Is It Too Late?: A Theology of Ecology Page: 4
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Preface to the Revised Edition
Is It Too Late ?A Theology of Ecology, originally published in 1972, was the first
single-authored, book-length discussion of environmental ethics by a philoso-
pher, appearing two years before John Passmore's Man's Responsibility for
Nature: Ecological Problems and Western Traditions, which was actually an
argument against environmental ethics. It was not until the late 1980s that a large
number of comparable books were finally available-and those have proven to be
less successful in addressing the needs and interests of concerned citizens, since
they were written for academic audiences-primarily philosophers-not the
general public. This book has been reprinted not only because it is a good non-
technical introduction to the field, but also because it remains as relevant today as
it was in 1972-and thus serves as an urgent warning that the issues Cobb
discussed more than two decades ago still have not been adequately addressed!
-EUGENE C. HARGROVE
Preface to the Original Edition
Public awareness of the ecological crisis may increasingly dominate our
cultural climate in the 1970s. Indeed, if it does not do so, there is little chance that
measures needed for the survival of civilization will be taken in time. If the
awareness does grow, it will seriously challenge us as Christians to rethink our
faith.
Such rethinking will be neither comfortable nor easy. Our most fundamental
picture of ourselves as human beings in relation to God and to a nonhuman
environment will be at stake.
This book represents one Christian's response to this new questioning. I am led
by my questioning to believe that the major forms of past Christianity are
inadequate to our needs and must be superseded. But I have also concluded that
it is fruitless to seek the vision we need in primitive or Eastern religions. Our task
is instead to move forward to a new form of Christianity.
Obviously my idea of a new form of Christianity is only mine. It has no authority
except its intrinsic merit. Some Christians will disagree that basic change is
required. Others will disagree as to the appropriate direction of change. My hope
is not to persuade all Christians to accept my conclusions, but to help to stimulate
reconsideration of widespread attitudes and to encourage a debate that takes
seriously the threat of doom under which we now live.
-JOHN B. COBB, JR.
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Cobb, John B., Jr. Is It Too Late?: A Theology of Ecology, book, 1995; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc52175/m1/6/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Center For Environmental Philosophy.