James Conlon is Director of the Sophia Center, a wisdom school celebrating earth, art and spirit at Holy Names University, Oakland, California. In an imaginative attempt to present a spiritual blueprint for the future, he has fashioned this muscular and multidimensional manifesto. It draws on his experiences in community organization and development, depth psychology, journalism, popular education and graduate programs in theology and culture in Canada and the United States for many years. Underpinning his Christianity is a deep appreciation for the work of a handful of pioneers including the "geologian" Thomas Berry, the cosmological visionary Teilhard de Chardin, the popular educator Paulo Freire, the social activist Saul Alinsky, the internationally known Bishop of the Poor Dom Helder Camara, Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast whom he calls "the Thomas Merton of our time," and others.
Using the language and framework of geo-justice (a preferential option for the Earth), Conlon weaves a web that integrates self and society, poetry and prayer, contemplation and action, social justice and ecological transformation of the planet. Whether writing about the new cosmology, the monks of Skid Row, a planetary Pentecost, the Beatitudes for the New Creation, the Divine Presence in our unfolding story, or healing our darkest moment; Conlon refuses to capitulate to easy panaceas or defeatism. He admonishes us to listen to threshold people who have led the way: "This new dream, this mysterious excursion is evoked by the awesome beauty of the universe, a pre-existing commitment to a gospel of service and the noble narrative inscribed in each of their lives."
The title of the book conveys the sweep of the material inside: the stars inspire us to contemplate a grand cosmic story whereas the streets compel us to bring justice and compassion to repair the broken world.
