"Faith" implies believing in something that cannot be verifiable …
IMO, it is virtually impossible to view Nature without having faith in the idea that …
"Nature is the Art of God" (Sir Thomas Browne)
I am incredulous when it comes to believing one can find a Creator in a man-made building; that a stained glass window denies a view of God's blue sky, is to me, but one oxymoronic manifestation of organized religion.
A Spiritualist and a Deist, I find a forest, a stream, a mountain or a meadow, more sacrosanct than any house-of-worship could ever possibly be.
Humans have lived with nature being their primary guide to reality, a lot longer than they have had deities. The further we stray from the reality presented to us by nature , the further we fall into spiritual morass. That isn't a coincidence.
"that a stained glass window denies a view of God's blue sky"
Granted, A.Mac, that it does, but then is not variety the spice of life, and should we not appreciate creative beauty even if created by man? For example, the Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem.
Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Centrein Jerusalem.
I have no issues with "religious" art and iconography … I have issues with praying to it.
The stained glass window comment is metaphorical, Buzz. The idea of a man-made structure in which the Creator of the (natural) Cosmos is represented iconographically rather than literally in the midst of that which He created … is, IMO, the antithesis of "spirituality".
Further, I find churches, synagogues, mosques, et al, buildings for the purpose of exclusivity, isolationism and segregated identities … edifices that apotheosize not the similarities of humanity, but the systematic and synthetic differences created by an insecure humanity and its power broker-clergies.
Yes, I am a cynic when it comes to organized religion … in my mind, THERE IS NO ACT OF LOVE AND HUMAN KINDNESS THAT COULD NOT BE JUST AS WELL EXTENDED IN THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF RELIGION … and without the bullshit, the guilt tripping, the fear-mongering, the hatred, the wars …
For me this is one of the most peaceful and powerful places on earth.
The Headwaters of the Mississippi River which starts at Lake Itasca. Long before it was Lake Itasca it was know to the Ojibwe as Omashkoozo zaaga'igan (Elk Lake)
Being in a state park there are a lot of tourists, but when the tourists are gone (night or winter) it's the time to go there. There are many ways to get there other than going through the gates of the state park. We know them all. There are ceremonies there to honor the water, this is done by specific women, known as ''The Protectors of the Water'' at night when no tourists around.
One must experience it without the tourists/kids/screaming etc. That is when the spirits gather, you can feel their presence.
"Maybe you're not looking where it lives."
Love it; right on A Mac!
"Faith" implies believing in something that cannot be verifiable …
IMO, it is virtually impossible to view Nature without having faith in the idea that …
"Nature is the Art of God" (Sir Thomas Browne)
I am incredulous when it comes to believing one can find a Creator in a man-made building; that a stained glass window denies a view of God's blue sky, is to me, but one oxymoronic manifestation of organized religion.
A Spiritualist and a Deist, I find a forest, a stream, a mountain or a meadow, more sacrosanct than any house-of-worship could ever possibly be.
Humans have lived with nature being their primary guide to reality, a lot longer than they have had deities. The further we stray from the reality presented to us by nature , the further we fall into spiritual morass. That isn't a coincidence.
"that a stained glass window denies a view of God's blue sky"
Granted, A.Mac, that it does, but then is not variety the spice of life, and should we not appreciate creative beauty even if created by man? For example, the Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem.
Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem.
I have no issues with "religious" art and iconography … I have issues with praying to it.
The stained glass window comment is metaphorical, Buzz. The idea of a man-made structure in which the Creator of the (natural) Cosmos is represented iconographically rather than literally in the midst of that which He created … is, IMO, the antithesis of "spirituality".
Further, I find churches, synagogues, mosques, et al, buildings for the purpose of exclusivity, isolationism and segregated identities … edifices that apotheosize not the similarities of humanity, but the systematic and synthetic differences created by an insecure humanity and its power broker-clergies.
Yes, I am a cynic when it comes to organized religion … in my mind, THERE IS NO ACT OF LOVE AND HUMAN KINDNESS THAT COULD NOT BE JUST AS WELL EXTENDED IN THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF RELIGION … and without the bullshit, the guilt tripping, the fear-mongering, the hatred, the wars …
My 4 cents.
The forest is my cathedral.. and the cliffs, the water, and the sky at night. I simply cannot believe that such beauty is random.
Beautiful!
v3. Even the sparrow has found a home...
NWM,
Beautiful imagery befitting the Psalm.
Muir Woods?
It's my kind of place of course,.
I wish it was Mac, a fortunate encounter in the woods up on Mt Rainier. No place name that I know of...
Here is another.....
Again no place name but overlooking the Carbon River valley all the way to the mountain....
If this isn't the temple of God, I don't know what is....
Beautiful picture, Buzz!
The Ancient Ones....The Spirits speak to those that listen.
Leading Lines draw the viewer to the heavens.
Glorious!
We have but to lend an ear and be still.
For me this is one of the most peaceful and powerful places on earth.
The Headwaters of the Mississippi River which starts at Lake Itasca. Long before it was Lake Itasca it was know to the Ojibwe as Omashkoozo zaaga'igan (Elk Lake)
Being in a state park there are a lot of tourists, but when the tourists are gone (night or winter) it's the time to go there. There are many ways to get there other than going through the gates of the state park. We know them all. There are ceremonies there to honor the water, this is done by specific women, known as ''The Protectors of the Water'' at night when no tourists around.
One must experience it without the tourists/kids/screaming etc. That is when the spirits gather, you can feel their presence.