Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Nature: Can we Learn to Live in Harmony Again?
Nature can be many things to many different people. My nature may consist of rivers and lakes, where a fish’s nature can be coral and water. Can everything that exists on earth be considered nature? Are houses and buildings part of nature because they came from the earth and were merely stacked and sculpted by human beings? This brings the ultimate questions to the forefront, what is mankind’s relationship with nature? Through much of the reading we have done so far we have very powerful examples of how people have interacted with their environment. We as human beings are constantly trying to push the limits and conquer our natural surroundings; this brings to mind accomplishments such as the great pyramids and Stonehenge. Lifting and moving massive stones weighing many tons across miles of rugged terrain is an engineering feat that still boggles the mind to this day. In an article on National Geographic’s website this quote states, "‘We forget that ancient people are just as smart as we are,’ said Terry Hunt, an archaeologist at the University of Oregon who studies the Polynesian culture of Easter Island. ‘In fact, they may have been better focused because they didn 't have our distractions.’" Even in modern times we continue to try to conquer our environment by constantly expanding our concrete jungle to such a degree that to an inner city child concrete and steel are just as much nature than trees and grass are to a country boy. Nature may truly be what we as individuals interact with on a daily basis. Nature can be any ecosystem that supports life. A seemingly barren frozen tundra can have and entire ecosystem that relies on the delicate balance that could only occur there. I believe Nature is more than just a random array of elements and chemicals, I believe that everything has a specific purpose and reason for being where it is. From the giant elephant to the buzzing honey bee everything serves a purpose in
Nature can be many things to many different people. My nature may consist of rivers and lakes, where a fish’s nature can be coral and water. Can everything that exists on earth be considered nature? Are houses and buildings part of nature because they came from the earth and were merely stacked and sculpted by human beings? This brings the ultimate questions to the forefront, what is mankind’s relationship with nature? Through much of the reading we have done so far we have very powerful examples of how people have interacted with their environment. We as human beings are constantly trying to push the limits and conquer our natural surroundings; this brings to mind accomplishments such as the great pyramids and Stonehenge. Lifting and moving massive stones weighing many tons across miles of rugged terrain is an engineering feat that still boggles the mind to this day. In an article on National Geographic’s website this quote states, "‘We forget that ancient people are just as smart as we are,’ said Terry Hunt, an archaeologist at the University of Oregon who studies the Polynesian culture of Easter Island. ‘In fact, they may have been better focused because they didn 't have our distractions.’" Even in modern times we continue to try to conquer our environment by constantly expanding our concrete jungle to such a degree that to an inner city child concrete and steel are just as much nature than trees and grass are to a country boy. Nature may truly be what we as individuals interact with on a daily basis. Nature can be any ecosystem that supports life. A seemingly barren frozen tundra can have and entire ecosystem that relies on the delicate balance that could only occur there. I believe Nature is more than just a random array of elements and chemicals, I believe that everything has a specific purpose and reason for being where it is. From the giant elephant to the buzzing honey bee everything serves a purpose in
Cited: "Basics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. . Hood, Charles. South X South: Poems from Antarctica. Athens, Oh: Ohio UP, 2013. Print. Lee, Jane J. "From Angkor Wat to Stonehenge: How Ancient People Moved Mountains." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 06 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. . Mann, Charles C. "The Artificial Wilderness." The Norton Mix. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. 168-88. Print.