Thomas Berry and The Great Work
“The Great Work of our time is to carry out the transition from the period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner.” — Thomas Berry
Every age has its defining task. For Thomas Berry, cultural historian and ecological thinker, the task of our time is clear: to transform human presence on Earth from one of exploitation to one of reciprocity. He called this task The Great Work. It is not the labor of a few specialists but the responsibility of all people, carried out in every field of human endeavor.
Thomas Berry (1914–2009) was a Catholic priest, cultural historian, and ecological theologian who described himself as a “geologian.” His works include The Dream of the Earth, The Universe Story (with Brian Swimme), and The Great Work. Across these writings, Berry articulated the need for a new cosmology—one that understands the universe as a sacred story and places humanity within the community of life.
He argued that the ecological crisis was not primarily technological, but a crisis of worldview. The stories and institutions that shaped modern culture had separated people from their role as participants in the Earth community. The Great Work was his call for humanity to recover this role, aligning science, spirituality, and culture with the flourishing of the planet.
Berry described The Great Work as the central task of our time: the transition from an industrial growth society to an ecological civilization. This work must take place across all professions and communities—teachers, artists, farmers, lawmakers, and spiritual leaders all carry responsibility for shaping a culture that supports life.
His teachings emphasize:
The Great Work as a collective responsibility, carried by every discipline
The need for a new cosmology that inspires reverence for the Earth
Education as a means to root knowledge in ecological context
Spirituality as inseparable from care for the planet
The vision of a mutually enhancing human–Earth relationship
Berry’s vision has influenced ecological education, religious communities, and movements for regenerative culture. His call to see every profession as part of The Great Work offers a framework for humanity: farmers rebuilding soil, artists telling new stories, educators teaching the universe as sacred history, and citizens shaping policies for justice and sustainability.
For us, Berry’s teaching reminds us that tending soil and cultivating community are not small acts, but expressions of the larger work of cultural renewal. His vision encourages each of us to ask: What is my part of the Great Work? How does my daily life contribute to a mutually enhancing relationship with the Earth?
We honor Thomas Berry for naming the task of our time and for offering a vision of humanity as a participant in the Earth’s unfolding story. His words continue to shape the way we teach, plant, and dream. His call to the Great Work has inspired many, including our collaboration with John D. Liu on The Great Work of Our Time, a living continuation of Berry’s vision through the restoration of landscapes and communities.
Resources & Further Reading
The Great Work: Our Way into the Future by Thomas Berry
The Dream of the Earth by Thomas Berry
The Universe Story by Thomas Berry and Brian SwimmeJourney of the Universe
