Crystal Clear

I always like to read thoughts on a subject from a completely different viewpoint than my own. It shows me again that I am limited and biased by my culture and the way I look at the world (white, reformed Christian, north american).

Lately I’ve been reading a book of reflections on ecology and theology by people from the ‘North and the South’. I found one essay fascinating; the essay was written by a North American Indian.

The point that especially caught my eye was his contrast of a dominant pattern of those of European descent and those he calls indigenous peoples.

Those of European descent (myself included) view the world with an emphasis on history. It is important what happened in the past and it is important what is happening now and how it affect the future. History will also show the ‘progress’ of humans and culture. In my tradition, we talk of ‘God’s work throughout history’ and the tracing of his hand in the Biblical story.

Indigenous peoples, especially Native Americans, see the world through a focus on locations and places. He relates first to a God revealed in space (creation), not in time (history).

The difference between the two is that which dominates the thinking:

“Of course Native Americans have a temporal awareness, but it is subordinate to our sense of place. Likewise, the Western tradition has a spatial awareness, but it lacks the priority of the temporal.”

The Western tradition then finds more meaning in words like progress, development and evolution. The Native American tradition would put more meaning into caring for the earth and the relationship with creatures and creation.
I need to remind myself again that the way I see the world, and the way my culture sees the world is so much not the only way to see the world.

I need to see and hear and learn from others. I hope decision makers will also desire this.

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