George Handley
FRIDAY | MARCH 5, 2021 | 7:30-9:00 pm MST
What does the exploitation and marginalization of nature—including our own species of color—teach us about OUR nature? Is there hope for us?
GATHERING AT:
Your home or hang out of choice via Zoom.
Thanks to Jana Spangler hosting us via Zoom. Below is some helpful info for being part of a Zoom convo. I will also note below the Zoom address so that you can connect. If you are not on my email list then either join at the bottom of this site’s home page or text or call me at 801-695-5036.
THE CONVERSATION:
In the face of possible environmental catastrophe and its anticipated impacts on the poor, George Handley believes the restored gospel of Jesus Christ offers hope—not by promising believers an escape from the responsibilities of our stewardship over God’s creation, but by urging us to confront the global reality of our situation with faith, diligence, and courage. Join us for a discussion of his recent book The Hope of Nature and how proper stewardship doesn’t force a choice between the spotted owl and the logger but can bring healing to nature and to vulnerable populations alike.
As always, there is no pressure to participate in the actual conversation, but we welcome your thoughts and contributions. If you do choose to speak, please be respectful of uncomfortable ideas, the good intentions of others, and remember to share air time. You can find guidelines for productive conversations here).
ABOUT GEORGE
George B. Handley has taught at BYU since 1998 where he is a Professor of Interdisciplinary Humanities. He served as chair of the Department of Humanities, Classics and Comparative Literature from 2012 – 2015 and served as Associate Dean of the College of Humanities from 2015 – 2018. His current appointment is Associate Director of the Faculty Center at BYU.
He is an educator and author who has been civically engaged for many years. George is an elected Provo City Council Member for District 2. He is also Co-founder of LDS Earth Stewardship and of the recent non-profit Conserve Utah Valley.
He received his BA in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and his PhD in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley and he researches and writes about the intersection of religion, culture, literature, and the environment.
Handley’s works include Home Waters: The Hope of Nature: Our Care for God’s Creation (2020), A Year of Recompenses on the Provo River (2010), New World Poetics: Nature and the Adamic Imagination of Whitman, Neruda, and Walcott (2007), Stewardship and Creation: LDS Perspectives on the Environment, Postslavery Literatures in the Americas (2005): Family Portraits in Black and White (2000), and American Fork (2017).
He and his wife Amy have four children and live in Provo, Utah.
EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:
The Hope of Nature: Our Care for God’s Creation—Paperback
“Caring for Nature, Caring for Ourselves,” (Maxwell Institute Lecture)
George Handley: Environmental Stewardship (BYU Kennedy Center)
354: The Spiritual Practice of Earth Care: Prof. George Handley (A Thoughtful Faith)
Environmental Stewardship and Conservation (LDS Gospel Topic Essay)
RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION
Chat Notes
PLEASE READ THESE ZOOM TIPS:
- Please mute your microphone before entering and when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else.
- Rather than have the whole group watch you try to get your camera or screen positioned, feel free to get that figured out prior to when we meet.
- Resist the urge to multitask—be with us, people. Knitting is still allowed though. But…
- If you are going to multitask, please turn off your video and make sure you are muted. No one wants to be distracted by you eating or using the loo.
- If you are having difficulty with the technology, don’t hold up the meeting by distracting other participants for solutions. Try Googling your problem. I do that with most of life’s problems.
- Speaking of distractions—just as when we used to meet in person in the good old days, let’s be cautious about using the chat for side conversations that may distract others. You can always ask for people’s contact info and continue your conversation—I’d love that to happen. Or, let me know, and I’ll do my darndest to give you a chance to share to the group.
- Please share air time and follow the guidelines under “Intentions” on this website.
To enter the Zoom conversation:
- Click on the Zoom link above.
- The link Zoom should open, and you should be able to see and hear other participants. Or wait until the host opens the meeting. Please make sure that you muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
- If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. Also, make sure you have your volume up.
