Things to read

[Windsmith]

I just found this short essay by Chet Raymo (http://www.science-spirit.org/webexclusives.php?article_id=623) on the Science & Spirit website, and I adore it. What does anybody know about this magazine?

What else have people read that they feel reflects the way they feel about pantheism and/or the Universe? Anything really great that they'd love everyone to read? Articles, books, magazines, backs of cereal boxes? What? :reading:

[Windsmith]

Tough crowd, eh? OK, how about this article about opponents of wind power (http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/om/06-5om/Komanoff.html). As a wind power student, I think about things like this a lot. Obviously, wind alone can't solve our energy woes, but the climate's tanking fast and the oil's disappearing faster. I see the point of those who argue that we need to keep beautiful vistas beautiful, and that turbines can mar the landscape. But this is such an imporant source of energy, and I think a turbine - heck, even 30 turbines - creates far less of an eyesore than a new coal or nuclear plant on the same land (though maybe I'm biased, as I think the turbines are gorgeous). Plus, if we don't clean up our energy act fast, there'll be no more beautiful views at all, unbroken or otherwise.

What do you guys think?

[EJ1096]

Tough crowd, eh? OK, how about this article about opponents of wind power (http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/om/06-5om/Komanoff.html). As a wind power student, I think about things like this a lot. Obviously, wind alone can't solve our energy woes, but the climate's tanking fast and the oil's disappearing faster. I see the point of those who argue that we need to keep beautiful vistas beautiful, and that turbines can mar the landscape. But this is such an imporant source of energy, and I think a turbine - heck, even 30 turbines - creates far less of an eyesore than a new coal or nuclear plant on the same land (though maybe I'm biased, as I think the turbines are gorgeous). Plus, if we don't clean up our energy act fast, there'll be no more beautiful views at all, unbroken or otherwise.

What do you guys think?

I didnt read the artice But All I could think of when I read that people where opposed to them due to the "eye soar" factor was they would not cut down forests to put these things up. because there would not be enough wind that blow around forests. They are building them on open plains and farmers are selling aprts of ther land to have these put up.
besides I too think they look cool

[Windsmith]

I didnt read the artice But All I could think of when I read that people where opposed to them due to the "eye soar" factor was they would not cut down forests to put these things up. because there would not be enough wind that blow around forests. They are building them on open plains and farmers are selling aprts of ther land to have these put up.
besides I too think they look coolThat's a good point about the forests. But a lot of turbines do also go up on hilltops and mountaintops, which I think is where some of the objections come from.

A lot of it has to do with money, too. There are hundreds of wind farms around the country that are as big as or bigger than the proposed Cape Cod project, in areas that have views that are just as stunning. The Cape Cop project protesters get a lot more press because they're super-rich and have convinced Ted Kennedy to shill for them.

Or maybe I'm just cynical.

[Birdy]

Spinoza, definitely. He is the pantheist philosopher.

"The Sacred Depths of Nature" by Ursula Goodenough
A reverent description of evolution and how it can inspire religion... and stuff, I can't remember, I haven't read most of these books YET, they're just on my must read list.

"A Religion of Nature" by Donald A. Crosby
Not for the general MW crowd. He tells his life story of moving through the various conceptions of (mono, panen and then pan)theism into atheism and then back into pantheism and puts forward the idea of a religion of nature.

The poetry of Mary Oliver. She herself is not a pantheist but her poems (and non-poetry related essays) are nature reverent in a way that connects wilderness with humanity. I like "American Primitive" and... I forgot the name of the other one..

If you really want to go into the classics there is Marcus Aurelius's (am I spelling that right?) "The Meditations"

and then there is

"Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles, & Celebrations" (author forgotten) - It looks at ways that different peoples, all the way back into neolithic times, celebrated the solstices and equinoxes etc.. and it's credible (ei. no revisionist utopian matriarchy nonsense)

I am currently looking into finding some works of Brian Swimme...

that's all for now.

Oh and Windsmith, your not cynical, just smart.

[Windsmith]

Thank you so much, Birdy, for all of these excellent suggestions. I'm putting them all on my to-read list!

Oh and Windsmith, your not cynical, just smart.Aw, shucks. Thanks! Part of me wants the Cape Cod gang to have deep moral objections to the project, be they historical, aesthetic, ornithological - whatever. I would still disagree, but at least I'd know they have convictions. But the more I read about them, the more I think they've just been struck with a bad case of the NIMBYs, and I want to shout, "Hey! Kennedy! Siddown and shuddup!"

Maybe they'd like a nice wave energy system (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/kids/2004/08/waves.html)instead? Those things are cool.

[RainInanna]

What do you think of David Suzuki's writings such as The Sacred Balance, and others he has written on environmentalism? I borrowed that particular one from the library some time ago but didn't get a chance to read it. Or Starhawk's Earth Path?

[Birdy]

What do you think of David Suzuki's writings such as The Sacred Balance, and others he has written on environmentalism? I borrowed that particular one from the library some time ago but didn't get a chance to read it. Or Starhawk's Earth Path?

Thanks for reminding me of that book! I wanted to read it so much when it came out but then somehow forgot about it. It will go back on my "to read" list now.

I haven't read any Starhawk... (where the hell have I been, I know)

[RainInanna]

No problem, maybe it'll remind me to read it as well (sheesh, too many books, not enough time). I wonder if Starhawk's writings are too supernatural for the average pantheist?

[Birdy]

Oh, probably, but I don't think that would stop many. Those kind of books are a good source of inspiration for creating one's own material. I think the basic spirit of earth centered paths is the same.

[Philosophia]

Is Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau good sources?

[Eleisawolf]

Actually, I love both of them. They helped me to understand my feeling of connectedness. Reading their words helped me recognize what I was seeing in the world and why I wanted to be in love with it.

Then I went to Walden Pond and I understood even more. ;)

Peace

[Windsmith]

I just finished Alison Hawthorne Deming's Writing the Sacred into the Real (http://www.milkweed.org/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,230/category_id,18/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,8/). It might be difficult to find outside of Minnesota, since it's published by a small, non-profit press based in Minneapolis, but if you can get a hold of a copy, it's a fantastic short read. She doesn't call herself a pantheist, but her description of her spirituality reads very similarly to what a lot of us talk about here.

The book is comprised of 4 essays about 4 places that have meant a lot to Deming and helped form her views of the world. It's amazingly minutely detailed and very "meta" - she writes a lot about the process of writing. Especially good, then, for those of us who find our homes in art as well as pantheism.

[ravenscape]

It would be interesting and fun if we could choose a book to read together, and maybe post our thoughts each time we finish a couple of chapters. Would anyone else be interested? And does anyone have suggestions of books to read?

[Eleisawolf]

Ravenscape, I think that would be a fabulous idea!! It would help me feel more connected by doing something grounding... everything I'm involved with lately seems to be pulling me out all over the place (which is good for me, right now--I was so internal all autumn/winter) and having a center would be wonderful!

I might have some book ideas--let me look around at some of the things I've been hoping to read.

I think it would be okay if we read some books together that some people have already read...

Any suggestions? I would love this...

Peace

[Windsmith]

It would be interesting and fun if we could choose a book to read together, and maybe post our thoughts each time we finish a couple of chapters. Would anyone else be interested? And does anyone have suggestions of books to read?Ravenscape, this is a great idea. And, hey, if I knew something like this was coming up, maybe I'd actually get off my tuchus and finish my AC Circuitry book! :lol:

[cheddarsox]

I'm not neccessarily suggesting this for a "read together" book, but just as one that has inspired my life..Loren Isely's "Immense Journey".

It is a collection of essays.

I have been not doing much reading the past 18 months. So...I am open to suggestions, but not making any promises.

cheddar

[ravenscape]

I'm so glad there's interest in this! I feel connected to the group we've formed here, and wish we were more active as a group and could *do more* together. I thought maybe this would be a way.

I've been thinking seriously about ordering Glennis Livingstone's Pagaean Cosmology ever since she popped in at the atheist/secularist board where I moderate. She posted a link to this article (http://blog.nearthwort.com/2007/02/14/pagaian-cosmology/) at the time. I found the article intriguing.

But, I'd be up for together-reading most anything!

[Eleisawolf]

Ravenscape, I feel the same way and agree that this is a good start to getting our group doing more together. It sometimes seems (to me anyway) that we're all so new to realizing where we fit in the grand scheme of things that we just need to get our bearings. But I think reading together would be a good start.

Your book sounds like a good suggestion, as does Cheddar's. Maybe we could start with those and see where it takes us?

Other thoughts?

Peace

[ravenscape]

If I can find these two books in a local bookstore this weekend, I'll buy them. If not, I'll place an Amazon order. I hope I'll be ready to start reading next week sometime.

[Birdy]

This is a great idea!

So, the first readings are Pagaian Cosmology and Immense Journey?

[ravenscape]

This is a great idea!

So, the first readings are Pagaian Cosmology and Immense Journey?

I'm not sure it's final yet. I want to read both of these books anyway, so I figure I'll line them up in the queue this weekend.

It may take another day or so for folks to chime in with yea, nay, or "how 'bout something else".

[Windsmith]

I'm not sure it's final yet. I want to read both of these books anyway, so I figure I'll line them up in the queue this weekend.

It may take another day or so for folks to chime in with yea, nay, or "how 'bout something else".Alas, I have to sit out this round. I'm getting ready to move at the end of May, plus the end of my school semester is fast encroaching...I barely have time to read my mail, let alone a book. But I will be watching the discussion with great interest.

[ravenscape]

Heh. I'm nuts for trying to start another book right now. We're poised on the precipice of a kitchen remodel -- starting over from the bare walls. I'm guessing it will probably start in about 2 weeks.

And besides, I've got 5 books started at the moment, and am making slow progress with them.

If this is a bad time for others, maybe we could delay for a few weeks and see how things look.

[equinox2]

Exactly what kind of book are you looking for? Glenys' book is good, and is an in depth look at Pagaian Cosmology, with a lot of academic/researched support. However, I'm not sure that's what you are looking for.

I've pasted below a list of some books that I recently put together. You may look at that. For starters, I'd recommend Aurelius' Meditations - it's short, and very good. Wright's "non-zero" gives a good view of the long term vision of life on earth, nicely providing purpose to our universe and spirituality, which is so often called "purposeless". Wrights "the moral animal" is a must read book for understanding how our minds work. Oh, and Wilson's "evolution in everyday life" sounds good, but I haven't read it yet.

Here's the list, may you enjoy this day as the priceless treasure that it is-

Equinox



******************************


Books of Spiritual Significance to Jon on February 18th, 2007

I’ve read these books, or in a few cases, parts of them. Sure, there are a few things in many of them that I don’t agree with, but by and large, they’re great. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some great books – especially those on my list to read next, like David Sloan Wilson’s “Evolution in everyday life”, which isn’t published yet. Also of course, this is just a snapshot – our lists change over time. * = especially recommended

Biology
Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas
Evolution by Carl Zimmer
The Ghosts of Evolution by Connie Barlow

A Long Term Worldview
*Thank God for Evolution by Michael Dowd This book is written especially for a Christian perspective. However, I highly recommend it whether you are Christian or not.
*Non-Zero by Robert Wright
Evolution’s Arrow by John Stewart

Freethought:
Cec’s Credo
*Bible Stories Your Parents Never Taught You by Michael Scott Earle (available at www.reasonworks.com)
How we Believe by Michael Shermer
The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine
Science and Unreason by Radner & Radner

The Bible/Christianity
Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium by Dr. Erhman (& other scholarly work on the historical Jesus)
*Audiocourses from www.teach12.com by Dr. Erhman about the history of Christianity, Competing early forms of Christianity, the making of the Bible, the historical Jesus, etc. There are also plenty of other sources of information on the Historical Jesus – all sources should be compared critically since they disagree.

Evolutionary Psychology
*The Moral Animal by Robert Wright
The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker

Pagan/Earth/Universe-Centered Spirituality
*In Nature’s Honor by Patricia Montley
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
*Cosmos TV series by on DVD (by Carl Sagan)
The Sacred Depths of Nature by Ursula Goodenough
*Kyle’s Credo
Neolithic Europe by Dr. Adams, Audiocourse from www.teach12.com

For kids (these aren’t necessarily profound, just great for kids)
The Universe Story books by Jennifer Morgan:
• Born with a Bang
• *From Lava to Life
• Mammals that Morph
*Our Family Tree by Lisa Westburg Peters
Evo - boardgame
Pocahontas, Brother Bear – Disney DVDs

[cheddarsox]

Personally, I'm more in the mood to read a book that is not specifically about pantheism, spirituality, etc...and discuss how our own beliefs, spirituality respond to it.

I don't want to be led through someone else's path/journey.

That's where I am these days.

I'm more into discovering where I am, than hearing about where someone else is.

If one more person recommends some atheist's take on God to me...I'll scream!

sorry, I'm fragile at the moment

cheddar

[Eleisawolf]

Personally, I'm more in the mood to read a book that is not specifically about pantheism, spirituality, etc...and discuss how our own beliefs, spirituality respond to it.

I don't want to be led through someone else's path/journey.

That's where I am these days.

I'm more into discovering where I am, than hearing about where someone else is.

If one more person recommends some atheist's take on God to me...I'll scream!

sorry, I'm fragile at the moment

cheddar

:hugz:

I think that's certainly something to consider.

Honestly, I'm so wrapped up in Sound of Music rehearsals right now (and Terry Pratchett for release), I don't really have time to read anything yet.

Maybe we should all take some time and think about books that might lend themselves to this group. Then we can reconnect in a couple of weeks and see what folks have come up with.

How does that sound?

I do have to agree about the whole atheist thing. We're barely a fine line away, but still on this side of deity/spirituality/relationship... we walk that fine line, don't we?

Peace

[peggyelizabeth]

Honestly, I'm so wrapped up in Sound of Music rehearsals right now (and Terry Pratchett for release), I don't really have time to read anything yet.



I can relate to that! I'm in South Pacific rehearsals. My whole body hurts from learning choreography and I'm the costume designer, so that adds a whole other level of no time to read.

[Eleisawolf]

Peggyelizabeth,

Exactly! :lol:

You're the fourth person on the Pantheism board who is artistically inclined, and the third I know of who is performance inclined... I wonder how many more of us are... :awilly:

Theater definitely makes it harder to have time to read... heh.

Peace

[Windsmith]

Personally, I'm more in the mood to read a book that is not specifically about pantheism, spirituality, etc...and discuss how our own beliefs, spirituality respond to it.How far afield are we talking here? Are you talking about something like (just as an example, honest - definitely not what I'd want to read as a group!) Silent Spring, which isn't technically pantheist but has a similar world-view? Or do you mean a book that has nothing to do with pantheism - Stephen King? Jane Austen? Tom Robbins? and see what connections and conclusions our mysterious brains can come up with?

[cheddarsox]

Peggyelizabeth,

Exactly! :lol:

You're the fourth person on the Pantheism board who is artistically inclined, and the third I know of who is performance inclined... I wonder how many more of us are... :awilly:

Theater definitely makes it harder to have time to read... heh.

Peace

I was just thinking the same thing yesterday and today, we certainly are a creative bunch! I feel honored to know y'all.

and really, it is a good thing to be living our own lives and paths...and not sitting around reading about others lives and paths all the time. I value books...they have their place, but it is not front and center.


Here is a user friendly option for all us busy types...we read a book chapter by chapter, or essay by essay...or even an article or poem. Something short...and we take our time discussing it. No need to rush through in a day or two, or a week or two, or even a month or two.

It can be "play as we go"...start a thread for each little piece and folks jump in if and when they can. For those who are too busy or poor to do the reading now...they can still benefit from the discussion, and decide if they want to spend their limited fund of time and cash on the subject at hand...based on what they see.

I have a book of earth prayers, and a UU service book here, full of short thought provoking readings. I'm sure folks know of online articles they'd like to discuss with friends.

This is a good way to acknowledge and honor the What Is in our lives.

Wish I could see all your performances...I love live theatre.
My husband teaches at a college and I get free entry to all the drama and music performances. It is an incredible perk.

[Birdy]

Awhile ago I bought a biology book called Endless Forms Most Beautiful so I'm gonna read that.

[ravenscape]

Glenys Livingstone posted a link to her most recent essay on another board where I moderate. I really enjoyed reading her take on the Beltane/Samhain balance, which I suppose is more evident to an Antipodean, since so much of the pagan press is Northern hemisphere-centric.

here's the link: http://www.matrifocus.com/SAM07/pagaian.htm

I find her naturalist approach to the Wheel of the Year resonates for me.

[RavenStars]

I'd like to add my tiny voice to the proceedings. How about Barry Lopez? I truly love "Desert Notes/Reflections in the Eye of a Raven." It's very short but dense. I'm also passionate about "The Beak of the Finch/A Story of Evolution in Our Time." Neither are pantheism per se but their language and message is so rich and exciting. I think the trick here is to pick something rather small like poetry or short essays. I'd love to see what people have to say... but it looks like this is basically a dead thread.

[Windsmith]

I'd like to add my tiny voice to the proceedings. How about Barry Lopez? I truly love "Desert Notes/Reflections in the Eye of a Raven." It's very short but dense. I'm also passionate about "The Beak of the Finch/A Story of Evolution in Our Time." Neither are pantheism per se but their language and message is so rich and exciting. I think the trick here is to pick something rather small like poetry or short essays. I'd love to see what people have to say... but it looks like this is basically a dead thread.Nah, threads around here are never dead, RavenStars - they're just resting. They're pining for the fjords.

These sound interesting; I'll definitely look into them once I'm done with all the boring reading I'm doing for school.