Is God the Biosphere? - 2 - The Power of Nature

30-04-2022 • 30 mins

We left off at the end of the last episode wondering what might make the Biosphere a compelling object for our attention; this in the context of the all-too-human reality of our challenges - the tragedy of the commons, the addiction system, the psychological imperative of avoidance.

In listening back over this episode, I'm reminded of two things: one, Edmund in King Lear - "Thou, Nature, art my Goddess!" And the other, Fidel Castro: if he was to go through the revolution again, he said, he would select just twelve highly committed comrades - echoing, no doubt, the twelve disciples of Christian mythology.

In this episode we start to feel our way into our relationship with the Biosphere. In particular Ed takes a cue from Lynne White, who argued in the 1960's that Western religion was a root cause of environmental degradation, but - controversial! - a religious way of thinking might be the way out.

Talking Points -

Context: the Tragedy of the Commons, the Addiction System, Avoidance etc

We are an emergent property: nature is an absolute, there's no escape

But the relationship has broken down. How can we restore it?

Lynne White and Environmental Ethics, Human Ecology and Beliefs

What is religion?

Was there a good idea behind Christianity?

Earth Mother as a mind-set

Purpose and fly-fishing on the Danube

Nature as a hedonistic giver

Biophilic design

What should we give to nature? The two way relationship