We marvel at the intricacy and integrity of the cities other creatures build. They are part of the natural order--part of an ecological whole. However, no one has accorded human cities such dignity and respect.
Is it possible to visualize and build cities which are organically part of creation? Can we see the city as a living organism, as part of the earth; and not as some other reality imposed on and unrelated to the earth?
When I do seminars on "urban ecology", I ask people what they feel and think when they hear the word "city". The immediate responses are characteristic such as: cement, steel, crime, pollution, noise, traffic, fear, greed. Basically, often unconsciously, our feelings about cities are negative. With such ingrained attitudes, the city as organic to Creation seems laughable; and I wonder how such deeply rooted negative feelings about cities result in negative self-images, self-hatred, and other unhealthy attitudes. If we are so negative about where we live, it must affect us psychologically and socially.
Secondly, when I ask "Where do you find God?", rarely is the city mentioned. Without realizing the implications, we say enthusiastically that we find God by the lakeside, in the mountains, beside the quiet river, in the meadow, by the sea. These places become sacred; the city rarely becomes a sacred place for us.
Take a look at so-called art in many of our churches. How many city scenes do you see? Besides the really awful pictures of Jesus (where you would never guess he was a Palestinian Jew), you will find many landscapes, some with the quiet church in the wildwood. As human beings we seem to have a loathing for where most of us live. As Christians, we can't seem to find God where we live most of our lives. How many congregational retreats take place in the city? The obvious implication is that those of us who live in cities feel we are living in the absence of God. Our church sanctuary may be sacred space; but where we live our lives, in the hustle of city life, is anything but sacred to us.
These realities of our existence in cities reflect subtle yet enormous implications for our theology, sense of community, and calling to be both followers of Christ and rooted in Mother Earth, let alone healthy human beings.
For example, the Gospels call us into the maelstrom of all human existence. We are called to see Jesus in our neighbor, amid the swirling realities of contemporary life. Much of the biblical story revolves around God being revealed in the social, economic and political life of city reality. The dream of healthy and vibrant cities is God's dream. Therefore, we are called to engage the full panorama of urban living with joy and hope.
If we abandon the city in our search for God, we abandon God. Further, if we cannot visualize the modern city as integral to Mother Earth, we are left with a theology which is incapable of dealing with the despair and hope our cities represent; and the ecological issues the modern city raises. Our commitment to ecological wholeness is frustrated from the outset.
Most observers cite the automobile and cheap fuel as the major cause of the design and development of cities during this period. The car brought new freedom of movement for most people. No longer did we need to live relatively close to where we worked, shopped, played, or worshipped. With billions of dollars invested in highways and expressways, we could go anywhere we wanted.
In seeking to flee the density and busy-ness of the city, we built suburbs on vast tracts of land (usually excellent farmland) surrounding the city. The myth was to be able to experience both city and country living. The reality is that neither resulted. We separated uses of land from each other. Industry in one place, commerce in another, shopping in ever larger malls (called plazas at first), and sleeping or "home" on our own plot of grass. Zoning by-laws created and enforces this arrangement.
All of this was dependent upon the car and increasingly expensive roads. With some exceptions, public transportation literally took a back seat to the individual driving her/his private automobile to these autonomous destinations. An American architect once said "In United States cities, the single most important constitutional principle is that cars must be happy." In fact some observers insist that the car and a healthy, ecologically integrated city are natural enemies.
A widespread feeling is that density in cities should be minimized. The inevitable result is suburban sprawl of single family houses. And our cities become grey, monotonous, and too expensive. The services required for current and planned suburban living are escalating - roads, water, sewers, electricity, police, fire, etc. We can no longer afford what we have and are creating. Neither can Mother Earth. For cities to be liveable, affordable and ecologically responsible, a certain density is necessary.
The options are not simply single dwellings on large suburban lots or impersonal high rise apartments. Thankfully many of our cities are building "infill" dwellings in older neighborhoods, and townhouses, row housing, and other forms on unused inner city land. The potential for higher yet humane densities is just beginning to be realized.
One result of isolating different uses of land from each other is the creation of homogeneous uses or monoculture. A good analogy is the healthy forest, where varieties of trees, vegetation, and animal life live together. We are learning that single species forests are not as healthy as mixed ones. Similarly, with the health of cities. Heterogeneous land use, where home, work, shopping, restaurants, recreation, and many other activities are mixed together results in a more vibrant, healthy and safer city life. And doesn't cost as much in public services, private resources, or rape of the Earth.
The Royal Commission on Toronto's Waterfront recognized this reality.
Its chairman, David Crombie, was forthright when interviewed on The Nature
of Things: "First of all, it starts off with the principle that:
If we are willing to change our attitudes and values and hence practices, the city will become a living organism, part of Creation. It will become sacred space - a place of connection with the natural world and human endeavors - a crucible of creativity, ideas, dreams, the arts; where the wonder of nature and humankind with the infinite variety of language, customs, beliefs, goods and services all impact on each other and contribute to the whole.
Let us see the city ecologically, integral to Mother Earth. Let us see the city as sacred space - a place where the joyful juices of Creation mingle in their infinite variety and complexity.
We begin with heightened awareness, respecting existing networks of relationships, both natural and human, and a re-examination of values and attitudes. For example, Edmonton and Calgary respect and protect their major river systems, which are a source of pride and sustenance to the city as a whole. In many cities downtown neighborhoods are being recognized as essential to preserving history, roots, and lively environments for the human spirit to be enhanced.
We do have choices. We can build cities in which we feel positive, hopeful, and connected to the world God makes. Then perhaps the art in our churches will reflect our delight in city living.
The Biblical story begins in a Garden and ends in a city, the ultimate view of God's dream. "I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God (Rev.21:2a) ... "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, flowing down the middle of the city's street. On either side of the river stood the tree of life." (Rev.22:1-2)
What marvelous imagery depicting the intricate relationship of the city as organic to Creation! Jeremiah counselled the exiles in Babylon: "Seek the well-being of any city to which I have carried you off, and pray to the Lord for it; on its well-being your well-being will depend."
The Rev. William F. Phipps is pastor of Scarboro United Church in Calgary, Alberta.