I remember decades ago taking a college class on the history of the Pacific Northwest. That class included a discussion of the utter awe, sometimes fear-inspiring awe, that the early settlers in Virginia and the East Coast had for that vast western wilderness beyond the Mississippi River. It was unlike what they were used to in England at that time, where the land had long been squared off and parceled. In other words, land management had it under control, for the most part.
In many cases, it took deep-thinking intellectuals to advocate for a spiritual connection to the wilderness and eventually to its exploration and preservation as a symbol of American strength and majesty. One such man, John Muir, was an influential Scottish American naturalist, botanist, writer, and environmental philosopher in the 1800s who earned the nickname “Father of the National Parks.” He was a strong advocate for the preservation of America’s wilderness areas.
Reestablishing Deep Connections
Armstrong, who at one point early in her career was studying to become a Roman Catholic nun, has written dozens of books on religious thought, including “The Case for God,” “A History of God,” “The Battle for God,” and “The Great Transformation,” to name a few. She’s a noted religious historian.Armstrong draws on her vast knowledge of the world’s faith traditions to offer readers encouragement to renew nature’s place in spirituality.
All of us have admired sunsets or sunrises, marveled at the beauty and intricacies of a garden’s floral display, or smiled while kicking up sand along a seashore or shivering from a sudden rainstorm. However, I would venture that many of us don’t view nature as necessarily sacred or holy.
Armstrong reminds readers that for centuries (well before the American explorers whom I alluded to), humankind had a deep and abiding reverence for nature. In fact, they saw in it the divine.
In her short yet deeply personal and powerful narrative, Armstrong vividly describes nature’s place and role among many ancient religious traditions. It was central to their belief systems and resultant rituals and ceremonies.
In discussing mankind’s views of the world, whether from a Western or Eastern perspective, Armstrong draws on her extensive knowledge of world religions to share with readers the differences and often similarities in how given peoples worship, whether in organized belief systems or privately. Whether quoting from the Book of Job, St. Thomas Aquinas, Lao Tzu, or English poet William Wordsworth, Armstrong encourages readers to recapture what was once a driving force for humankind: a sense of the divine.
Practical Guide for Rekindling Spiritual Bonds
Many of her chapters will conclude with “The Way Forward,” a section offering simple tips on how we can incorporate daily practices to enhance our appreciation of nature, an appreciation that will hopefully lead to a deeper respect and rediscovery of nature’s potency as a source of the divine.Armstrong is clearly an advocate for protecting the environment. She lays her case by providing many examples of the thought processes from age-old wisdoms and practices that place nature at a pivotal place in our understanding and connection to the world.
One aspect I found particularly insightful is her belief that faith can be taken very seriously as a response to human longings outside of the formality of organized religion. It would seem to address a deep spiritual need that man has without the constraints or rigidity of a formalized belief system.
Should any of her thoughts provoke keener interest in the subject, the select bibliography listed at the end of the book offers readers a mind field of additional reading material.
As I look out my office window, I see our beautiful magenta magnolia tree in full bloom. It was a past Mother’s Day gift. It blossoms yearly and steadily grows ever stronger and more robust. Springtime offers many examples of new life and renewal.
Armstrong’s little volume packs a powerful punch. Her wealth of religious historical knowledge offers much informative insight. That, coupled with her advocacy for a return to stronger spiritual bonds with nature (thus strengthening our ties with God), would seem the perfect read to embrace during Eastertime—or anytime.
