Beyond Monotheism

<p><b>Argues that nature in all of its aspects is its own creative sustaining sacred salvific ground-and is the most appropriate focus today of ardent religious faith.</b></p><p>In <i>Beyond Monotheism</i> Donald A. Crosby carefully and respectfully examines the experiential rational moral religious philosophical and scientific reasons alleged by philosophers theologians scientists and others for believing in the existence of a single personal God. He concludes that these reasons while fascinating and historically important are neither universally compelling nor for him personally convincing. Nor is monotheism an essential feature of all vital religious faith as the fact of long-lasting deeply nourishing forms of non-monotheistic faith such as Hinduism Buddhism and Daoism convincingly show. Crosby contends instead that <i>nature itself</i> in all its grandeur mystery and profound workings is inherently sacred and richly deserving of the reverence faith and commitment formerly reserved for God-if we have the wit determination imagination and receptivity of heart and mind to search for and find them there. Nature Crosby argues is its own basis or ground-and nature properly understood and revered is through and through <i>sacred</i> ground and as such an appropriate focus of profoundly evocative hopeful meaningful and sustaining religious faith. In the midst of global climate change widespread species extinctions and endangerments and fast-approaching earth-wide ecological disaster <i>Beyond Monotheism</i> calls attention to another religious way of life one of singular relevance and importance for our time.</p>