Original scientific paper

ON THE SYMBOLIC VISION OF NATURE IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION

Miroslav Artić ; Zagreb

Abstract

The author re-examines in a critical manner the relation towards nature in the Christian tradition. He also analyzes particular segments of the specific relation towards the world and nature of the two Christian leading figures. St. Augustine and St. Francis of Assisi. St. Augustine spoke about the old age of the world, on its unavoidable decadence, on the exhaustion and the senile panting. Unlike him, St. Francis optimistically pointed out the brotherhood of all the creatures.
The author then questions the Christian vision of nature, inherited from the Middle Age tradition, which uncritically upholds anthropocentrism and favours human guardianship over the creatures. Therefore he encourages the re-examination of the Christian vision of nature because it is, according to his words, burdened with dichotomy and extremity in its attitudes. So, these dichotomies should be overcome because they stir up discords in the order of existence, and question the consensus on co-existence of creatures.

Keywords

nature; world; symbol; dichotomy; the Christian vision of nature; experience; mystic vision; integration of nature and the world; anthropocentrism

Hrčak ID:

47895

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/47895

Publication date:

15.12.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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