“The Root of Religious Experience”
A couple of nights ago I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Dr. Matthew Fox at the University of Pikeville. Since the subject of Fox’s presentation was “Creation Spirituality” I was asked to do a multimedia program featuring images of nature I have taken over the years. Considering all that Matthew Fox has done to help people connect Christianity and Creation I felt it was quite an honor to be part of the program.
More than once during the course of his lecture Matthew mentioned how awe, wonder, mystery and gratitude are the root of religious experience. When he said this it helped me realize why I feel so close to God when I am outdoors enjoying nature. All four things he mentioned are common occurrences when I go out to hike or photograph.
I could not begin to count the times I have experienced awe in God’s Creation. I felt it as I viewed the northern lights for the first time in Alaska. I felt it when I first gazed down into Bryce Canyon. Every time I have watched a glacier calve or a humpback whale breach I have known awe. I could say the same thing about my first glimpses of the giant sequoias and redwood trees of California. Time after time my jaw hasdropped as I stood in awe before the handiwork of God.
I have likewise experienced the kindred feeling of wonder. Seeing things like the majestic formations in Carlsbad Caverns, the great sand dunes of Death Valley and the lava flows from volcanoes in Hawaii have left me feeling wonderful or, more accurately, full of wonder. I have likewise felt full of wonder as I’ve watched a newborn fawn take its first steps, seen thousands of snow geese rise simultaneously at Bosque del Apache or caught a glimpse of the moonbow at Cumberland Falls.
There is much in God’s Creation that I find mysterious. Simply looking at the Milky Way on a clear winter’s night I sense the mystery of both life and Creation. Even the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly is full of mystery to me. The same can be said about the way many plants and animals adapt to and thrive in conditions that would not seem conducive to life. I often find myself scratching my head in amazement at the mystery that surrounds us every day.
Finally, all the experiences of awe, wonder and mystery that I’ve enjoyed have led me to a profound sense of gratitude. I feel so incredibly blessed just to be alive and to be able to see and hear and smell and taste and touch all the wonders of God’s Creation. Such experiences cause people everywhere to feel grateful and to express thanksgiving. Those who are wise know Who to thank.
In God’s “Other Book,” Creation, we are introduced to the Creator. In His written Word we come to understand even more fully just how awesome, wonderful, and mysterious God is and why it is so imperative that we move on to the practice of gratitude and worship. The Psalmist said, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Ps. 95:6-7) Once you’ve encountered awe, wonder and mystery how can you not do just that? Fox is right. These things truly are the root of religious experience.
–Chuck
(I took the top image at Bosque del Apache NWR, the middle image in Carlsbad Caverns, and the bottom image at Bryce Canyon National Park.)