39 replies to this topic

[Leave Britney alone!]

It is a traditional Christian view that God and therefore mankind are separate from nature. How many Christians feel like me that we are a part of nature and that God can be found in every part of it? How many non-Christians feel similar with your chosen deitiy(s)? Or how many believe otherwise?

I have always felt this way, innately, but only recently read that the traditional Christian view, not the only one, nor was it the first one because there were many competing views until Rome settled on one and they fractured once again, but it was just surprising to see that my view always sat uneasly next to the idea of having dominion over the earth.

Edited by Chasingtherabbit, 28 September 2012 - 02:46 PM.

[Ryu]

You know..the idea of "divine" just never occurred to me at all.
I never seen anything as "divine" nor have I felt it.

I suppose if one wanted to "see" or "experience" their god then instead of staring at a book that has been written and re-written by man, why not go to a park and listen to the wind as it rustles through the leaves. Why not go and donate food to a shelter or visit some elderly neighbors? Why not gaze at the stars or clouds or even look out at a lake and watch the birds? If one wants the "divine" so badly then that is where it would be..not in some building where you are being told on a daily basis how awful and evil you are just because you were born.

[braveone2u]

Are trees "special"?? Sounds a bit vague. Instead of "special," I think the more appropriate word is important, as in for our survival.

[Darkwind]

Tree hugging, dirt worshiper. The Earth is my mother, she is Divine. All of the Universe is Divine.

[Dying Seraph]

Eros

Chasingtherabbit, on 28 September 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

It is a traditional Christian view that God and therefore mankind are separate from nature. How many Christians feel like me that we are a part of nature and that God can be found in every part of it? How many non-Christians feel similar with your chosen deitiy(s)? Or how many believe otherwise?

I have always felt this way, innately, but only recently read that the traditional Christian view, not the only one, nor was it the first one because there were many competing views until Rome settled on one and they fractured once again, but it was just surprising to see that my view always sat uneasly next to the idea of having dominion over the earth.

Is it really seperate? In which way? God created the heavens and earth and all beings on it do Christians not believe this? Thus mankind animals and the planet would all have the same stamp correct? Trees included. What makes us "more special" than trees or animals etc. is simply our own ego.

"The Greeks who invented the idea of nature, saw all nature as a vast living organism...In effect, the Greeks had projected themselves onto the macrocosim, and said it was alive and a reflection of themselves." -Norman Doidge, M.D.

[braveone2u]

Darkwind, on 28 September 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

Tree hugging, dirt worshiper. The Earth is my mother, she is Divine. All of the Universe is Divine.

Hi Darkwind,

In my personal path, part of spirituality is about being in the now. Spirituality is also to get us out of this material world. With these in mind, there's no way for me to verify my divinity while I'm here on this planet. For one thing, I'm still in the body at this moment. Even when I was out of my body, I can actually say that there's nothing divine about my being. I do know that my being is (relatively) eternal, but is it "divine"? My being actually has never told me, "Paul, you are so divine." My definition of divine is, no doubt, different from yours. And yes, I don't follow hearsay nowadays. Holy books info? I have nothing against people following whatever they want to follow. I can only be honest to myself. As of right now, I'm far away of being a god, divine, etc. I have no illusions about that. In fact, I'm becoming no-thing right before my very eyes. Things have been taken away from me... If I were a god, I certainly would not allow that. I have no supernatural powers. Nothing. Zero. Truth is stranger than any holy books, interesting to say. I, on the other hand, believe in the promise of freedom via Nirvana. A promise is the only concrete knowledge I can actually go by. It is the core of my existence. Promise, promise, promise. Real freedom to me equates to God(?). Merging w/ God(?) 101. And God(?) is not in this material plane of existence. To really know God(?) is to be one with It. Otherwise, that pseudo knowing is based on dreaming. Dreaming is never real, contrary to some people's belief system. Then again, this is my personal path, the only right-as-rain that I truly know about. I'm also trying to deprogram myself from tired teachings and pseudo-truths. I'm not saying that your belief system is as such, Darkwind -- please don't get me wrong. I respect your path. My life, on the other hand, is my harshest teacher, and there's no turning back for me.

Peace.

Edited by braveone2u, 30 September 2012 - 04:29 AM.

[Professor T]

IMO, to seperate ones self from nature is obsurd.
Unless one is an artificial life-form.. but even then, all of the components of said artificial life form are born of nature.. so, I guess there is no such separation in a physical sense.. *shrugs*

[braveone2u]

I still find this valid: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." "Awakening" has its place, in the scheme of things. "One step at a time..."

[Mr Walker]

In christianity, there has long been a division between panthiests like Kellog (the cereal magnate) in the nineteenth century, and monotheists. The pantheists, in brief, think god is made up of many components found in separate elements of nature. The monoheists see god as more anthropomorphic, but sometimes as one being who may permeate  all of nature. because he created it.

My own experience of god is this. God exists in every thing and  everything is a part of god. We can share god's energies, power, and thoughts  There is a singular consciousness and form of god, but it meshes with all consciousness and all natural things. So trees are a part of god, and a sapient being can talk to the sapience of god which resides within a tree (and every where) It is not the tree's consciousness one is speaking with, but god's.

Also we can share consciousness with other humans, past and present, via god/ the universal consciousness. ANd, of course, because we are linked with gods sapience, we can share that also and communicate directly with god on many levels.

God is always accessible to a human being, to provide wisdom guidance help and protection. But you can "pray" (or just strike up a conversation) to a tree or  the wind/sky or your inner self and find god residing there, waiting to respond.

[Professor T]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That is the best explaination I have ever heard of God^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[notoverrated]

trees are special? not anymore so than any other creature to me, so if everything is special... nothing is really special? idk i just say no tress are not >.>

Edited by notoverrated, 30 September 2012 - 07:24 AM.

[Mr Walker]

notoverrated, on 30 September 2012 - 07:23 AM, said:

trees are special? not anymore so than any other creature to me, so if everything is special... nothing is really special? idk i just say no tress are not >.>

IMO everything is special. We are a part of an integrated universe/ecology which supports us and so it is all special, but selff aware sapient entities are extra special for obvious reasons They can change things via will and skill. they are builders and destroyers.
Trees are special because they support life. And  because they can tell you the winner of the next melbourne cup, if you talk to them nicely and listen to them carefully..

[Beany]

I'm starting to think what we call God or the divine is just another word for nature or the natural world, instead of nature being a part of God or divinity. I think anthropomorphizing "god" often leads us to perceive God as more human than other, sort of as a super-human being. Like us, but only bigger & better, whereas I tend to think  more along the lines of Holy Spirit because it opens more doors for me to explore.

[braveone2u]

Mr Walker, on 30 September 2012 - 05:03 AM, said:

In christianity, there has long been a division between panthiests like Kellog (the cereal magnate) in the nineteenth century, and monotheists. The pantheists, in brief, think god is made up of many components found in separate elements of nature. The monoheists see god as more anthropomorphic, but sometimes as one being who may permeate  all of nature. because he created it.

My own experience of god is this. God exists in every thing and  everything is a part of god. We can share god's energies, power, and thoughts  There is a singular consciousness and form of god, but it meshes with all consciousness and all natural things. So trees are a part of god, and a sapient being can talk to the sapience of god which resides within a tree (and every where) It is not the tree's consciousness one is speaking with, but god's.

Also we can share consciousness with other humans, past and present, via god/ the universal consciousness. ANd, of course, because we are linked with gods sapience, we can share that also and communicate directly with god on many levels.

God is always accessible to a human being, to provide wisdom guidance help and protection. But you can "pray" (or just strike up a conversation) to a tree or  the wind/sky or your inner self and find god residing there, waiting to respond.

Did your god tell you that? It sounds to me that you're merely describing your spirit, what you've been taught for years. Philosophy stuff. Then again, if it works for you, then wonderful for you.  On the other hand, what is this "experience" you're telling us? Was it a "dream" experience?

I once prayed to a personal god/deity, but see where it got me -- back to 101. I've come to realize that everything in this world is to get us out of this world. I am following spirituality after all, not materialism. Praying for things and protection?? Wasn't it Jesus who said to give your riches/things away?? Something to think about. No amount of prayer will protect people from the harshness of this world, unfortunately. Speaking of Christ...he was crucified, was he not? Rudi, the founder of my meditation group, died in a plane crash, with all the gory details. Therefore, the real God(?), to me, is not in this world...

Edited by braveone2u, 30 September 2012 - 11:39 PM.

[little_dreamer]

I find nature relaxes and energizes me, but I don't worship it.