Publication date:
12 November 2024Publisher
Anthem PressDimensions:
229x153mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781839991271
In self, society, religion and politics we are used to the language and discourse of Kingdom of God. But in this God is presented as an omnipotent king who is also angry at slight deviation. We get glimpses of such powerful and angry God in Old Testament as well as in many other religious traditions of the world. In such a discourse and portrayal of God, we fail to realize that God is mercy, rahim, karuna and compassion. God is our ever-awakened nurturer and He and She is continuously walking and meditating with us with mercy as well as firm challenges for self-development, mutual realizations and responsible cosmic engagement and participation. The vision and discourse of Kingdom of God has many a time been confined within a logic of power where we are prone to valorize God’s power in order to valorize our own power on Earth, especially the logic of sovereignty at the level of self and society, rather than realize God’s mercy. This book strives to transform this to Gardens of God.
Cultivating Gardens of God is a remarkable book. Its themes are urgent: the healing of our earthly home is a matter of justice, love, and community – and this care must be enacted in an inter-religiously aware manner that shows how we are all one family. This earthly garden of God must be cleaned and restored, the ground refreshed, seeds planted and well-watered – and then we must humbly watch and wait for God and nature to create new life and nourishment. If we respect and care for the world around us, the miracle of life occurs again and again, a divine gift that we must receive in gratitude and share with all in need. Ananta Kumar Giri is to be commended for conjuring this imaginative spiritual theme, and for gathering so diverse a community of scholars and practitioners to reflect with him on what is happening and what must be done if the earth is to flourish as God intended from the beginning. — Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Parkman Professor of Divinity, Harvard University, Boston, USA