
Honey from Stone
A Naturalist's Search for God
Chet Raymo(Author)
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published on 25. August 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
188 pages
978-1-56101-235-0 (ISBN)
Description
"What is the relevance of traditional religion in the world described by contemporary science? Is scientific knowledge a satisfactory ground for the religious experience? Can the language of traditional religion constitute an appropriately modern language of praise?"
-from Honey from Stone
Framing his meditations as a Book of Hours, scientist Chet Raymo exercises the languages of theology and science to express the majesty of Ireland's remote Dingle Peninsula. As he wanders the land year upon year, Raymo gathers the revelations embedded in the geological and cultural history of this wild and ancient place. "When I called out for the Absolute, I was answered by the wind," Raymo writes. "If it was God's voice in the wind, then I heard it."
In poetic prose grounded in a mind trained to discover fact, Honey from Stone enters the wonder of the material world in search of our deepest nature.
-from Honey from Stone
Framing his meditations as a Book of Hours, scientist Chet Raymo exercises the languages of theology and science to express the majesty of Ireland's remote Dingle Peninsula. As he wanders the land year upon year, Raymo gathers the revelations embedded in the geological and cultural history of this wild and ancient place. "When I called out for the Absolute, I was answered by the wind," Raymo writes. "If it was God's voice in the wind, then I heard it."
In poetic prose grounded in a mind trained to discover fact, Honey from Stone enters the wonder of the material world in search of our deepest nature.
Reviews / Votes
Chet Raymo, bless him, is one of those enchanting polymaths who are in love with the universe and use the language of science to make up the words for their love songs. So struck is he by the animated magnificence of clouds, hills, oceans, islands and the light in the sky that he makes geology, physics and astronomy into life sciences and then sings in the language of these life sciences to life itself. * The Boston Globe * Master taleteller, deft and graceful scientist, passionate poet, Raymo is a storycatcher and storysinger of rare humor, hawkness of eye, breadth of biology and physics acumen, and lyricism of line. Trust me when I say that swimming in his stories is elevating, edifying, and exuberant-making. -- Brian Doyle, author of Spirited Men and Epiphanies & Elegies Lovely essays brimming with mysticism. * Kirkus Reviews * A reverie, an entrancing meditation, on stones and stars and mossy ruins . . . Raymo has somehow found a way to invoke magic, without requiring me to believe in it. * San Francisco Chronicle * A beautiful series of essays that examine science, religion, and the landscape of Kerry. . . . A travel book about the world of ideas. * Irish Echo * Chet Raymo is simply the best literary naturalist writing today, producing elegantly written, insightful books that open from a seemingly modest premise into a dizzying (and sometimes humbling) view of our place in the universe. . . . He is our apostle of the joy of curiosity. * Bookpage *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-56101-235-0 (9781561012350)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
08/2005
1st Edition
Cowley Publications,U.S.
€12.99
Available for download

E-Book
08/2005
1st Edition
Cowley Publications,U.S.
€12.99
Available for download
Person
Chey Raymo is professor emeritus of physics and astronomy at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. A teacher, naturalist, and former science columnist for the Boston Globe, he is the author of many books including The Soul of the Night, Climbing Brandon, and The Path.