Wilderness is a controversial word which evokes deep passions in people and there is a huge literature about wilderness.
What is a Druidic Relationship with Wilderness?
TDN is collecting and collating Druid opinions on wilderness and deity and how Druids relate to 'wilderness'. We hope to gather Druid opinions on what wilderness is and how it should be treated. Once we have an understanding of how Druids view deity and wilderness, TDN aims to hold a pan-religious conference to examine a range of religious opinions on 'wilderness'. It is hoped that this conference and debate could generate enough understanding to develop a consensual religious definition of wilderness and how it should be treated. This would then be presented to politicians to influence landscape and species management.
Perhaps a ‘wilderness' classification would enable land managers to justify non intervention, protect indigenous landrights, allow the presence of risk and less intensive management. Prehaps it would create places which honour the spirit of wild self-willed places and the wild gods.
I am hoping that TDN can move the wilderness debate forward and look specifically at religious relationships to wilderness and deity. How would this influence the management and classification of wild land? The entire debate about wilderness is based within a dualist, monotheist, non-animist framework. I think pagan opinion coild be valuable and bring a totally different perspective to the debate.
What I want to avoid is repetition of the arguments which have already been had. So please, read the ‘Culture and Conflict' page which summarise many of the arguments and acknowledges the debate which has been had so far, then email your comments to the environmental projects coordinator.
What we hope to understand is...
• What do Druids mean by wilderness?
• What would be the purpose of a designation for wilderness?
