The Web of Meaning, Jeremy Lent, 2021
- John Scoble
- Sep 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Book Review
Robert and I have read “The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe” by Jeremy Lent, following a recommendation by Kevin Treston. The author is an English writer and speaker, described by Guardian journalist George Monbiot as “one of the greatest thinkers of our age”.
Lent explores humanity’s age-old questions:
Who am I?
Why am I?
How should I live?
He draws extensively on ancient Chinese wisdom, Confucianism and Taoism, the wisdom of indigenous spirituality and the findings of modern science.
He demonstrates that we are all interconnected, with each other and the planet. Reading the book, Robert couldn’t help but see the underlying themes developed by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, but his work is only mentioned in passing.
Lent’s thesis is that, at its current trajectory, humanity is headed for catastrophe. However, if we are able to develop a new worldview, one based on sturdy foundations, we may be able to avoid the inevitable decline. He reviews the state of the world, developments in science and technology and our cultural paradigms which have led to the current situation. In the final chapters, he outlines the changes that humanity needs to make, encouraging each of us to “do our bit”.
The book informs. It contains many quotable quotes.
The book also challenges one’s thinking.
I recommend it to anyone who is concerned about the direction of humanity and wanting to contribute to our survival as a species and a planet.
FAQs: The Web of Meaning
What is the core idea behind The Web of Meaning by Jeremy Lent?
Jeremy Lent argues that modern culture’s dominant worldview - one built on separation between mind and body, humans and nature, and self and other - is deeply flawed. In The Web of Meaning, he proposes an integrated worldview in which scientific discoveries, wisdom traditions, Indigenous knowledge, and spiritual insight all interconnect. This worldview honours connection, values inner experience, and senses the sacred woven into every living thing. (Source: The Web of Meaning – Explore Web of Meaning by Jeremy Lent)
How does The Web of Meaning connect science with spirituality?
Lent combines findings from evolutionary biology, complexity science, systems theory and neuroscience with the insights of Taoism, Buddhism and Indigenous wisdom. For example, neuroscience supports that even individual cells interact in ways more complex than simple mechanistic models suggest. Nature’s patterns, feedback loops, and system-interrelatedness echo ancient spiritual teachings about harmony, interdependence, and wholeness. (Sources: The Web of Meaning book overview; reviews in Modern Times Review)
Why does Lent see worldview as vital to how we live?
Because worldview shapes everything: how we see ourselves, what we value, how we act. Lent points out that culture’s implicit stories - about competition, separation, domination - become the lens through which we interpret reality. When those stories dominate, they influence policy, economics, relationships, how we treat the Earth. Changing worldview, Lent suggests, can shift individual and collective behaviour toward flourishing rather than exploitation. (Sources: The Web of Meaning – Introduction; Modern Times Review)
What are signs that a worldview of separation is causing harm?
Some signs include disconnection from nature, intense individualism, loss of meaning, environmental degradation, mental health crises, social isolation. Lent emphasises that when people treat nature merely as resource, or relationships merely as means to personal fulfilment, that worldview leads to pervasive loneliness and ecological harm. Studies show biodiversity loss has declined by over 68% since 1970 across many species, which is one flash of what separation is costing life on Earth.
(Source: Patterns of Meaning review)
How can I apply the ideas from The Web of Meaning to deepen my spiritual life?
You can start with simple practices:
noticing connection in small moments, like conversations with trees, voices of insects, or wind and rain.
reflecting on your internal split - “Who am I inside?” vs what you do externally - and seeking integration through meditation or spiritual practice.
reading or listening to wisdom traditions outside your own culture for fresh insight.
acting in ways that resist separation - community work, ecological care or slowing down consumption. Lent encourages that meaning emerges when you reweave yourself into the wider web of life, not by escaping the world, but by participating in its healing. Sources: reviews of The Web of Meaning; Explore Web of Meaning)
At St Lucia Spirituality we believe the journey is richer when it’s shared. If you’re seeking a place to explore questions, practice mindfulness, or simply belong to an inclusive spiritual community, we invite you to join us. From online discussion groups and meditation gatherings to our growing library of resources, there’s space here for every seeker. Step into the conversation, connect with others, and discover how community can nurture your spiritual growth.
About the Author - John Scoble
John's journey began in the heart of a traditional Roman Catholic family in Sydney, where he was raised with steadfast faith and reverence. Now residing in the serene surroundings of St Lucia, Brisbane, alongside his beloved wife, John finds solace and inspiration in the tranquil rhythms of life. With four adult children and a cherished grandchild also calling Brisbane home, John's family is his anchor, providing love, support, and a sense of belonging.
While spirituality has always been a cornerstone of his life, it was three transformative events in 2012, including a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, that ignited a profound shift in John's spiritual trajectory. Embracing retirement as an opportunity for deeper exploration, John immersed himself in extensive reading and soulful reflection.
Over the course of a decade, this journey of self-discovery has led John to reevaluate and transcend many of his traditional beliefs, embracing instead the timeless wisdom and cosmic perspective inherent in Christianity. Influenced by luminaries such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, and Richard Rohr, John's spiritual evolution has been marked by a deepening resonance with the essential truths of his faith and a profound connection to the divine unfolding within and around him.
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