pre-post, class date: 10/12/11; written date: 10/11/11

"Having created God in man's own image, Western religion has adopted an anthropocentric mythology that separates God from Creation, soul from body, and man from Earth. It is this dualism that prevents us from relating not only to the natural world, but to ourselves."

My initial response to this passage, specifically this quote, was, "this is nuts." Nuts in the best kind of way.

First and foremost, how bold, convicting and true are the first seven words? Having created God in man's own image. This is what each one of us do whether we know it or not and it is imperative that we constantly flush and renew our minds from what we may have preconceived or decided Him to be.

But moving down to how we separate God from Creation, soul from body, and man from the Earth- this is a daily, personal conviction of mine that I've been working through and attempting to learn and embed into my mind since early summer. Personally- I have a skewed (perhaps due to failure of acknowledgment) subconscious idea that God and I are very separate. As though I'm consulting, seeking, begging His spirit to work in and through me, yet still believe us to be two completely different entities.. When I need to step into the understanding that we are laced together. If I could grasp that, what an outstanding impact it would make on my life. And just so, as mankind, we need to understand that we are not above but a part of the Creation, this earth, and in some ways- we are one. And in being one with something, you tend to, cultivate and take care of it because it is then your own.