Month: February 2025

Exploring Transcendentalism and Christian Science Connections

Long, long ago when I was a Freshman at the University of Washington I discovered Emerson and Thoreau in an American Literature Survey class and realized that philosophically I was probably a Transcendentalist.  Later, when my high school students would inappropriately ask me what religion I was, I would reply that I was a Transcendentalist, which seemed to satisfy their curiosity.  But if someone were to ask me today, I would probably have to reply I’m a Taoist, if I didn’t reply more appropriately, “It’s none of your business.”

I never went to church with my parents, probably because my mom was raised in the Christian Church and my dad was raised as a Christian Scientist. Dad’s mother was even a Christian Science practitioner. Neither parent seemed willing to accept the other’s religion, so we never went to church together. I definitely absorbed beliefs from both of them, though I think I tend to favor my father’s beliefs.  

As I read Emerson’s essays in college, many of the ideas seemed familiar, but it was several years later that I realized that Emerson and Thoreau must have influenced Mary Baker Eddy’s thinking since she lived in Boston and published her first works just seven years before Emerson died.  It would have been virtually impossible to grow up in Boston and not have been exposed to Transcendentalism.  

I’ll have to admit that I wouldn’t have been able to clearly articulate the similarities between Transcendentalism and Christian Science until I recently asked Chat GPT, “What are the similarities between Christian Scientists and the ideas of Emerson and Thoreau?” and it answered:

Christian Science, founded by Mary Baker Eddy, shares some philosophical and theological resonances with the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, both of whom were central figures in Transcendentalism. Below are some key similarities between Christian Science and Transcendentalist thought:

1. Emphasis on Spiritual Reality

• Christian Science: Asserts that the spiritual realm is the ultimate reality and that material existence is an illusion. This perspective emphasizes the power of spiritual understanding and divine Mind (God) over physical conditions.

• Emerson and Thoreau: Both philosophers emphasized the primacy of spiritual insight and the interconnectedness of the individual soul with the divine. Emerson’s concept of the “Oversoul” reflects the idea that ultimate truth resides in the spiritual rather than the material.

2. Self-Reliance and Individual Spirituality

• Christian Science: Encourages individuals to rely on their understanding of spiritual truths and their connection with God for healing and guidance, rather than external authorities or traditional medicine.

• Emerson and Thoreau: Stressed self-reliance and the importance of personal intuition and individual connection to the divine. Emerson’s essays, such as Self-Reliance, and Thoreau’s work, including Walden, advocate for trusting one’s inner voice over societal norms.

3. Harmony with Nature and Divine Law

• Christian Science: Views the universe as governed by divine Principle, a concept akin to natural law, where harmony prevails when aligned with spiritual truths.

• Emerson and Thoreau: Valued nature as a reflection of divine truth. Emerson saw nature as a manifestation of the divine spirit, and Thoreau believed that living simply in nature could bring individuals closer to God.

4. Rejection of Materialism

• Christian Science: Rejects materialism by deeming physical reality as illusory and focusing instead on spiritual existence and divine Mind.

• Emerson and Thoreau: Critiqued materialism and consumerism. Thoreau’s Walden is a testament to living simply and seeking fulfillment through spiritual and intellectual pursuits rather than material wealth.

5. Focus on Healing and Transformation

• Christian Science: Central to its practice is spiritual healing, which Eddy described as a restoration of understanding one’s unity with God.

• Emerson and Thoreau: While they did not specifically focus on physical healing, both saw spiritual and personal transformation as essential. Emerson’s philosophy emphasized the healing power of spiritual insight, and Thoreau’s retreat to Walden Pond was an exercise in self-renewal.

6. Criticism of Traditional Religion

• Christian Science: Challenges traditional Christian doctrines and emphasizes direct understanding of God rather than reliance on rituals or intermediaries.

• Emerson and Thoreau: Both were critical of institutionalized religion, favoring direct, personal experience of the divine. Emerson’s Divinity School Address criticized formal religion for stifling individual spiritual growth.

To a certain extent, I agree with all six of these principles, though the most important of them for me is number three, Harmony with Nature, and number four, Rejection of Materialism, is a close second.  

I’m sure my father believed in most of these principles and tried to live his life by them. I think his greatest love, other than our mother, was fishing, where he felt in tune with Nature. I don’t think it’s entirely coincidental that dad took us salmon fishing on Sunday more than any other day.  Certainly, sitting there in the morning light or morning fog quietly waiting for a fish to bite was nearly as meditative as anything I’ve managed to do in my life. It was so peaceful that I might even have gotten addicted to salmon fishing if I hadn’t been prone to seasickness. As a result, instead of communing with nature on a boat, I commune while hiking and backpacking and, as I have aged, while birding.  

P.S. Originally this was meant to be an introduction to Bozeman’s Tao of Thoreau, but it took me a lot longer to show the link between my parents’ religious views and Taoism than I thought it would.  

Chili Relleno and Birding: A Perfect Day Out

Creature of habit that I am, after I spent the morning birding Theler Wetlands I headed to Port Orchard for my Chili Relleno with Green Sauce at La Palapa Mexican Grill. For me, at least, a great day birding (or hiking, for that matter) should include a meal at a favorite restaurant.

I started going to Port Orchard many years ago because the marina was a great place to see seabirds. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been true for me since they started reconstruction last year.

I though perhaps it would be different this year when I got this nice shot of a Great Blue Heron on the roof of one of the boat docks as I entered the marina.

He looked almost as cold as I felt with cold winds blowing across the bay. Despite the cold, I walked around the marina as far as I could before I encountered a gated area. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a single bird in the marina. I did manage to get this shot of a Horned Grebe in winter plumage just outside the marina.

I took pictures of a couple of flocks of Widgeons, but I preferred this close-up of these two who already seem to have paired up.

Dissatisfied by how few seabirds I saw, I ended up driving all the way to Manchester Park looking for Harlequin Ducks I’ve seen there in the past. I did see ducks on the way, but more often than not they were in areas where there weren’t any places to pull off — just private docks with warnings not to trespass

I never did find the Harlequin Ducks, but I managed to get a shot of this male Greater Scaup, a bird I rarely see,

and as Ruth Sullivan always used to say, “one good bird” is all you need to make your birding successful.

Exploring Birding: AI vs Real Photography

On my recent trip I met John and the monthly birding group that visits Theler Wetlands  on the Second and Fourth Thursday of every month. The photographers in the group were all trying to capture shots of the seldom seen Crossbill. Naturally I joined in, but was generally frustrated because the birds were too close for my camera to focus or I had so many branches between me and the bird that my camera wouldn’t focus on the Crossbill.

This is the best shot I could manage out of twelve photos taken, and it’s one I would normally just trash, certainly not post.

While I was trying to polish the photo and make it as presentable as possible I remembered a Adobe promotion I’d gotten recently and wondered what kind of picture of a Crossbill I could get using their AI.

The first images I generated were pretty cartoonish,

but after several iterations and a more detailed description I got this picture,

and I’ll have to admit that it’s a better shot than I’ve ever gotten of a Crossbill.

And it took less time to generate than I spent trying to improve the photo that I took.

Which leaves me with the question of why should I carry a heavy camera around when all I have to do is make a list of the birds I see on a walk and then use AI to generate them.

Heck, why walk at all when all I have to do is imagine what birds I would see if I went on a walk and then generate them in Photoshop ?

Would a reader know the difference or would they just think I was a fabulous photographer?

Luckily, I know my body would feel the difference, and I am too stuck in my ruts to give up birding. Getting out in nature is both physical exercise and a form of meditation that I can never get from my computer or iPhone.

Perhaps I should end this with a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh:” “When you walk, if you enjoy every step, if every step nourishes and transforms you, then every step is a prayer.”

A Foggy Day in Belfair: Discovering Wildlife

Inspired by our recent visit to Port Townsend and the sunshine, I decided to go to Belfair to see if I could walk three miles straight. As it turned out, I could.

It wasn’t sunny at Theler Wetlands, though. It was quite foggy,

which wasn’t totally unexpected since it’s often that way in the winter.

Undaunted by the fog and the lack of birds at the beginning of the walk, I focused on another form of beauty,

which was to be found in many different forms.

Luckily the sun began to break through the fog by the time I finally spotted birds, like this Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.

I had been hearing Killdeer cries for quite awhile, but couldn’t spot them in the fog. Luckily, the sun revealed this guy just as I crossed the bridge.

i didn’t manage to get a single shot on the walk out to the boardwalk, though I saw a Variegated Thrush, one of my favorite songbirds.

By the time I got back to the bridge, the sun had dissipated the fog and I managed to get a decent shot of these Green-Winged Teal.

By the end of the walk my knees were beginning to tell me that I’d gone far enough, but I was so distracted by the flora and fauna on the hike that I didn’t notice it until I was a short distance from the car.