tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post9033725375308338779..comments2024-01-25T03:56:02.403-08:00Comments on Presbyterian Bloggers: Octopuses, Humans, and the Imago DeiMirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16380861596539183040noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-38324952817911950932010-06-11T08:29:41.036-07:002010-06-11T08:29:41.036-07:00Doug, I think you are exactly correct, bearing the...Doug, I think you are exactly correct, bearing the image of God is a calling. To be Presbyterian about it, we are elected for this particular service. Imagine how differently we would treat the world if we believed we were called to care for it rather than entitled to use it.Nancy Janischhttp://www.conversationinfaith.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-74096561855881974142010-06-10T11:51:07.442-07:002010-06-10T11:51:07.442-07:00I think we always use the knowledge we have to con...I think we always use the knowledge we have to construct metaphors and meaning. In the ancient world, there were some philosophies that talked about humans as essentially uppity animals, but it was hard to prove that things like ethics, mourning, memory, language and music were not unique to humans. As our understanding of the natural world gets better and more complete, this view will of course have to change. We can't possibly go back to how people viewed the world in ancient times, even if we imagine we can. It's simply impossible.<br /><br />For most of modern history, we have viewed the natural world mechanistically, and have mostly been interested in it insofar as finding ways to exploit it as a thing, or a resource, or a repository there solely for our use. I would love to see a move toward valuing the natural world for it's own sake on a larger scale.<br /><br />For example: God acts toward us lovingly, justly and self-sacrificially, and in all things preserves our freedom, even to respond to this love with hatred. In essence, God allows us to be wild.<br /><br />I would like to see more wild spaces allowed to flourish in the world. This will take more love, justice and self-sacrifice (since we'll have to restrain our desire to exploit wild places) on our part, and would be in line with being the image of God.<br /><br />That is, what if the image of God is a calling, rather than a default?Douglas Underhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215736448645573566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-52220783896510980162010-06-07T17:25:28.372-07:002010-06-07T17:25:28.372-07:00Lovely.Lovely.Sarahlynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658866017847046987noreply@blogger.com