About the book
In and through his experience of nature, Henry David Thoreau imagined and developed a distinctly American theology of the wild.
In Wildness: Henry David Thoreau and the Making of an American Theology, Lydia Willsky-Ciollo articulates how Thoreau was enmeshed in a decades-spanning project of crafting a theology of wildness. During Thoreau’s post-college years and his time at Walden Pond, he evolved from hopeful writer to observant theologian, whose primary work as a surveyor enabled his theological vocation.
Willsky-Ciollo skillfully guides readers through Thoreau’s writings and life as his theology emerges and evolves. The focus of Thoreau’s theology—wildness itself—centers on the divinity extant in every person and in every molecule of creation. Definitively American in its ethos, Thoreau’s theology reflects a distinctly American set of tensions: progress and tradition, wilderness and civilization, the destructive and the generative nature of work, the individual and the society, the local and the universal, and the Christian and the pluralist. While remaining critical of dogmatism and institutional rigidity, he formed his theological vision in conversation with the Christianity of his own time and place.
Ultimately, theology is an active process, and interpreting the wild experience of divine revelation is the purview of all. Thoreau left the door open to his readers, who he hoped would pick up the pen where he left off and write their own theologies of wildness.
Editions of Wildness
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780268210748
- EBook
- ISBN 9780268210762
Read an Excerpt
In and through his experience of nature, Henry David Thoreau imagined and developed a distinctly American theology of the wild.
In Wildness: Henry David Thoreau and the Making of an American Theology, Lydia Willsky-Ciollo articulates how Thoreau was enmeshed in a decades-spanning project of crafting a theology of wildness. During Thoreau’s post-college years and his time at Walden Pond, he evolved from hopeful writer to observant theologian, whose primary work as a surveyor enabled his theological vocation.
Willsky-Ciollo skillfully guides readers through Thoreau’s writings and life as his theology emerges and evolves. The focus of Thoreau’s theology—wildness itself—centers on the divinity extant in every person and in every molecule of creation. Definitively American in its ethos, Thoreau’s theology reflects a distinctly American set of tensions: progress and tradition, wilderness and civilization, the destructive and the generative nature of work, the individual and the society, the local and the universal, and the Christian and the pluralist. While remaining critical of dogmatism and institutional rigidity, he formed his theological vision in conversation with the Christianity of his own time and place.
Ultimately, theology is an active process, and interpreting the wild experience of divine revelation is the purview of all. Thoreau left the door open to his readers, who he hoped would pick up the pen where he left off and write their own theologies of wildness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wildness about?
In and through his experience of nature, Henry David Thoreau imagined and developed a distinctly American theology of the wild.
In Wildness: Henry David Thoreau and the Making of an American Theology, Lydia Willsky-Ciollo articulates how Thoreau was enmeshed in a decades-spanning project of crafting a theology of wildness. During Thoreau’s post-college years and his time at Walden Pond, he evolved from hopeful writer to observant theologian, whose primary work as a surveyor enabled his theological vocation.
Willsky-Ciollo skillfully guides readers through Thoreau’s writings and life as his theology emerges and evolves. The focus of Thoreau’s theology—wildness itself—centers on the divinity extant in every person and in every molecule of creation. Definitively American in its ethos, Thoreau’s theology reflects a distinctly American set of tensions: progress and tradition, wilderness and civilization, the destructive and the generative nature of work, the individual and the society, the local and the universal, and the Christian and the pluralist. While remaining critical of dogmatism and institutional rigidity, he formed his theological vision in conversation with the Christianity of his own time and place.
Ultimately, theology is an active process, and interpreting the wild experience of divine revelation is the purview of all. Thoreau left the door open to his readers, who he hoped would pick up the pen where he left off and write their own theologies of wildness.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Wildness?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Aspects of religion > Theology
Where can I read a sample of Wildness?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780268210748
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Wildness?
Lydia Willsky-Ciollo
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Wildness is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780268210748) and ebook(ISBN 9780268210762)
Where can I buy Wildness online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Wildness?