Reason to Hope

David Osborne is a Member of the Iona Community living in Somerset, England. He is the author of Love for the Future and The Owl and the Stereo, and has contributed to many Wild Goose anthologies.

• ContentsIntroduction     7Part 1: Opening the question1.Optimism, hope and reason     12Part 2: Analysis2.One, weird and wonderful: The world we are part of     223. Trying to make sense of people: Ten perspectives     314.How we know: Information, knowledge and wisdom     425. A sense of something more: The phenomenon of religious experience     516.Forms of ancient wisdom: Myths, poems, and parables     59 Part 3: Ancient wisdom7.Creation: Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah     688.God and humanity: Genesis, Psalms, Amos, Micah     759.God’s freedom: Exodus, Proverbs, Amos, Micah     8410.Jesus and the reign of God: Matthew, Mark, Luke     9211.What happened to Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts     100Part 4: Theology12.Talking about God: Problems and possibilities     11013.Creation now: Cosmic art     11714.A dynamic Trinity: Creative, expressive, active     12415.God and us: Love and suffering     13116.New creation: Life out of death     138Part 5: Living17.Wisdom and hope     15018.Living hope     158Sunrise: A poem     166Suggestions for further reading     167Thanks     176Sources and acknowledgements     177Notes     178

A wonderful book! Many of us are struggling to maintain hope in these times, as our problems loom larger and our solutions seem shrunken. In Reason to Hope, David Osborne inspires readers to explore a hope that is deeper than mere optimism, so we can live positively – even in the presence of so much negativity. The book is beautifully written, and great for group study. Brian D. McLarenAuthor of Life After Doom and Faith After Doubt Facing an ecological crisis that he recognises as ‘an enormous and multi-faceted problem’, Osborne sets out to find if there is a reasonable basis for hope.  From atoms to galaxies, from Genesis to Revelation, Osborne then takes us on an impressively researched and referenced romp through science and Christian theology in his search for the evidence. His search is articulate, scholarly in detail, while accessible to anyone on a similar journey. Katharine M. PrestonAnthropologist, ecologist and theologian, New York State. Author of Field with a View.  How do we live our Hope in troubling times? What is the catalyst that transforms shared beliefs, values and norms into living Faith? Based on deep personal encounters with literature and life, David Osborne guides us on an empowering, enlightening, incarnational pilgrimage through the sacred landscapes of the natural sciences, social sciences, praise scripture and wisdom traditions to root our hope in a deeper understanding of the meaning, energy and being of God’s incarnate love for the Whole of Creation. Whether used as a study guide or as a daily meditation, Reason to Hope will be your anam cara (soul friend) as you find abundant joy in the Mystery of Living Hope.Richard A. NisbettAnthropologist, ecologist, and environmental activist, Alabama  Weighty topics … but written in a very accessible and winsome way, imbued with David’s own deep and reflective faith. Brett Nicholls Accountant working with charities, Glasgow