It
is critically important to me to understand my body and its needs has no more
rights in this universe than a deer, rabbit, or hummingbird. I am not a body
nor am I what I think.
I
just finished reading the book, Mutant
Message Down Under, by Marlo Morgan (aka
Traveling Tongue), Harper Collins, 1994. It is a fictional account of the
spiritual odyssey of an American woman in Australia. The author unexpectedly
goes on a 4-month walk-about in Australia’s outback with a small group of
Aborigines (who refer to themselves as The Real People). What happens and what
she learns about the tribe and herself truly amazed me.
The
first time I read it was about 15 years ago when the book was self-published. Several
things kept jumping out at me – over and over – as I read the book this time.
One concept that continues to tug at my heart was her numerous descriptions of
the tribe’s understanding of the Earth, its resources and their relationship to
those bounties.
Typically,
we think of our relationship to the Earth’s bounties as the biblical concept of
Dominion. There is a lot of
misconception about this. The biblical understanding of dominion has been
interpreted traditionally as God granting humankind with some status as an Overseer
or Manager of the Earth’s resources. That understanding is simply untrue.
Dominion, sometimes translated from the Hebrew as Lordship, was indeed shared with first Man/Woman, who were made in
God’s image.
Then
humankind fell and all bets were off!
Other
than the Genesis stories of creation, Dominion/Lordship is ascribed to the Lord
Himself, except where political (national) dominion is being discussed.
I
have commented in earlier posts on my sense of connection to the environment rather
than being a user of the environment. I do not believe
the Earth and its bounty is simply a great smorgasbord that we humans get to
“pig out” on at will. This bounty is not ours to rape and pillage as we see fit.
It’s not ours to use as long as it is perceived as being profitable.
For
example, I don’t eat veal anymore. Veal was initially a delicacy of very tender
calf meat. The meat came from still-born calves or those born with terminal
deformities. The meat was pure, sweet and devoid of fat or gristle. To maximize
profits for a growing demand, producers began taking healthy new born calves
and boxing them in a tight stall to prevent any movement. It would also allow for force-feeding. I find all
that repugnant. This violation of natural law and natural bounty is not the biblical
concept of “…having dominion…” over the Earth – doing whatever we want to or with
God’s other creatures.
Continued in Part 2
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