Sir David Attenborough is one of the best
known faces on television.
He recently turned 89.
The celebrations of his gift as a presenter
of nature have been international.
Without doubt he is one of the worlds leading
figures of our time.
He represents ecology.
A role model of extraordinary talent and wisdom.
Shortly we will see David Attenborough talk
about the need for children today to live
in more than just an urban landscape.
As 50% of the worlds population lives in cities
and moves to cities this becomes highly significant
But before we see him in action, here comes
his connexion to New Zealand Methodism.
Paul Titus, editor of Touchstone the Methodist
churchs monthly broadsheet recently interviewed
David Attenborough.
We will come back to that interview after
we have seen david in action.
Because it has a powerful link – the urban
landscape - to John Wesleys great sermon on
the imperfection of human knowledge.
It sums up societys greatest need today.
And why the christian church needs to act
now.
So without any further ado lets look at what Sir David attenborough has to say
 
 
.Just like David Attenborough
the Rev John Wesley was one of the leading
figures of his time and place.
We might not think 18th century Britain as
very important to society today.
But Wesley had a crucial insight identical
to Attenborough.
And a method for changing things by changing
ourselves.
His insight was.
Well it was much more than insight.
Like Attenborough it was an all-encompassing
passion.
To understand and communicate at depth how
we find ourselves as a species in the natural
world.
To quote Wesley
The desire of knowledge is a universal principle
in man.
Fixed in his inmost nature.
And it is insatiable. Unquote
This is the first for July in our series Through
the Year with John Wesley.
This month we will concentrate on how Wesley
constantly strove.
He wanted to get his preachers lay and ordained
acquainted with science.
More than acquainted.
He wanted them to be as intoxicated with the
natural world as he was.
Attenborough is of course an agnostic.
But in love with the natural world.
Wesley was a convinced Christian.
And in love with the natural world.
To which he added that it declared the glory
of God.
So the difference between the two is not so
great.
We will explore Wesleys sermon the imperfection
of human knowledge.
And discover how narrow the gap really is.
Equally we will see how that gap can be magnified
up by zealots.
Until it seems like a chasm exists between
the two views.
And thats just what happened to the Touchstone
interview with David Attenborough.
Over zealous opponents squaring off around
a debate about evolution.
You can see it emerge at the forums in our
6senses.nz website.
Click latest news at the landing page. Register
to join in.
And each Wednesday at ten in the morning the
Practical Theology Channel will publish another
video in this series.
The second will explore Wesleys belief in
reason.
The case of reason considered.
The third will explore the limitation of reason
and the need for constant experiment.
And the final will show how these sermons
needs to be recast for todays world.
Subscribe to be informed.
Meantime 6senses.nz and the Practical Theology
Channel acknowledge with gratitude.
The use of Sir Davids Attenborough's creative
commons video and Touchstone.
Like President Obama we add our appreciation
of this wonderful life and talent.
