A pantheistic interlude

Laura W. writes:

I noticed your harsh words on Walt Whitman’s pantheism in your discussion of Jamie Glazov’s interview of Christopher Hitchens. Look, you have an awful lot to do attacking Muslims and anti-Christian bigots. This devoted reader asks: Couldn’t you go easy on pantheists? I know, I know. They do so much harm. But, think it over. They rarely resort to WMD’s (not smart enough), are fabulous gardeners and decent neighbors. Face it, there are worse threats and you can’t do it all.

I have a weak spot for pantheists. For years, I was one and it was the happiest time of my life. But, as Thoreau (of all people) said, “Nature arouses expectations it cannot satisfy.” It’s true.

Once and a while, I slip into the old mode. I recognize it is never, never acceptable to pray to a living thing. Living meaning “of this earth.” (There is only one reasonable exception. You can pray to a good person who is on the very threshold of death.) But, sometimes I find myself practicing the dangerous vice of praying to a living phenomenon. I know it’s a sin, but I do it anyway.

The other day, I went for a walk and found myself, strange to say, praying to June. It went something like:

O vegetative June
Fragrant opiates
Milky pharmaceuticals
O ruffled doctor
Tend your emerald clinic
Your lab coat askew
Your hair disgraced with tendrils
Alternative medicine is a hoax
But there is no cure
Dispense your prescriptions
Drug and deceive
Only lengthen this appointment
I cannot hold you close enough.

So there you have it. Pantheism lurks in the minds of your most loyal readers. Reconsider. All idolatry is love misdirected, but this is the mildest form.

- end of initial entry -

Dan M. writes:

I think Laura W.’s ode to June is not only quite lovely, it is also quite acceptable. The anthropomorphizing of and prayer to a wide range of natural phenomena has a long and noble pedigree in the Church. Nature mysticism has always been especially characteristic of the Celtic Church. St Francis’s Canticle of the Sun also comes immediately to mind. The key, I think, to whether one has crossed the line, lies in intent. Orthodox nature mysticism adores God through veneration of nature. Even when our words fail to express our theology accurately, as long as we have not slipped into adoration of nature, we are on the right side of the Lord. I don’t think Laura ever loses sight of her God and his place while she venerates June. But then, the only ones who know for sure are Laura and her God.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 07, 2007 04:49 PM | Send