Maggie Spencer-Pick - from nature to creation intro and ch 1

 Maggie Spencer-Pick - From Nature to Creation Intro and Ch 1


This reading honestly surprised me. I grew up in church, raised in a Christian household. My family wasn't super strict about it- I eventually stopped going to church in my senior year of high school as my own choice, and it wasn't a big deal. I'm also lucky in the fact that my family could probably be considered pretty progressive Christians- not overly strict in the way some devout Christians are, and this became even more apparent as me and my siblings have all reached adulthood. 

With that background established, I'll again assert that this reading surprised me. I wouldn't call myself religious- more spiritual and agnostic than a strict adherent. But this reading made me understand the type of Christianity that I would maybe be a follower of. I'm an environmental studies student, so the world around me and the people in it have always been important to me. The Bible has always been a document open to interpretation- even preachers would tell you this. Some Christians adhere to language in the bible that speaks of creation as something humans have dominion over. This perspective often leads to environmental degradation and irresponsible resource use. Wirzba notes this in the reading on pg 27 how Europeans discovering America saw the land "as so much virgin territory and raw material waiting to be turned into a possession that could then be modified to enrich its holders. It did not dawn on these Christian missionaries that the land and its people might have integrity that deserved respect or even sanctity that called for appropriate regard." 

It is an unfortunate downfall of even modern Christianity to trample over other beliefs and deem them unworthy of respect. Wirzba extends this disrespect towards nature- the murder and death of all of creation. His perspective on communion definitely adds another element to a Christian's relationship with nature. To take Jesus's body to enrich one's own body, to make one strong and fulfilled to go and then enrich creation- the key to the universe's meaning and significance. I've never heard communion described like this and I've partaken hundreds of times! If this meaning was to become universal among Christians, is Wirzba suggesting that environmental degradation would slow? He seems to obviously suggest this. However, he sees the larger problem as the severance of god from society and people. So it's almost like he's saying- be evangelical but ALSO a reformationist. Preach to nonbelievers and those within the church  alike on a different kind of Christianity. In understanding this, I can also definitely understand now Niche sad God is dead- this challenge does indeed seem insurmountable. I'm curious as to what Wirbza suggests to remedy these separations and challenges as we continue to read. 

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