{"id":677,"date":"2020-09-22T10:39:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T17:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/?page_id=677"},"modified":"2021-01-25T07:19:08","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T15:19:08","slug":"the-insurgency-of-the-spirit-jesuss-liberation-animist-spirituality-empire-and-creating-christian-empire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/the-insurgency-of-the-spirit-jesuss-liberation-animist-spirituality-empire-and-creating-christian-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"The Insurgency of the Spirit: Jesus’s Liberation Animist Spirituality, Empire, and Creating Christian Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Insurgency of the Spirit taps mutli-disciplinary methodologies of post-colonial biblical scholarship and anthropology, liberation theologies, indigenous studies, grief\/trauma research, and nature-meditation writings to shape a constructive retrieval of the animist Jesus. The vision that emerges is one that sets forward an Earth-loving Jesus who challenges Christians in particular to mobilize against the destructive relationship that exists between imperial religion and political systems in a time of climate catastrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entire “Introduction: Toward an Animist Spirituality Ecology” is found on Amazon’s kindle: https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Insurgency-Spirit-Liberation-Spirituality-Protectors-ebook\/dp\/B08J9QLVL1\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Insurgency+of+the+Spirit&qid=1611586832&sr=8-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Reviews: The Insurgency of the Spirit: Jesus\u2019s\nLiberation Animist Spirituality, Empire, and Creating Christian Protectors  https:\/\/rowman.com\/ISBN\/9781793623188\/The-Insurgency-of-the-Spirit-Jesus’s-Liberation-Animist-Spirituality-Empire-and-Creating-Christian-Protectors<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Insurgency of the Spirit <\/em>is an incredibly insightful animist and\nshamanistic reading of the biblical Jesus tradition against the backdrop of the\nanti-ecological and anti-queer theologies and politics of the late capitalist\nWest. This dialogue between past and present\u2014between the sacred wildlands of\nthe Bible and the toxic landscapes of neoliberal America\u2014opened to me the power\nof the biblical imaginary to tear down today\u2019s regnant settler colonialist\norder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an\nAge of Eco-Apocalypse\u2014the \u201cdark night of the Earth,\u201d to quote the author\u2019s use\nof Steven Chase\u2019s paraphrase of St. John of the Cross\u2014the author\u2019s achievement\nis based on two recurring commitments: strong methodological underpinnings,\nincluding post-colonial biblical scholarship, critical gender theory,\nliberation theology, and new indigenous studies; and careful attention to the\nwide range of contemporary movements and issues that shape the author\u2019s\nliberatory retrieval of the animist Jesus\u2014e.g., from rights of nature\njurisprudence to restoration of tribal lands and from contemporary trauma\ntheory to earth-based meditation and healing practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nbook is an exciting Christian animist theology of resistance and insurrection\nagainst the forces of fossil fuels extraction and governmental control that\ndefine our historical epoch, the Anthropocene. Now aligned with violence and\nempire, the author argues that regnant Christianity has effaced its ecological,\npastoral origins in favor of an alliance with corrupting political institutions\nthat stretches over two millennia. He uncovers the origins of the Jesus movement\nin nomadic gift economies, solidary with the poor, animist love of biotic\ncommunities, and resistance to imperial power. Today this green Jesus movement\nlives on, inside and outside of the churches, in non-violent opposition to what\nWalter Wink calls the domination system. Beautifully written and persuasively\nargued, the book will elucidate for readers Christianity\u2019s true beginnings, its\nhistoric wrong turns, and provide a road map for a sustainable future that has\nthe potential to be personally and politically transformative.    \u2014 Mark I. Wallace, Swarthmore\nCollege<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nobody\nknows what ways might emerge for the religions of the world as they gradually\nrecognize themselves in other traditions and eventually see themselves in the\nworld. But this much seems certain. Compassion for the other-than-human will\nwellspring from all spiritualities as we go forward\u2026or we will not go forward.\nAs Christianity bends back towards its inherent compassionate cosmology, The\nInsurgency of Spirit <\/em>points toward contemplative pathways for\nreanimating evangelization. This is a welcome vade mecum<\/em> (\u201cwalk\nwith me\u201d)for those on the way. \u2014 John Grim, Yale School of Forestry and\nEnvironmental Studies, and Yale Divinity School<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In The\nInsurgency of the Spirit: Jesus’s Liberation Animist Spirituality, Empire, and\nCreating Christian Protectors, <\/em>Shore–<\/em>Goss writes with passion\nand intellectual depth in addition to which the range of engagement in this\nbook is astounding. In this electrifying text he draws the reader into a\nreanimated world and asks them to remain there. Shore-Goss is clear from the\nstart, he says, \u2018wilderness forms a geographical, cultural, spiritual, and\neco-theological symbolics for this book\u2019 and this opens the way for the untamed\neco-theology that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While\nthis book dwells in the wild\/ernes and the animist it is also firmly grounded\nin the person of Jesus and this gives it the unique quality that calls out to\npeople to read it. The central character in Christianity is re-read through\nwild eyes and found to be larger and more compassionately inclusive than\ntraditionally thought. This \u2018green Jesus\u2019 for Shore-Goss is no simple tree\nhugger or prophet who begs people to take care of their environment but rather\none who gathers the forces of nature in a revolution against all that would\nmake life and all the living denuded through the rupture of interrelatedness\nacross species and all the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shore-Goss\ncalls for an animist revolution as the place where the healing of the planet\nand all its inhabitants lies. This call is embedded in scripture and the life\nof Jesus of Nazareth, the one who lived in a certain landscape both political\nand natural and used that landscape to declare a revolution through words and\nthe use of everyday food- bread and wine, which in this story become symbols of\nan open table as well as radical economics and politics. Shore-Goss is not the\nfirst to suggest that the use of bread and wine and the symbols of Eucharist\ncall for radical politics and particularly economics but his use is welcome and\neco-based. The land he tells us is generous and of itself gives freely, further\nthe earth itself provides us with solutions to climate change if only we would\nremain intimately connected to it. The earth gives freely of wind, water and\nsun all of which offer solutions to the fuel crisis, there is no need to ripe\nat the belly of Mother Earth to extract fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nbook offers a radical way to read scripture and to view Jesus and from this\nstarting point to begin the decolonizing of the earth and to turn on its head\nthe centuries of dominance over the earth and its inhabitants that a\ntraditional reading of Christianity has led to. After reading this book it is\nnot possible to demand of the earth but rather to wonder what the earth wants\nfrom us. For Shore-Goss and his conversation partners the answer is clear, for\nthe earth to be healed and flourish it must be emancipated from the deadening\ndemands of capitalism. God bless the revolution!!!   \u2014 Lisa Isherwood, Emerita,\nUniversity of Winchester, UK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert E. Shore-Goss has continually been at the\nforefront of expanding the theological imagination of our time. The\nInsurgency of the Spirit<\/em> is no exception. In a time of climate change,\nthat desperately demands a liberative, anti-colonial ethic and a vision to lead\nus out of ecological peril, Shore-Goss delivers. He has a gift for both\ncritically and appreciatively engaging complex intellectual histories and\ndebates so that they can become relevant and prescient for the moment. Read\nthis book and allow him to challenge and broaden your perception of the\ntheological landscape before us. \u2014 Brooks\nBerndt, Minister of Environmental Justice and Convener of the Environmental\nJustice Council of the United Church of Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timely and provocative, this anti-imperial, animist, and comparative theology distills wisdom from Christianity, indigenous traditions, and Buddhism to offer vision and hope in facing climate disaster. No one will look at Jesus in the same old anthropocentric way after reading this book. I highly recommend it for faculty and students, religious leaders, and activists. \u2014 Kwok Pui-lan, Dean\u2019s Professor of Systematic Theology, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and author of Postcolonial Imagination & Feminist Theology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Insurgency of the Spirit:\nJesus\u2019s Liberation Animist Spirituality, Empire, and Creating Protectors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction: Towards Animist Spiritual\nEcology                 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Ecology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wild in Spiritual Ecology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Geography of the Spirit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Animism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1 \nToward a Retrieval of the Earth-loving Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nEarth-loving Jesus against Empire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nImperial Assimilation of Christianity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Fossil Fuel Empires,\nAuthoritarianism, and Climate Catastrophe <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: \nContemporary Shamans and Animist Spiritualities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Nature-Deficit\nand Compassion-Deficit Disorders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Animist\nMindfulness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Contemplation\nof Nature<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Thomas\nBerry and David Abram<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3 Jesus\u2019 Vision Quest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Disciple\nof John the Baptist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            John\nthe Baptist and Wilderness Vision of Quest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Baptism:\nWater, Earth, Sky and Mother Earth <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Wilderness\nContemplative Silence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Contemplative\nModel of Wilderness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Compassionate\nInclusivity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Ritual\nOrdeals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 4 God\u2019s Kin-dom as Ecological<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Kin-dom\nas Empowerment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Was\nJesus an Environmentalist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Kin-dom\nas Great Economy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Kin-dom\nas God\u2019s Dream<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Kin-dom\nas Wild Space<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Kin-dom\nas Animist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 5 God\u2019s Wilderness Seeds Animist\nRevolution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Popular\nPeasant Spirituality<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Abba\nGod is Fiercely Compassionate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Jesus\u2019\nFierce Compassion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Compassion\nas Intentional Practice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Compassion\nas Social Radicalism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            John\nMuir as Christian Animist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 6 Radical Inclusiveness and\nAbundant Giving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Open\nCommensality<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Open\nTable: Radical Inclusive Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Inclusive\nCommensality as the Feast of Creation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Gratitude\nfor Earth\u2019s Gifts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Love\nof the Earth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 7 God\u2019s Dream of Restoration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Shamanic\nHealings and Exorcisms: Parables in Action<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Ecological\nSamaritans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Healing\nEnvironmental Racism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 8 Jesus\u2019 Biomimicry of Creation\nWisdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Jesus as Sage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \u201cConsider\nthe Lilies\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019\nTransformative Path of Wisdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Compassionate,\nNon-Violent God<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Ecological\nBeatitudes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nRevolution of the Meek<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 9 Wild Grace Challenges Imperial\nDystopia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nRoman Empire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            God\u2019s\nReign of Non-violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Jesus\nand Imperial Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Slave\nLeadership<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Voluntary\nPoverty and Itineracy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Peasant\nLoss of Lands<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nLand (Earth) as Gift<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 10 \nStanding Rock, Scarcity and Earth Economy, and the Rights of Nature<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Imperial\nScarcity vs. Wilderness Enoughism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Earth\nEconomy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Earth\nRights<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nRights of Nature<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 11 Dangerous Memories,\nCrucifixion, and Trauma\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nPassion Narrative<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Conflict\nof the Last Week<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A\nTale of Two Birds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Roman\nCrucifixion Trauma<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Do\nThis in Memory of Me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\nCross does not Save but God Saves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Dangerous\nMemories of Resistance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 12 The Empty Table: Eco-Heartbreak\nad Resistance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Mourning\nas the Regeneration of Empowered Companionship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Presence\nin Meaning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Ecological\nHeartbreak <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The\n\u201cDark Night of the Earth\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earth Mourning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extinction Rebellion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering Earth Martyrs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epilogue: Creating Earth Protectors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Love\nof the Earth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Self-Emptying\nCompassion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Biomimicry:\nCreative Earthiness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Earth Protectors and Eco-Samaritans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/Rowman.com\/Lexington\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The Insurgency of the Spirit taps mutli-disciplinary methodologies of post-colonial biblical scholarship and anthropology, liberation theologies, indigenous studies, grief\/trauma research, and nature-meditation writings to shape a constructive retrieval of the animist Jesus. The vision that emerges is one that sets forward an Earth-loving Jesus who challenges Christians in particular to mobilize against the destructive relationship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-677","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3Cgaj-aV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=677"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":718,"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/677\/revisions\/718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mischievousspiritandtheology.com\/tgt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}