‘Saving Paradise’ has been chosen as the leading title and theme for Greenbelt Festival 2012 and has been heralded as a book of the year by Publisher’s Weekly.

Based on the groundbreaking book by Rita Brock and Rebecca Parker, ‘Saving Paradise’ asks the reader to journey to a time forgotten where Christ had a different image. For the first 10 centuries, the church depicted Christ as a shepherd, guide and healer. Not hanging on a cross, but wondering our earth.

The book explores what this shift in focus has done to our understanding and practice of faith, and raises deeply significant questions for the church today. Examining early art, church architecture and spiritual writing, you will find a very different world. A world which dreamt of the earth as Christ’s redeemed paradise.

Join this year’s keynote speaker at Greenbelt 2012 in rediscovering our lost spiritual heritage. Take off the disillusions of today’s religion and forge a personal spirituality from looking at ancient Christian tradition, biblical interpretation and cultural pondering.

Dr Rita Brock has taught at Harvard and is currently lecturing at the Graduate Theological Union, California. She is ordained and has served on her church council. Dr Rebecca Parker is President and Professor of Theology at the Starr King of Ministry at Graduate Theological Union, California.