Call no.: 304.2 P573

Reviewed by Susan Walma

 Bill Phipps, past moderator of the United Church of Canada, was one of the keynote speakers at the Epiphany Explorations of 2009. In this book, he explores the ecological, environmental, economic and social issues and the religious, or rather, the spiritual faith contexts that face modern society and addresses the sacred balance of nature that we have done so much to ignore in our past.

These issues, he feels, are rooted in stories, what he calls the old story that gave rise to excesses of consumerism, disparity between rich and poor and the war machine that upheld it. In contrast, new understandings and the groundwork for new attitudes and solutions are necessary and need to be expressed in the new story, a story that, based on a new understanding of our spirituality, our faith, will give rise to an equitable, fair and holistic approach to these issues and uphold the sacred balance once again.

 Using examples of his own life and that of others, the discussion includes, and I quote chapter headings here because they are more descriptive that anything I could come up with: Change the story, Change the future; Crossroads; the Importance of Story; The Old Story; The New Story; The New Story as Integrating Narrative; Spirituality, Theology, Faith and Disestablishment; Water; The Arts; Humility. Included also are appendices that are expositions of some of the things discussed.

 Read this book. It is timely and a necessary wake up call and a prescription for new beginnings towards a new future for our children, and their children…