Seasons and Self: Discourses on Being 'At Home' in Nature

Seasons and Self is a courageous exploration into religious naturalism - sometimes called the 'forgotten alternative' - as well as contemporary critical biblical studies by one of Australia's leading progressives, Rex A. E. Hunt. A self-professed religious naturalist, progressive liturgist, and social ecologist., he belongs squarely within a post-liberal/ 'progressive' orientation. Rex A E Hunt acknowledges the principle attributed to the Brazilian theologian Rubem Alves: "I am not after conclusions... Conclusions are meant to shut... Every conclusion brings the thought process to a halt". The present collection is an invitation to readers to become curious and excited about what they read, and to explore further - beyond the tyranny of clear and distinct ideas! The author is concerned about 'likelihoods' and being 'open-ended' rather than closing any discussion with persuasion by argument. The intent is to strike a chord rather than 'shoehorning' something - ideas, answers, doctrine, correct belief - into people, often challenging the parochial and limited claims of traditional religions, or so-called pious biblical argument based on a proof-text zeal. While both science and progressive religion are to the fore in the topics and chapters of the collection of sermons, addresses and keynote presentations, there is also a strong hint of the poetic - all evoking a sense of awe and wonder at nature and the natural, rather than the supernatural. A radical theo-eco-logy! Themes addressed include evolution, earth, cosmos, food and wisdom, as well as Autumn, children, celebration and humour. All grounded in the Ordinary... in the hope that, collectively, they will stir one's own imagination. "Nature and naturalism are for us today the main game for any progressive spirituality," writes the author. "We are fully linked with our surroundings in time, space, matter/energy, and causality, and where the metaphor of 'web' is used to describe this interrelatedness - we create the web and the web creates us..."

About the Author :
Rex A E Hunt MSc(Hons), GradDip(Communication Management) Rex Hunt is a religious naturalist, progressive liturgist, and social ecologist. A retired minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, his last placement was at the progressive Church of St James, Canberra, ACT, having previously served in parish settings in Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, spanning more than forty years. In the middle of all this he was appointed Director of Communications with the National Assembly of the Uniting Church, serving in that position for nine years. He was Founder and National co-ordinator of The Network of Biblical Storytellers Australia/New Zealand (1990-96), and Founding Director of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra (2002-09). As part of his commitment to the progressive religion movements in Australia and New Zealand he was Chair of the Planning Team of Common Dreams Conference of Religious Progressives, Australia/South Pacific for eight years (2006-2013). He now serves as a member of the Committee of Common Dreams Inc. He is also a member of the Religious Naturalist Association and an Associate of the Westar Institute, where he served on its Literacy & Liturgy Seminar. He and spouse Dylis live on the Central Coast of New South Wales (Australia). They have two married adult children: Brendan and Rowena, three grandchildren: Elsie, Romeo, and Lenna, and a grand-dog called 'Alfie'.

Review :
For progressive religious thnkers, Rex Hunt provides ground on which to stand as they explor the often-asked question, 'Where do we go from here?' This book will delight and inspire. - Michael Morwood. Author of It's Time. Challenges to the Doctrine of the Faith. This collection is a timely reminder to the religious that an ecological thelogy is now a necessity, while to those who eschew religion, justifiably in many instances, the book asserts that deep ecological ocnsciousness is essentially spiritual. The result is a valuable, accessible resource for both progressive preachers and activists who know that there is no other vocation more important than the defence of life on Earth. Rev Dr Noel Preston AM. Adjunct Professor in Applied Ethics, Griffith University, and member of the Australian Earth Charter Committee, and author of Ethics With or Without God.