“Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1: 26-27)
Because we were created in God’s image and likeness, we also have a proclivity to create – and our designs ought to imitate God’s in order to reach perfection. “Man ultimately strives for perfection, which takes form through the desire for perfect attainment of the transcendentals. The Catholic Church teaches that God is truth, goodness, and beauty, as indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each transcends the limitations of place and time, and is rooted in being.”
This attitude can apply to all aspects of creativity, whether that be in art, music, architecture, engineering, etc. The great works of the past – the ones that have transcended time – were generally created for the greater glory of God. Major scientific advances were meant to know God and the world He created in a more meaningful way. Hyper-realistic art sought to imitate nature and magnificent cathedrals reached for the Heavens.
I believe solutions to our most complex technical problems can be resolved if we study the world around us. Sustainable, cradle-to-cradle manufacturing should mimic nature’s biodegradable lifecycle and recycling should take precedence over extraction. Engineering solutions ought to take insights from plant and animal processes. Ant and bee behavior may help us organize the workplace better. They now make solar panels that follow the sun like the leaves of a plant.
When you create, do so with truth, goodness, and beauty in mind. Look to God for inspiration.
Sincerely,
Silence Dogood
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