"In order to shield human beings from the unapproachable light of God's glory, God always remains hidden, veiled by a mask" (Lane, 67).
Everytime I have experienced a place as sacred, whether it was a brilliant scene of nature or just an unforgettable moment at a place, I realized that I was only catching a glimpse of God's glory. If he revealed himself fully to me, I either would not understand or would be unable to handle his power. I realize that he partially reveals himself in things that I can understand. When I observe a brilliant scene of nature, I can understand every detail of the scene because all the pieces that compose the scene are of this world. I can relate to the scene through my emotions...usually awe. When I am awed, I am drawn towards the scene. I wonder why I am the one that is getting to experience it. I am left without any explanation besides the divine. Although he is far beyond me, he is always revealing parts of himself through his art. I just have to make sure I'm paying attention...
Monday, April 9, 2007
transplanting versus transforming
Ashley Smith
Transplanting vs. transforming-responding to “Making Nature Sacred,” by John Gatta
“Despite their anxiety to discern signs of personal conversion, religious-minded immigrants to New England were more interested in transplanting than in transforming English culture” (Gatta, 17).
When I first came across this excerpt I was not certain of what Gatta meant by the terms “transplanting” and “transforming”. My first thought was that by transplanting he may have meant to convey to the reader that the English did not seek to change their way of life, culture, and belief; rather, the English sought to practice the beliefs that they had been practicing all along in England, but in a new location (America). In simpler terms, I think that Gatta meant that the English who immigrated to America wanted to simply practice their old religious beliefs and ways, just in America rather than England. The English did not seek to change their beliefs when arriving upon American soil, but rather to change the place in which they practiced and studied their religion. This is interesting to me because Belden Lane talked a lot about the significance of place in his book, “Landscapes of the Sacred.” Lane wrote a substantial amount on the connection between spirituality and place, and the “sacredness” of place. So, perhaps the place in which the English chose to practice their beliefs had a great impact on how they felt, connected with, and acted towards their faith.
Transplanting vs. transforming-responding to “Making Nature Sacred,” by John Gatta
“Despite their anxiety to discern signs of personal conversion, religious-minded immigrants to New England were more interested in transplanting than in transforming English culture” (Gatta, 17).
When I first came across this excerpt I was not certain of what Gatta meant by the terms “transplanting” and “transforming”. My first thought was that by transplanting he may have meant to convey to the reader that the English did not seek to change their way of life, culture, and belief; rather, the English sought to practice the beliefs that they had been practicing all along in England, but in a new location (America). In simpler terms, I think that Gatta meant that the English who immigrated to America wanted to simply practice their old religious beliefs and ways, just in America rather than England. The English did not seek to change their beliefs when arriving upon American soil, but rather to change the place in which they practiced and studied their religion. This is interesting to me because Belden Lane talked a lot about the significance of place in his book, “Landscapes of the Sacred.” Lane wrote a substantial amount on the connection between spirituality and place, and the “sacredness” of place. So, perhaps the place in which the English chose to practice their beliefs had a great impact on how they felt, connected with, and acted towards their faith.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
the moods of weather
Ashley Smith
The weathers moods
This morning I woke up to surprisingly find snow outside my front door. I did not expect to see these white flurries falling from the sky when I walked out to my car. I immediately thought about how Mother Nature is so unpredictable and beautiful. It's an amazing and awe-inspiring feeling that I never know what is going to happen next with mother nature; although sometimes frightening, it's a an exciting type of frightening.
I also find it interesting how the weather can have such a great impact on my mood. One day the weather is beautiful and I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face; yet, the next is cloudy, and I can’t seem to wipe the frown off my face. Why is this so? How can the atmosphere outside have such an effect on the way that I feel about everything else? It’s like my whole outlook on life and perspective can completely fluctuate depending on the weather conditions.
The weathers moods
This morning I woke up to surprisingly find snow outside my front door. I did not expect to see these white flurries falling from the sky when I walked out to my car. I immediately thought about how Mother Nature is so unpredictable and beautiful. It's an amazing and awe-inspiring feeling that I never know what is going to happen next with mother nature; although sometimes frightening, it's a an exciting type of frightening.
I also find it interesting how the weather can have such a great impact on my mood. One day the weather is beautiful and I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face; yet, the next is cloudy, and I can’t seem to wipe the frown off my face. Why is this so? How can the atmosphere outside have such an effect on the way that I feel about everything else? It’s like my whole outlook on life and perspective can completely fluctuate depending on the weather conditions.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Jason Parham, Finding god outside society
It seems that the only way to see god is without the effects of humanity. This applies both inwardly and outwardly. In the instance of inwardly searching for god you must clear your mind and soul of the human problems of money, trivial relationships and other day to day situations that can cloud your mind. Only after you rid yourself of the problems can you grasp god and what is important. Lane says “the self is a desert that must be stripped and made empty before god can be found at its center.”(11) This to me also seems the case with outwardly searching for god, you can’t find spiritual knowledge or god on the subway or on the corner. You have to get away from human influence and society, out of the city and get to the places were god can be seen, places like the dessert or the mountains were his glory can be seen and where you relationship to him can be understood.
Jason Parham, loss of habitus
It is interesting for me to think that modern western society has lost its connectedness with the habitat or the environment that we live in. we only conceive that it is some form of scenery to be looked at but not experienced. This is probably because the majority of us have no need to interact with the land that this around us. We have our cities and houses and once we walk out of our house we drive our car on a road through the landscape only seeing it not involving our selves in it. Our new habitat is one that is man made and sustained by man, this means that it is artificial. And you loose your since of god in a world that is built by man, you don’t contemplate or become awestruck by driving down a interstate the same way you could feel belittled by walking through a canyon or over a mountain. This to me is a negative effect of development; you forget that you once depended on a community with the earth in order to survive, taking and giving what you could in order survive. Now all we have done is created an illusion hiding the earth’s greatness behind the artificial creations of man.
Mikey Famiglietti - Response to Gatta's "Making Nature Sacred"
"God's glory is over all his works, written upon every field and sky" (Gatta, 149).
The wilderness, being a place untouched by man, is not influenced by mankind in anyway. One can experience the wilderness as the direct work of the divine, his art. His art expresses the many emotions we experience as human beings. Winter, the season of death and darkness...provoking depression. Spring, the season of life and light...provoking happiness. We can relate to his art through our emotions. You realize that when in the wilderness, one cannot dismiss the life cycles of this world. You cannot walk past a beautiful, freshly bloomed flower without walking past a fallen, rotting tree. The wilderness does not mask the cycle of life and death all material existence is bound to. His glory is not always beautiful. Through his art, he explains that life is not always going to be feelings of bliss and comfort...depression and hardship will always be waiting for you...his art expresses the emotional rollercoaster we all ride in this life...
The wilderness, being a place untouched by man, is not influenced by mankind in anyway. One can experience the wilderness as the direct work of the divine, his art. His art expresses the many emotions we experience as human beings. Winter, the season of death and darkness...provoking depression. Spring, the season of life and light...provoking happiness. We can relate to his art through our emotions. You realize that when in the wilderness, one cannot dismiss the life cycles of this world. You cannot walk past a beautiful, freshly bloomed flower without walking past a fallen, rotting tree. The wilderness does not mask the cycle of life and death all material existence is bound to. His glory is not always beautiful. Through his art, he explains that life is not always going to be feelings of bliss and comfort...depression and hardship will always be waiting for you...his art expresses the emotional rollercoaster we all ride in this life...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
the scent of spring
Ashley Smith
April 1, 2007
The scent of spring
Lately the weather has been very comfortable and sunny. I have started going on walks everyday in the morning, before I go to class or work. It has become part of my daily routine, and my day no longer feels complete if I do not make time to take a walk outside. Spring is right around the corner, so walking lately has been even more refreshing and exciting than usual. Buds on trees are sprouting and flowers are blossoming; the scent in the air is so uplifting and energizing. I also love how the days are much longer now, and that I have more daylight time to do things outside. I like when the air feels cool against my face, but warm against my body. Spring time is a time of warmth and peace. I always feel so relieved and comforted when the cold winter is finally over, and I smell the first scent of spring.
April 1, 2007
The scent of spring
Lately the weather has been very comfortable and sunny. I have started going on walks everyday in the morning, before I go to class or work. It has become part of my daily routine, and my day no longer feels complete if I do not make time to take a walk outside. Spring is right around the corner, so walking lately has been even more refreshing and exciting than usual. Buds on trees are sprouting and flowers are blossoming; the scent in the air is so uplifting and energizing. I also love how the days are much longer now, and that I have more daylight time to do things outside. I like when the air feels cool against my face, but warm against my body. Spring time is a time of warmth and peace. I always feel so relieved and comforted when the cold winter is finally over, and I smell the first scent of spring.
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