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By Root 909 0

Indigenous, and more. I realize there are deep differences, both within these traditions and between them. The clash of religions is a powerful and unsettling reality in today’s world. Nonetheless, if we allow for their many differences, and look at the way each tradition regards the universe, I think the similarities we discover are striking and of immense importance in revealing a common understanding shared by all wisdom traditions. Common themes emerge as different spiritual traditions describe their in-depth understanding of our common home, the universe. Often it is the more mystical tradition within a spiritual family that explores these depths most fully. Given differences of history, culture, and geography, it is not surprising that each of the world’s spiritual traditions would have a different way of describing the universe. It is important to receive each tradition on its own terms and allow it to speak for itself and inform us with its unique insights.

We will explore views of the universe through the lens of a half-dozen wisdom traditions that comprise a majority of the world’s population. Although all belief systems deserve consideration, these few embrace the overwhelming majority of the human family and provide us with a strong foundation for this overview. As a cautionary note, I recognize that some people may not give much attention to how their spiritual tradition regards the universe. Nor do people necessarily hold a view of the universe consistent with their particular faith. With care to not overstate humanity’s beliefs about the universe, let’s explore how the world’s spiritual traditions view the universe and humanity’s relationship to it.

Judeo-Christian Views

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have common roots in the idea of a single God. Despite their differences, all three religions trace their lineage back to the Hebrew patriarch Abraham whose life is described in the Jewish Bible known to Christians as the Old Testament (in the book of Genesis). From Abraham we find the core belief in a single, all-knowing, all-powerful, and transcendent God who created the universe as “good” and continues to be involved in its existence.

It is important to acknowledge that, for many, the word God tends to evoke the image of a remote masculine authority figure who is separate from this world. However, another view runs through both Judiasm and Christianity and uses the word God to evoke the image of a powerful, boundless spiritual presence that infuses, sustains, and transcends the universe. It is this latter meaning of God that is the focus of this inquiry.

The Judaic view of the origin of the universe is described in the first sentence of the first book of the Bible. In Genesis 1:1, we read that G-d (a deity beyond words and whose name cannot be written) created this universe out of nothing. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.”1 The word created comes from the translation of the Hebrew word “bara” and means to bring forth out of nothing.2

In Exodus (3:14), God reveals his name as “I AM THAT I AM.” God is without limits or boundaries. God simply is. Also in the Jewish Bible (and Old Testament), we find this powerful description of a spiritual presence creating and sustaining the universe:

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands . . .

—PSALMS 19:13

Another translation of this Psalm is written differently. Instead of saying “the heavens declare the glory. . .” it says, “the heavens are telling of the glory. . .” The phrase “are telling” suggests the heavens are being presented to beholders as an active, ongoing process.4 The heavens are proclaiming the magnificence of their creator as a continuing dynamic.

Here is another Psalm that describes an infusing spiritual presence throughout the universe:

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your

presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my

bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the

dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even