Crash course: An epistle produced by a group of Friends working with Jackie Carpenter at Woodbrooke

‘Reframing the future allows us to recognise that the end might be nigh, but that life and love go on.’

The subject of climate collapse, or societal collapse in a time of climate breakdown, is overwhelmingly important. But our understandings of it are diverse. Some of us feel that collapse is now inevitable, with a real possibility of the end of life, at least for human beings and many other species. Others believe that moving to a sustainable future is still possible, and even likely. Either way, our differing viewpoints do not prevent us from experiencing a sense of relief in the discussion itself.

As Quakers, we believe in speaking the truth as we understand it, even when that truth is unpopular or unpleasant. We cannot know what the future holds, and The End Of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) may or may not be inevitable. But it seems clear that our lifestyle of driving and flying, and our denial of the spiritual nature of this finite Earth and its ecosystems, cannot continue. Humanity is facing a time of extreme challenge and holding onto hope for a miraculous turnaround may be avoiding the truth. Many people are already facing disrupted lives. Perhaps the time has come for more people to speak about this, and for Quakers to help them.

Studying the fear of death and hearing about terror management, we find that death-anxiety drives people to worldviews that protect their self-esteem and worthiness. These views can help us feel we play an important role in a meaningful world. This may be an illusion, but it is hard for humans to change deeply-embedded beliefs. We find that helping each other cope with a change of attitude, tending to each others’ grief, and finding new ways to think about the future, are becoming more important practices.

In sharing ideas about hope we discern that, for some of us, moving from feeling hopeful to a state of acceptance can leave us hope-free, not hope-less. Reframing the future allows us to recognise that the end might be nigh, but that life and love go on. We discover this reframing to be a powerful, even joyful, process of unburdening, finding it helpful to be free to discuss what living well and dying well might really mean. Giving up expectations of having to rescue the future can be liberating, allowing us to focus on living simply, staying local and building community.

Once we accept that climate collapse may be an imminent possibility, we may choose to change how we act. As we become more aware of loss of habitat and the anguish of inequality, we are inspired to work to reduce harm. Whatever the future may hold, we believe that it is important to walk forward with a sense of joy, love, and compassion, working to reduce injustice in all places.

In our discernment, we find that accepting the possibility of collapse is liberating. It becomes a relief and pleasure to talk about how to live with what is. It may lead us to listen with greater compassion to those around us, and to take steps to help them live and die better – helping one another up with a tender hand. We consider that Quakers could be poised to become midwives and comforters of the challenging times ahead.

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