The Dionysian Naturalist

NATURE RELIGIONS AND REVOLUTIONARY SOCIAL CHANGE: ADVANCING A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY FOR SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM By Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. INTRODUCTION By far the greatest challenges that humanity has ever confronted are global climate change and the other environmental problems created by modern industrial civilization.  Monthly the news seems to get worse as we learn that the ecological crisis is far bigger than we first thought and the time left before we face a potential environmental collapse is far shorter.  Some well-informed researchers say that it is already too late to avoid catastrophic destruction of civilization or to “save the planet”.  Joanna Macy, a prominent Buddhist eco-activist, labels our current era “The Great Turning” because it can be a period of transition from the old industrial system, which must be brought to an end, and the new sustainable system, which must emerge very soon 1 .  As she notes, the Earth is both the sto...

 BEARING WITNESS TO SOCIAL INJUSTICE AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: MOVING FROM PAIN TO TAKING COMPASSIONATE ACTION by Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. This essay was originally published in  Humanistic Paganism in 2020 PART ONE I. Spirit of Life, Transcending Mystery and Wonder, Ground of Our Being, That-Which-Proceeds-All-Naming, Be present with us now as we contemplate How best to bring healing and justice to the world And inspire us with a vision borne of compassion, Where the bounty of the Earth is revered, Where no one goes hungry or unhoused, Where the weak are protected and the innocent are safeguarded, And where the riches of creation are shared. May all souls find their true purpose and become whole, allowing who we are to inform what we do.  May we come to learn that it is often through our darkest nights That we discover the glimmers of light that will guide our days.  May our suffering allow us to be...