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The Spirituality of Images from the James Webb Telescope

7/15/2022

2 Comments

 
This new space telescope has captured breathtaking images of the cosmos—images like the one above, a picture of thousands of galaxies in a sliver of sky the size of a grain of sand. These views of light from 13 billion years ago inspire a sense of awe that is nothing less than spiritual, for proof of which I offer a quote from Shannon Stirone’s recent article in the N.Y. Times.

When we look up (at the stars), we look for ourselves. Dr. (Carl) Sagan once said, “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself,” and that could not be more true. We long to understand why we’re here and to find meaning in a world where meaning is so often difficult to divine. Telescopes like this remind us that in spite of our specific challenges on Earth, the possibility of connection still exists.

Now that Webb is online, working and already sending extraordinary photos, we can not only continue asking the hard questions, but also possibly, someday, have answers to them. To understand our environment in this way is to understand ourselves. To gaze at the cosmos is to gaze back at our history. These speckled, swirling, bizarre galaxies are a part of our past. It is one perhaps less accessible to us, but nonetheless just as important.

Yes, we are made of star stuff, and perhaps much more. We are not just humans bound to a blue rocky planet in a galaxy. We are the universe calling ourselves home.

~submitted by Richard Russell
 
2 Comments
Donald Lathrop
7/21/2022 09:27:31 pm

Interesting topic.

In spite of having once had a magnificent course in Astronomy, I only feel more at a loss and at the same time inspired by distances such as billions of light years. The further suggestion that there was a time before time simply and literaly blows my mind. I enjoy being dumbfounded by such speculation.

Don

Reply
Richard Russell
7/28/2022 01:12:49 pm

Hi, Don.

Simultaneously feeling at a loss and inspired is probably the feeling of awe. Awe is what we experience when we encounter the Divine or the Mystery of the Universe.

Incidentally, I recently read a magazine article which claims that those who feel awe are more likely to live longer.

Richard

Reply



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    ​This blog was set up to post content of interest to Old Chatham Quaker members and attenders. Posts related to one's own personal spiritual journey, reports based on interviews with others, and reflections on Quaker-related topics are welcome. Posts by individuals are personal expressions and do not necessarily reflect those of the Meeting as a whole.
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