Ik las een boeiende bespreking van een reeks schilderijen, gebaseerd op bijbelteksten waarin de natuurlijke wereld centraal staat. Voorbeelden van zo’n teksten zijn Jesaja 43, 20: De wilde dieren zullen mij eer bewijzen, de jakhalzen en de struisvogels, omdat ik water schep in de woestijn en rivieren in de wildernis; het volk dat ik heb…
Tag: nature
On Meeting God in Nature
How can religious traditions help us to encounter God – or, rather, to recognize that we encounter God – in our lives? A crucifix in Tirol triggered me to reflect on that. Nature as a magnificent whole shows traces of your Creator, but if you want to see Him at His greatest, you need to…
Polar Lights and Personal Faith
The turn of the year was a bit of a rough ride. My grandmother died, my last living grandparent, and although I did not have a deep personal relation with her, it felt as if a phase in my life had ended. Unexpectedly, her death has led me into one of the most profound crises of faith…
That which is untouched, is unloved
How we define ‘nature’ defines our relation with nature, Emma Marris argues. She invites us to take a different perspective on environmental care. In a way one could say she advocates for a child’s perspective on nature. I think the point she makes is worth considering. We need to get back in touch with nature,…
Cultural Evolution and a Rubber Band
– Tom Uytterhoeven – I disagree with two points in this article on biological, cultural, and technological evolution: (1) it suggests that biological, cultural and technological evolution are separate processes, while I see them as deeply connected; (2) it suggests cultural evolution/history must be read as the emergence of different 'stages', leading to ever greater…
Dreaming of a White Christmas on Different Levels of Reality
– Tom Uytterhoeven – It's that time of the year again when people start dreaming of (or dreading?) snow. Is it Christmas romanticism? Or just the memory of playing in the snow as a child? Maybe that's why the Calvin-makes-a-snowman cartoons are so popular… This video shows us different aspects of snow. That…
David Attenborough: most of the world’s population are out of touch with the natural world – Telegraph
See on Scoop.it – Cultural evolution The veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has said he believes most people don’t come into contact with wildlife. Tom Uytterhoeven’s insight: Maybe this is indeed one of the main challenge human culture(s) face today. While culture once enabled us to survive within our natural environment, it now seems to…