Coming Back to Earth
Discussion Questions

Chapter 7 — handout

1. To what degree do you concur with Lynn White’s assertion of Christian responsibility for our ecological problems?
2. How do you respond to Toynbee’s parallel indictment?
3. Trace Geering’s outline of the historical process by which polytheism gave way to monotheism. [Note that this conceptual evolution is one of the central themes of Chapter 14 and is reflected in both the title and subtitle of this book,] 
4. How, in his view, did the rise of monotheism have harmful effects on both our planet and our spiritual growth?
5. Summarize his argument that the two doctrines examined in Chapter 1 – Incarnation and Holy Trinity – can be rehabilitated to help save the planet.
6. How did Christian scholars, scientists, and artists bring us “back to earth” from Medieval dualism?
7. What is pantheism? Wherein does Geering find it unsatisfactory?
8. Explain Feuerbach’s “two orders of  reality” concept of God. Do you find it helpful? Why or why not?
9. How does “Green Christianity” place responsibility for the future on us?