Jessica Buhler ~ “Celia, A Slave”

In a novel I read called Celia, A Slave by Melton Alonza McLaurin, I found myself questioning how people that believed in God could allow Celia to be rapped and used by her master and then punished for protecting herself by killing her him. The novel talks about her case and what happened in the court rooms, but that is besides the point I am trying to make and understand. How could the humans in general allow such a sad thing to happen? Most of the owners of slaves back then owned bibles because they could read so I do not understand how they could treat one another the way they did. Slaves did nothing wrong and just because of their skin color they were targeted and viewed as different and people of low values. I know I would not like to be viewed that way so I could understand why most of them would try and run away. They would run into the wilderness and once far enough from their masters they would feel free there. I think it is safe to say the wilderness for a slave was like sacred ground that they were not allowed to tread upon because if they did they were consider runaways and would get severely punished for it. So if the bible teaches humans to love one another regardless of skin color then why would slave owners decided not to follow what the bible said. I just feel like back then people were definitely more religious and it makes no sense to me how today when people are not as religious clearly see that slavery is wrong and immoral.

Jessica Buhler ~Making Nature Sacred (Gatta)

“The term ‘nature’ is notoriously elusive, but belief in the rejuvenating and spiritually sustaining capacities of outdoor experience has remained an article of faith in the United States.”
Does one who enjoys outdoor activities not enjoy nature? Are people to admit that they may enjoy something considered to be nature? It may be, however, many people who do not spend much time outside do find it satisfying to be outdoors once in a while. The outdoors can be solemn and spiritual for a person searching for some peace of mind. Many Americans turn to the outdoors for a spiritual connection. The remoteness desired for soul-searching and faith is one reason why religious groups go on retreat to camps in the woods, bringing the wilderness, God creations, together. Other people go to a lakeside to pray or think about their lives. Outdoor experience for spirituality is definitely still alive in the United States. Just look at the thousands who walk or hike the trails around the States. Many are doing it for a spiritual journey to help mend their lives or start new. With that said outdoor experiences have remained an article of faith in the United States.

Nicole Jacobs - Landscapes of the Sacred #1

"God has been removed from the particularity of place, extracted from the natural environment. Hence, the tendency in western civilization has been toward the triumph of history over nature, time over space, male dominance over female dependence, and technical mastery of the land over a gently reverence for life." This meaningful and true quote by Lane forced me to step back and really look at our society with this idea applied. Wilderness is sought viewed as land to be torn down and conquered rather than appreciated. Also, Lane further writes about how man's greed has cause him to forget about God's presence. In recent society mankind views god as unforgiving acts of destruction rather than small acts of creation and benefits. Lane's writing on societies neglect to appreciate the wilderness rather than overcome it and ignoring the small acts of god are all too common, inspiring myself to go about my day and life separately in order to avoid following this unforgiving path. 

Jessica Buhler ~ Making Nature Sacred- Wildness (Gatta)

It is observed that a person has a significant tendency to “associate wilderness with a sense of the sacred.” Many cultures have viewed these wild things as sacred, untouched religious icons. Many Native Americans tribes viewed the bear, one of the wildest animals, as a sacred animal that was not to be harmed. Some tribes even viewed the bear as a “brother” and were worshiped as a god. In Mayan tradition, volcanoes or fire pits were viewed as sacred. Volcanoes and fire are two of the wildest forces on the planet, yet it was an honor to be sacrificed in them to a god. The use of the wild fires and volcanoes was a direct link to pleasing the gods. Wildness has always been associated with sacredness and will continue to be so in the future.

Jessica Buhler ~The Chosen of the Sacred Place (Lane)

A “sacred place is not chosen, it chooses” (Lane). Does the phrase imply that the place chooses who will view it as sacred? How does a place choose to be sacred? In my mind this phrase does not make much sense without a bit of philosophical thinking. I feel as though the writer is personifying the place by giving it the human ability to choose. In terms of traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous people do not claim the land. Instead, they say the land claims them. They follow the land and the land provides for them. Therefore the land is deemed sacred by the people, but only because the land proved its allegiances with the people. If you abuse the land the land will not provide, but if you serve the land, the land will always work with you. By following these ideals for several generations, the land or area in which the indigenous inhabit becomes a sacred place to them. This sacred place creates a sense of home and security for them and will always be respected no matter what the outlying conditions are.

In other instances, a place chooses who will view it as sacred because of various religious and cultural practices. For example, a certain church may have had a miracle performed within its walls and the parishioners or followers of that particular religion may have a new found respect for that place, deeming it sacred. That place will now hold a special meaning for many for several generations and possibly several centuries to come. Another way a place can become sacred is if it was the scene of a heroic event or memorable moment and only a few very important people get to experience the gratification of being there. Many people, mostly politicians, would view the Oval Office of the White House to be a sacred place. It, to them, is the private place of the most powerful man in the world and only the worthiest people get to enter through its chamber door. This essential creates the sense of being sacred and once a person enters into that office, they too are viewed as sacred. Essentially, sacred places are simply places that are respected and once given a certain level of respect; they have an overpowering effect over people and are only considered sacred to that select group.

Jessica Buhler ~”The American Front Porch: Women’s Liminal Space”

In an article I read a little while back called “The American Front Porch: Women’s Liminal Space” by Sue Bridwell Beckham, there was one part that I found interesting. “Porticoes on Greek temples and on the ceremonial buildings of America’s Mississippian Indians alike blurred boundaries between the populace outside and the high priests performing their rituals in the inner sanctum. They were bridges between the sacred and the profane from which the highly revered could speak with the lowly and on which they could perform public rites for untutored – or unsanctified – audiences on the outside.” I never looked about a porch this way before. So I starting thinking, where do I see porches besides a person’s home? I see them on a lot of churches. I know my church has a porch and it makes sense that Beckham writes that it is a bridge between the sacred and the profane. Anyone who cross the porch and enters the church is entering sacred territory because it is a place of worship, faith, and the belief of a greater being. The profane or the secular, irreverent people will not cross the porch and enter. Yet the profane will stand as close as the can and just watch the ones who cross in envy. All they need to do is take a leap of faith. Unlike what Beckham writes about the porches and how they were not to be crossed by the profane, these days all are welcomed into the Christian faith. The ones who cross to the sacred on a daily bases would love to share with those who have not yet crossed the strength and power of God.

Jamie Richards- Making Nature Sacred #3

"The whole material universe is preserved by gravity, or attraction, or the mutual tendency of all bodies to each other. One part of the universe is hereby made beneficial to another. The beauty, harmony and order, regular progess, life and motion, and in short, all the well-being of the whole frame depends on it."

The above quote, extracted from John Gatta's "Making Nature Sacred, " page 64, is definitely one subject to interpretation. In other words, it is ultimately up to each individual reader to discern the portrayed meaning of this proclamation. I personally feel as if Gatta is claiming that all material within the universe is inherently connected to other material, and it is the network of these connections that perpetuates the holistic nature of the universe. Essentially, one universal aspect is unable to stand alone in utter isolation, lacking any sort of relevance to other aspects. It is the tendency for all aspects to intertwine or "attract" to other aspects that allows for "order, regular progress, life and motion." Gatta states that, therefore, all of these aspects are mutually beneficial. And, through this perspective, the "well-being" of the structure of the entire universe solely depends on these networks. After all, it is these connections that make up the structure in the first place. This concept is quite mind-boggling to contemplate, and I personally am left feeling almost overwhelmed in reflecting upon it.