What is it about?
We often talk about nature as a book. Where did this idea come from? Augustine is sometimes credited as the originator. I show that some of the quotes attributed to Augustine are misleading, but the idea is his. For Augustine, the book of nature and the Bible should be read together. This is because everything was created through the divine Word.
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Why is it important?
We need to rediscover the roots of the Book of Nature metaphor in order to learn to reflect more deeply on its meaning and implications. This article is part of a larger project to recover the thinking of the Church Fathers on the Book of Nature. This metaphor changes the way we look at nature and how we relate to the natural world. Christians have sometimes shown a domineering attitude towards nature, whereas it should be a place of prayer, gratitude and dialogue with God.
Perspectives
When I looked into the details of Augustine's thinking on the Book of Nature, I was surprised by the complexity of his thinking. It was also striking how many secondary sources quoted him in a misleading way. This taught me the importance of checking sources carefully and reading them in their original context.
Oskari Juurikkala
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Two Books of God, Augustinianum, January 2021, Philosophy Documentation Center,
DOI: 10.5840/agstm202161229.
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