be a welcome synopsis of Berry’s thinking. Scholars coming from scientific fields looking for a way to wed spirituality to hard science might be frustrated by the lack of scientific inquiry into Berry’s thinking; however, it certainly provides a good beginning point for further and deeper conversation. Recommended where interest warrants.