Book excerpt: Original Peace is a work of philosophical theology that places Christ at the meeting place between humans and their natural world. In doing so the authors have given new credence to what is traditionally called "fall-and-redemption theology", thereby taking exception to the works of some theorists who deny the importance of original sin.This is a profound meditation on the myth of human perfectibility, the mistaken belief that there is no dark side to nature. The authors do not return to simplistic notions about original sin and human suffering, but have forged a new synthesis based on their reading of world religions, Christian scripture and contemporary social sciences. They support the belief that creation in all its manifestations is a gift to be embraced, that even death fades to nothing against the cosmic horizon of God's creation.-- a seminal work that will help shape the discussion about human nature and the natural world of many years to come