Christian Animism
For class this past week, we discussed chapter one in Mark Wallace’s When God Was a Bird: Christianity, Animism, and the Re-Enchantment of the World, titled “Song of the Wood Thrush.” Having observed that dominant forms of Christianity have historically de-emphasized the sacredness of nature, Wallace suggests that the biblical narratives are in fact filled with affirmations of God’s incarnation in the earthy bodies of animals, plants, birds, and elements.
“If God was the creation bird in Genesis, the night brawler in the Jacob story, and the fiery thicket in Exodus, then could not the birds, people, and plants among us today be God-in-the-flesh once again?…And if this is the case, then should we not relate to all things – the birds of the air; every person we encounter; and the brambles, trees, and flowers that grace our existence – as, once again, the miraculously animated manifestations of the birdy, fleshy, leafy God of the biblical witness? If all creation is sacred, in other words, should we not comport ourselves to the natural world with reverence and adulation as the enfleshment of God in the biosphere? (p. 24).
We reflected together on some of the following questions: If this belief were central to Christianity – God as the animating presence in all the bodies of sacred earth – what would the implications be for how we gather together in worship? For how we structure Christian education and spiritual formation? For our approach to pastoral training? For the ways we practice mission, evangelism, community witness, and public engagement?
For class this next Sunday, we will discuss chapter 2 in Wallace’s When God Was a Bird, “The Delaware River Basin.” For those who need help purchasing a copy, please contact Pastor Laura Hannah at [email protected].
Recommended Resource: The theme of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Daily Meditations for this year is Radical Resilience, a focus which aligns closely with topics from our class. Those interested can sign up to receive the meditations here. Many thanks to class member Sandy Christie for the recommendation.