Standing atop a 14,000 foot peak in the Rocky Mountains, one is overwhelmed with the enormity of our world. Diving among the coral reefs of the South Pacific, one is in awe of the intricacies of marine life. Gazing into a telescope on a clear night, one is shrunk by the vastness of our universe. All of these are feelings that people experience when they are "communing with nature." So what about God? Are all of these countless experiences proof for the existence of God? Did God design and create "nature" in such a way that we would have no excuse but to worship Him? The topic of natural theology is something that I have taken a particular interest in over the last nine years. In this next series of blog postings I will be inviting you into dialogue on this complex topic. I will be writing about books that I have read, conversations that I have been involved in, experiences that I have had, and research that I have done all focusing in on natural theology. What is the role of natural theology? How has it been addressed in the past? Is there a value outside of apologetics for natural theology? Is natural theology a form of worship? What are we worshiping when we do natural theology?
For centuries, natural theology has been defined as a philosophical pursuit to prove the existence of God through the rational examination of nature. It has been seen as a primarily apogetical discipline that focuses on the revelation that can or cannot be obtained through nature. The term "nature" is being used for more than just plants, trees, and even the Earth. The universe, the human body, animals, plants, the processes of the "natural" world, and much more are under examination within the parameters of natural theology. What can we know about God through nature, whether it be through study or simple experience? This is the ultimate question that drives natural theology.
As I embark/continue on this journey I am personally inviting you to join me. The mystery of the blog, to me, is whether or not people are actually reading what I am writing. If a blog is posted on the Internet, but is never read, does it really matter that it was posted? I cherish your thoughts, questions, challenges, and involvement of any kind. I will be posting a minimum of five essays about particular books that I will read, at least one post about a survey that I will be doing, and at least one post about the research paper that will be the culmination of this particular study. You will help guide some of the posts, depending on your interactions, so come on, lets enter into this dense forest that is natural theology, together.
3 comments:
I see God everytime I see nature and how perfectly everything works and fits together. I also see God in people choosing to love each other unconditionally. I also can not help but think of God'd amazing work everytime I see a beautiful sunset. I do not know much about natural theology so I am excited to read and discuss your blogs with you! :)
I can't say I know much about the actual technical aspects of Natural Theology but I can see God in nature very easily. Standing on the beach watching the power of the tides, looking up at the stars on a clear night, standing on top of a mountain after a hike, or just swimming in a river or natural lake makes me realize how his hand has carved the world. Also I promise that your blog will not go unread.
The old question about the tree falling in the forest, eh? I'm not really certain it matters in terms of blogs, except to salve or bolster our own self esteem. Certainly it's nice to see people visit, hear nice comments, even get into a disagreement once in awhile. However, from my personal perspective, I embarked on the Blog path for personal enrichment. My daily photo blog is a personal challenge to help me get out every day and make at least one new photograph. Like exercise, making pictures is easier the more I do it. If I don't then stagnation and sometimes inertia occur and for a photographer that's not a good thing. So, I'm really doing my blog for me. That others derive benefit and joy from my blog is a bonus, not the prime motivation. The simple act of examining and writing is an amazing clarifier. I suspect you will discover this as well, Eric. Thanks for your visit ... kind words ... and enjoy a Red Stripe!
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