Our Universe is A Sacred Living System
[appears in the blog Humanistic Paganism , 2015] The relationship between humans and our natural world is enshrined and encapsulated in interpretive schemes and manners of conceptualization. Our conceptions of nature act as resources which guide our everyday practices and give us a sense of possibility. Given our current ecological crisis, enflamed as it is by global climate change and numerous other issues, we must critically scrutinize our current conceptualization of our natural world, figure out if it is contributing to our problems and consider potential alternatives that might be able to guide us to a more sustainable way of living. Before addressing our modern image of nature, I first review the conceptions of the natural world found among our archaic ancestors. I conclude by arguing that we need a new way of thinking about nature—as a “sacred living system”. “The Wisdom of the Earth” Close examination of the conceptions of the natural world...