Brian McDonald
Recently I was reading chapter three in our text, Landscapes of the Sacred. The specific section that I was very intrigued with was the section regarding the sacred area of multiple American Indian tribes more commonly referred to as the intersection of the four sacred mountains. This area located in the four corners of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona contains the most sacred place to the Navajo Indian tribe among others. Located at the center, or the axis mundi, of the four mountains is the mythical mountain of Huerfano which is understood as the center of the earth and is said to be seen only by the eyes of the spirit. Navajo hero’s sometimes have the difficult task of ascending all of the four sacred mountains that outline the perimeter of the Navajo world. Once atop one of the sacred mountains, the Navajo hero will collect soil samples for a mountain soil bundle that the tribe uses. The tribe considers this soil to have great power, and will apply the soil to multiple body parts during prayer to heal the body of its ailments. Perhaps the most interesting part of the passage though is discussing how the Navajo hero sees beyond the obvious physical landscape of the area, and recognizes the transcendence that exists within, above, and underneath the physical layout. The passage goes on to tell how ancient civilizations of Egypt and Babylon built on the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates we all seen to be modeled after sacred cities on cosmic rivers, hidden to the naked eye. And that similarly when a Navajo shaman looks out onto the landscape he sees two worlds.
This passage really blew me away. To start the sacred landscape that has four mountains that lie on an axis that intersect at a fifth sacred mountain is really a sign that this is no coincidence. This sacred landscape, as the passage would suggest, was set up during the very beginning of creation as a sacred landscape. Also the use of the sacred soil to heal is quite interesting. While the mystical powers of this specific soil could be doubted, the fact that it is actually successful is fact. Perhaps an answer to those who doubt can be found in faith. It might be true that the soil itself has no such power, but through the use of ritual and faith it has healing power. After all the mind is the most powerful item the body has, and if the mind believes the soil has healing power than it can heal. The artifact of faith perhaps could be the most powerful healing power there is. Even if the soil holds no power, though faith and belief, the soil has as much healing power as modern medicine.
(Landscapes of the Sacred)
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Garden of Eden has been found?
Brian McDonald
In this passage from Landscapes of the Sacred it speaks of a location along the Mississippi river in Galesville Wisconsin that the 19th century Methodist preacher Rev. D.O. Van Slyke said represented the Garden of Eden. Van Slyke uses readings form the Bible to explain how he believes that this landscape is the closest thing to the Garden of Eden that has ever been seen.
While many in the small town adjacent to this “sacred” landscape revered to their area as the Garden of Eden, everyone knew very little about the Reverend that actually argued, and created this vision of Eden in Wisconsin. So is this stretch of land along the mighty Mississippi really a world of its own. Did Van Slyke truly find the land where Adam and Eve began human creation? While Van Slyke may truly have found his own sacred place, it seems a stretch to name is landscape the Garden of Eden. His interest could have been clouded by the sense of wanting to present the center of existence in the heart of the still young America. Slyke was also at this point in his life angered by heathens in Wisconsin, disillusioned from the civil war, and seeking peace. I am not trying to take anything away from Slyke, I am sure he found peace and a sacred landscape in the majestic forests and rivers of the north. I just feel that identifying the exact landscape where Adam and Eve began human existence is something we may never do.
(Landscapes of the Sacred)
In this passage from Landscapes of the Sacred it speaks of a location along the Mississippi river in Galesville Wisconsin that the 19th century Methodist preacher Rev. D.O. Van Slyke said represented the Garden of Eden. Van Slyke uses readings form the Bible to explain how he believes that this landscape is the closest thing to the Garden of Eden that has ever been seen.
While many in the small town adjacent to this “sacred” landscape revered to their area as the Garden of Eden, everyone knew very little about the Reverend that actually argued, and created this vision of Eden in Wisconsin. So is this stretch of land along the mighty Mississippi really a world of its own. Did Van Slyke truly find the land where Adam and Eve began human creation? While Van Slyke may truly have found his own sacred place, it seems a stretch to name is landscape the Garden of Eden. His interest could have been clouded by the sense of wanting to present the center of existence in the heart of the still young America. Slyke was also at this point in his life angered by heathens in Wisconsin, disillusioned from the civil war, and seeking peace. I am not trying to take anything away from Slyke, I am sure he found peace and a sacred landscape in the majestic forests and rivers of the north. I just feel that identifying the exact landscape where Adam and Eve began human existence is something we may never do.
(Landscapes of the Sacred)
Darwinism Supported by Religious Groups?
Brian McDonald
The section in the very beginning of chapter seven of Making Nature Sacred discusses the views taken following the publication of Darwin’s book The Origin of Species. Some religious leaders immediately rejected and refuted Darwin’s findings and attacked him for his theories on evolution. But a more interesting approach was taken by certain American idealist and theistic evolutionists.
Some simply questioned his approach on natural selection, and wanted to charge otherwise elusive variations to divine power. They held a wide spectrum of ideas about what kind of role God played in adaptation or evolution. Perhaps God worked miracles of special creation to aide a species in surviving. This is quite an interesting approach, and one I had never heard of. The theory basically suggested by some was to say that evolution was simply God’s preferred method of creation. This is quite an interesting theory and could be supported by many. Many evolutionists would just reject the idea of a greater power creating all of life because of evolution. But perhaps something overseen is the true power that God has. Perhaps evolution was his plan; after all we are talking about the accredited creator of heaven and earth, give him a little credit about planning out the world.
(Making Nature Sacred)
The section in the very beginning of chapter seven of Making Nature Sacred discusses the views taken following the publication of Darwin’s book The Origin of Species. Some religious leaders immediately rejected and refuted Darwin’s findings and attacked him for his theories on evolution. But a more interesting approach was taken by certain American idealist and theistic evolutionists.
Some simply questioned his approach on natural selection, and wanted to charge otherwise elusive variations to divine power. They held a wide spectrum of ideas about what kind of role God played in adaptation or evolution. Perhaps God worked miracles of special creation to aide a species in surviving. This is quite an interesting approach, and one I had never heard of. The theory basically suggested by some was to say that evolution was simply God’s preferred method of creation. This is quite an interesting theory and could be supported by many. Many evolutionists would just reject the idea of a greater power creating all of life because of evolution. But perhaps something overseen is the true power that God has. Perhaps evolution was his plan; after all we are talking about the accredited creator of heaven and earth, give him a little credit about planning out the world.
(Making Nature Sacred)
Aztec Ceremonial Landscapes
Brian McDonald
The Passage is documenting a seminar that takes place in Mexico City in 1988. College officials, professors, and others from the United States, Mexico and Japan, observed and visited sacred areas left from the Aztec’s. Scholars from the United States, namely from the university of Colorado at Bolder, also would use work by Carlos Fuentes, to try to see what he had seen in these sacred places. Following investigation of the temples left from the Aztec civilization, many conclusions were drawn about the symbolism of certain images, and figures. Many conclusions drawn involved the idea of the use of center. Links were drawn between how many figures would seem to point at a center, or an axis mundi. Scholars presumed this as links to be involved with the Aztecs belief in their role as the center of their universe.
It is interesting that the Aztecs considered themselves as the center of civilization through the use of sacred place. They are very similar in fact to the Navajo Indians and their land in the four corners. In addition Van Slyke used the area in Wisconsin he depicted as the Garden of Eden to be the center of creation. It seems all humans feel such strong connection to religious experience, that the landscape where it appears to them as the center of the universe. That is how special religious experience can be, and how important it is.
Carrasco, David. Aztec Ceremonial Landscapes. University Press of Colorado, 1999. Pgs xix-xxiv
The Passage is documenting a seminar that takes place in Mexico City in 1988. College officials, professors, and others from the United States, Mexico and Japan, observed and visited sacred areas left from the Aztec’s. Scholars from the United States, namely from the university of Colorado at Bolder, also would use work by Carlos Fuentes, to try to see what he had seen in these sacred places. Following investigation of the temples left from the Aztec civilization, many conclusions were drawn about the symbolism of certain images, and figures. Many conclusions drawn involved the idea of the use of center. Links were drawn between how many figures would seem to point at a center, or an axis mundi. Scholars presumed this as links to be involved with the Aztecs belief in their role as the center of their universe.
It is interesting that the Aztecs considered themselves as the center of civilization through the use of sacred place. They are very similar in fact to the Navajo Indians and their land in the four corners. In addition Van Slyke used the area in Wisconsin he depicted as the Garden of Eden to be the center of creation. It seems all humans feel such strong connection to religious experience, that the landscape where it appears to them as the center of the universe. That is how special religious experience can be, and how important it is.
Carrasco, David. Aztec Ceremonial Landscapes. University Press of Colorado, 1999. Pgs xix-xxiv
Jason Martin "Protagoras in Nature"
"Places in themselves are void of any intrinsic meaning" is stated in Landscapes of the Sacred. Now this to me sounds very Protagoras influenced. What is Perception? Perception in one definition is defined as The neurological processes by which such recognition and interpretation are effected. In some way or another humans are different, especially in ones neurological processes. Protagoras once said that “A human being is the measure of all things-of things that are, that they are, and of things that are not, that they are not." When he says this quote most say it to be his explanation of the measure of all things. Socrates, who later analyzed Protagoras’ explanation, comes up with this much more universal and easy to understand philosophical quote, “everything is, for me, the way it appears to me, and is, for you, the way it appears to you.” So this sums up why even after a whole semester of the class Wilderness as Sacred Place still leaves everyone with no one clear defition of nature (spiritually).
Walking the Noland
Cloud Easton
Out and about on a walk
Wright up from march
While going for a walk today I headed on over toward the Noland trail. I find it can be a comfortable place to think and move. Clearing my head from classes earlier and dispelling the thoughts I had from economics I had only to move through the trees. I have to admit I am not particularly an outdoors person, preferring the quiet sanctity of my electronic world. For some of the time I had been out I do remember passing people of all sorts along the path. Made me wonder how many people actually do walk the trail everyday.
Out and about on a walk
Wright up from march
While going for a walk today I headed on over toward the Noland trail. I find it can be a comfortable place to think and move. Clearing my head from classes earlier and dispelling the thoughts I had from economics I had only to move through the trees. I have to admit I am not particularly an outdoors person, preferring the quiet sanctity of my electronic world. For some of the time I had been out I do remember passing people of all sorts along the path. Made me wonder how many people actually do walk the trail everyday.
Wild errain and the Spiritual Life Megan Napier
Within this section of The Solace of Fierce Landscapes, I found this statement that got me wondering, "Mountain and desert territory connects people symbolically, if not literally, to places of ascent. They remind them of things they would rather forget, taking them to edges from which the human psyche normally recoils." This for me is extremely true. As I said before I have never been to a desert, but I did live in the mountains for two years. I use to walk in around Radford, Va, and I would go to one particular site that would over look the city. There I would go to relax but looking off over the mountain would start getting my mind to go in directions I didn't want it to go in. I am afraid of heights so I would think about if i slipped that I would fall. So I would step back for a minute, then get my courage and sit back down. The thought of being so high and on this huge mountain scared me, but it was a place I could retreat to, to get my head cleared. The massiveness of the mountain just made me feel tiny and it was hard to concentrate on anything other than that.
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