For millennia those more in harmony with spiritual reality have called for a simpler, less frenetic, less materialistic way of life.  Jesus, with His love of nature, His gentle rebuke of Martha, His call to take no anxious thought for the morrow, must weep over our addiction to consumption and growth.  But God is not mocked.  What the careless majority have scorned we will now be forced, by the twin imperatives of climate change and Peak Oil, to accept.  Yet, despite fine words, the Western Church (with a few shining exceptions) is still ill-prepared to show the way.  There are, of course, some useful studies but, to coin a proverb, a practical example is worth 100 studies. 

 

As Rob Hopkins writes (page 94): ‘It is one thing to campaign against climate change and quite another to paint a compelling and engaging vision of a post-carbon world in such a way as to enthuse others to embark on a journey towards it.’  This the book attempts to do, in a local and homely way, with verve and optimism.  But, even with the writing on the wall, will people jump or will they wait until they are pushed?  ‘Facing runaway climate change with a collapsed economy is the scenario we really want to avoid’ (page 39).  Please do not confuse this with a ‘social gospel’.  Undoubtedly the churches, embedded in the community, with faith in the providence of God and, dare I say, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should be major players in far-reaching adjustment while there is still time.

 

With climate change and rising oil prices impacting ever more severely, should we simply concentrate on austere cuts in our energy consumption and greenhouse gases?  The first two chapters of the book indeed provide a concise and lucid account of the crisis and of the need for (and inevitability of) drastic reductions, especially if the poor countries are to develop.  Resilient, sustainable, low-carbon, small-scale communities in rich countries will mean a ‘win-win’ approach.  There is no need for us to return to the grinding deprivations of the past.  As I understand it, unnecessary trade is ruled out, but not fair trade.

 

‘Small’ and ‘local’ might sound utopian, but the evidence presented is that the people of Totnes and elsewhere have welcomed the hopeful, grass-roots, message of becoming Transition Towns.  According to the New Economics Foundation (page 212) increasing prosperity stopped making people happier in the 1960s and 87% of those asked today agree that society has become too materialistic.  ‘The spirit is willing . . .’

 

This book is packed with experience and practical advice worthy of its description as a handbook, but the initiative does not pretend to be other than a great experiment in progress.  As Albert Einstein said: ‘Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent.  It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction’ (page 17).  Maybe this movement is an answer to prayer?

Charles Jolly