Heather Lynn God on top of a Glacier

In one of our classes we were shown a picture where you could see Seatle and Tacoma in the distnace. From where the picture looks like it was taken we were on top of the glacier up above the clouds. This picture made me think of what it would be like to be on top of that glacier and to be able to see in person what that person saw and felt like at that very moment. I thought that if i was in that person's position that it would make me feel like i was in heaven or maybe God himself looking down on the cities of Seatle and Tacoma and observing everything that are doing and they interact with eachother. To be able to control the wilderness and and everything in and to be able to look at anywhere of the country would be an amazing adventure. Because that what he does. He is all around us all the time everywhere and anywhere in the world. Imagine if this view from a glacier is so amazing what other amazing views is God able to see.

The Sacred Depths of Nature

Brian McDonald

Recently I was reading a section in the Book, The Sacred Depths of Nature. In this book I read a section discussing ideas about creation, and about the universe itself. The passage talks about all the crazy new concepts that researchers have about even our own world. One such mind boggling concept states that sub-atomic particles may in fact be minute, vibrating super strings of space. Perhaps the most interesting suggests that our four dimensional world may actually in fact be ten dimensional, and we simply can’t visualize the other dimensions yet.

This book had some quite interesting ideas and concepts that were completely new. The fact that some physicists think there could be 10 dimensions is absolutely mind boggling. Now how exactly do these things relate to sacred place? Well in previous readings there was a common theme speaking of an alternate world that exists that our mind can not comprehend; a world that parallels our own, and holds great religious power and teaching. Perhaps the religious experience that one has is a brief moment of clarity where we rise above to these other dimensions. It is very hard to comprehend many of the ideas suggested in this book, similarly how the event of religious experience is so complex. Our understanding and knowledge compared to what is possible is minute.

(The Sacred Depths of Nature; Ursula Goodenough)

Seeing God in Everything?

Brian McDonald

Recently I read a section in the book titled Seeing God Everywhere. The section I read dealt with how it is possible to see God in everything. A question is arisen asking how is it possible to see God who is invisible and infinite, in a world that is visible and finite. The task is quite difficult and complex. It is also stated that how can we supply words for something that is so indescribable and majestic.

It is very hard to put into words the feeling of amazement and wonder that are felt with relation to religious experience. The book even mentions it is almost an insult to try and capture something so transcendent and wonderful into words. The book also raises good questions to ask how to see God in everything. To accomplish this goal we would have to see God in all of the facets and inhabitants of earth, including ourselves.

Seeing God Everywhere: Essays on Nature and the Sacred (Perennial Philosophy)
:Barry McDonald

Reflections on the Noland Trail

The moment I stepped off of that bus, I felt as if nature was speaking to me. However, it was speaking to me through the wind, which was very strong that day at Lions' Bridge on the James River. It was almost as if it was telling me to explore nature through the Noland Trail. As soon as we entered the depths of the Nolan Trail I noticed something very different from when I was standing by the bridge. The strong wind that had been blowing seemed to be gone, and all I could feel was the warmth of the sun shining through openings at the top of these giant trees. Before, I could hear the sound of cars on the museum parkway, I could feel the wind upon my face, and I could see the waves of the James River right before me. The moment I stepped into seclusion after a few steps on the Nolan Trail, those sights and sounds disappeared. It is almost as if nature was enclosing itself, and ourselves from the outside world. These tall and dense trees seemed to block the outside world from entering as there was no sounds of cars, only the sounds of wildlife fluttering about in nature. The body of water in the center of the Noland Trail seemed to be the Axis Mundi of the trail, as everywhere I went I could never escape it. It seemed to be the presiding force that kept the Noland Trail as one, and gave it and everyone in it a sense of togetherness. The Noland Trail just gave off a feeling of calmness, as everyone I came upon seemed to welcome me by saying hello as I came across them, and through the rays of sun shining down on the body of water in the middle of the trail. It was all over after I stepped out from beneath those trees, and stepped off of that trail. The wind became apparent again, as did the sights and sounds of cars passing on the parkway. Seeing those lions on the bridge as we were leaving told me that we that we were leaving the sacred place of wildlife and beauty, and returning to the real world, where we do not see these same aspects taking place in our everyday life.

Cloud Easton, Respone to Gatta's exerpt from Bradford on pg.18

Having just reread the entry of Bradford's view toward native Americans in Gatta's book bring back an odd question to me. I understand that the Europeans had a superiority complex toward the locals, and that many felt that in no ways did the natives compare to their might, but it bothers me to believe that to some degree they didn't feel fear. Gatta explains this as the Europeans masked their fear of the peoples and the land by believing they were above them. While in some regards this makes sense, I am rather surprised that no mention of overt fearfulness was displayed. Within one year of the Mayflower landing half the people were dead, who would not be scared of those odds?

Cloud Easton, inquiring thoughts on Navajo

In Lane's writing he talks of among the most difficult trials for a boy to learn in becoming a man is to "being seen and asked to discern and name every holy place which could be seen." This interests me in that I wonder just how many holy sights did the Navajo actually have? I understand the importance of holy and sacred places, especially within the context of religion, but then to have as many as it could be hard to name them all? I guess my confusion comes from the thought that if a group of people had so many places considered sacred then wouldn't each of such places lose some its importance as to the sheer number of them?

Jason Parham, Why does god reveal himself in the wilderness?

Most religious prophets received the word of god in the wilderness, from Moses to Buddha, to Jesus and Muhammad they were all in the wild when they spoke to god or were revealed ultimate understanding. Is it because you need to be humbled away from society to receive this gift, or is it you need to be separated. Why doesn’t god ever talk at the city assemble? I don’t know. Does god not feel at home amongst things that humans take responsibility for, such as cities and roads? I wonder if the next prophet could receive the word of god at the McDonalds drive through. Maybe he could talk to them out of the com link in Ronald McDonald’s plastic head. I guess it just doesn’t work like that, you need to be in nature in the natural, where god lives. Maybe God is saying “I would talk to you in the city if I thought that’s where you should be, so get your but to the wilderness into nature so we can talk.”