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Samhain
05-31-2006, 02:59 AM
I've always had a strong affinity with nature, and it grieves me to see how we sorely abuse her precious resources. So, just my thoughts, but when I see the natural disasters occurring, I wonder could the Earth be getting her on back on us. When these things happen the tendency is to blame God, and then pray to Him for help, but what if the Earth was a thinking 'being'? Well, you probably I'm crazy, but it's just my musings.
I don't think you're crazy. I think this is a nice theory. I feel this has to do with cause and effect. Each person has a strong problem with responsibility. What if mother earth was just showing us all the effects we've caused?

This has been started to be discussed in the athiesm thread, I think its worthy of its own thread.
Gaia is the greek goddess of the earth, although in this case, the world is not seen as a goddess, but rather a concious living life form its its own right see below where I have marked it in bold where it is explaining this
S
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gaia philosophy (named after Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth) is a broadly inclusive term for related concepts that living organisms on a planet will affect the nature of their environment ? to make it more suitable for life. This set of theories holds that all organisms on a planet regulate the biosphere to the benefit of the whole. The Gaia concept draws a connection between the survivability of a species, (hence its evolutionary course) and their usefulness to the survival of other species.

While there were a number of precursors to Gaia theory, the first scientific form of this idea was proposed as the Gaia Hypothesis by James Lovelock, a UK chemist, in 1970. The Gaia hypothesis deals with the concept of homeostasis, and claim the resident life forms of a host planet coupled with their environment have acted and act as a single, self-regulating system. The system includes the near-surface rocks, the soil, and the atmosphere. While controversial at first, various forms of this idea became accepted to some degree by many within the scientific community.

Samhain
05-31-2006, 03:15 AM
And here it is again put another way, so what do you all think? I think this prompts an interest discussion if nothing else!
S
What is the hypothesis of Gaia ? Stated simply, the idea is that we may have discovered a living being bigger, more ancient, and more complex than anything from our wildest dreams. That being, called Gaia, is the Earth.
More precisely: that about one billion years after its formation, our planet was occupied by a meta-life form which began an ongoing process of transforming this planet into its own substance.
All the life forms of the planet are part of Gaia. In a way analogous to the myriad different cell colonies which make up our organs and bodies, the life forms of earth in their diversity coevolve and contribute interactively to produce and sustain the optimal conditions for the growth and prosperity not of themselves, but of the larger whole, Gaia. That the very makeup of the atmosphere, seas, and terrestrial crust is the result of radical interventions carried out by Gaia through the evolving diversity of living creatures.

Lying in a field
05-31-2006, 05:01 AM
The gaia theory is as scientifically viable as it is spiritual. But I don't think we should be handing out human traits to physical phenomenon....Gaia thinks, but not in the way we do. Revenge and love are irrelavent. I can't explain, but it blows my mind to think how matter and energy flows and cycles and expands and contracts and manifests and evolves and lives and dies, you can only sort of feel it.

Samhain
05-31-2006, 05:08 AM
The gaia theory is as scientifically viable as it is spiritual. But I don't think we should be handing out human traits to physical phenomenon....Gaia thinks, but not in the way we do. Revenge and love are irrelavent. I can't explain, but it blows my mind to think how matter and energy flows and cycles and expands and contracts and manifests and evolves and lives and dies, you can only sort of feel it.
the easiest way to picture it is that she (i mean gaia) is not taking revenge shes taking steps to self heal, if you drop a cup and it breaks, its not revenge its something thats happened because of an action i did, i.e dropping the cup.
S

Kujo
05-31-2006, 08:41 AM
I voted that this Gaia theory makes sense because I see it with my own eyes. People evolve and there's a ton of proof, everyday. If people can evolve, why can't other living things? I mean, rocks even evolve. Well maybe they don't evolve per say, but they can move. And nature is the reason they move. Mother Nature, weather, whatever you wish to call it, the whole planet adapts.

I want to thank Sam (if I may call her/him??? that) for starting this thread because it's one of many subjects I've just recently gained interest in. And when I say recently, I mean today, *turning red & smiling*. I've heard of the word/name Gaia, but I just get so easily distracted I'm sure I missed it until now because I picked up a book on Tarot instead. I can only stay focused for so long and then it's on to something else. But I usually come back. So thank you for helping me come back.

Kujo
05-31-2006, 08:44 AM
Just wanted to rate this thread!!!

Lying in a field
05-31-2006, 10:32 AM
KUJO Buddy - It was a boring but sometimes interesting read, but if you want to fully understand the scientific implications of the Gaia theory, pick up "Gaia" by James Lovelock. ;)

honeyhannah
05-31-2006, 11:11 AM
Thanks for starting this thread.

Wond'ringAloud
05-31-2006, 01:50 PM
Hi Sam! and thanks. Couldn't sleep last night and I was looking at this, but the brain was too addled to think.

I heard about Gaia a while back but I never gave it any credence, only these past few years have I started to give it serious thought and think 'what if'. Done a bit of reading and getting past the science bit, and looking at it in terms of 'life', like we need blood flowing through us to live, then so the oceans and rivers, in fact all water is the life blood of the Earth. It is mind blowing when I think about, the other thing which I find difficult to comprehend is the Universe. Really wouldn't know where to start with that, but if the Earth is a living oganism, isn't it possible there are others of her kind out there. I mean, we only really know about our own little bit of the Universe. This might lead to a discussion about little green men. I'll be quiet now!

Wond'ringAloud
05-31-2006, 02:41 PM
Reckon this book will be a good read.
Jon Turney - Lovelock and Gaia: Signs of Life.

warmhandedcanadian
05-31-2006, 07:12 PM
woah very interesting- and the first I've heard of it. I'll have to chew this one over in my mind a bit. Feeling a little fuzzy this morning.