Mysterious wealthy newcomers, the Richardsons have bought a lavish house. But when it burns to the ground and their employee goes missing, the island is in for plenty of drama.

Fast food. Fast cars. Fast and furious. Fast forward. Fast . . . church? The church is often idealized (or demonized) as the last bastion of a bygone era, dragging our feet as we're pulled into new moralities and new spiritualities. We guard our doctrine and our piety with great vigilance. But we often fail to notice how quickly we're capitulating, in the structures and practices of our churches, to a culture of unreflective speed, dehumanizing efficiency...

The epic story and ultimate big history of how human society evolved from intimate chimp communities into the sprawling civilizations of a world-dominating species. If a chimpanzee ventures into the territory of a different group, it will almost certainly be killed. But a New Yorker can fly to Los Angeles--or Borneo--with very little fear. Psychologists have done little to explain this: for years, they have held that our biology puts a hard upper...

"At once a moving meditation and an empowering guide, More Together Than Alone is a compelling testament to the power of community and why it's so essential in our lives, now more than ever. Mark Nepo draws from historical events, spiritual thought leaders, and the natural world to show how, in every generation, our tendency is to join together to accomplish our greatest achievements, from creating education to providing clean drinking water, and...

This film provides insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by families in three contrasting communities in Costa Rica. Developed for an innovative teaching collaboration between Southern New Hampshire University and earth University, the film looks at key community economic development issues as seen by the region's residents, by earth University students working in the communities, and by experienced University faculty. The video includes...

The krill is gone: shows us how burning fossil fuels is impacting the world's fragile underwater ecosystems. 3 mins. Trees: a comic warning about the devastating effects of clear-cutting our rainforests. 2 mins. Green graphics: 8 Vignettes by Pascal Campion illustrating tips for reducing one's carbon footprint. 8 mins. Includes a short teaching module on Climate science for middle school. 8 mins.

Deep in Southern Mexico's jungle, the Villa Luz limestone caves support an ecosystem that thrives in a highly poisonous, acidic environment. This rare type of cave is found in few spots on Earth. The Villa Luz, is known for the bacteria in its thermal sulphur springs that produce hydrogen sulfide gas. When the gases form bonds with oxygen, the result is sulfuric acid. The acid eats away at the cave walls, constantly altering the patterns in the cretaceous...

Is it time to get rid of religion? Not so fast, says Ryan Ahlgrim. It's time for us to define and demand healthy faith. Despite the dysfunction and divisiveness seen too often in religion, we continue to need a community of love, and we yearn for a transcendent encounter that can heal us. So instead of abandoning religion, Ahlgrim outlines twelve characteristics of a healthy religious community, and describes what a healthy Christian community of...

In many places around the globe, relations between ethnic and religious groups that once coexisted more or less amicably are now fraught with aggression and violence. This troubling trend has profound international implications, threatening efforts to protect the Earth's ecosystem and narrow the gap between rich and poor. Underscoring the need for immediate action, George Rupp urges the secular West to reckon with the continuing power of religious...

The residents, staff, and neighbors of the Pine Haven retirement center (from twelve-year-old Abby to eighty-five-year-old Sadie) share some of life's most profound discoveries. What they eventually learn about themselves and one another will transform them all.