Dr. Redick Can Play the Banjo??

 I'm gonna be honest, I don't remember the name of the song that Dr. Redick played for us on the banjo/harmonica/voice this week. But what I do remember is that it felt so soft and quiet. It was peaceful, almost like a lullaby. I think the banjo and the harmonica are particular instruments that are very strongly associated with folk music, which I always thought had such a calming tone and presence. I had no idea that Dr. Redick knew how to play any instruments, but knowing him and having a class with him before, I think it fits his vibe. 

Dr. Redick told us that he played the song for a conference he went to a while ago. I thought this was interesting, because when a lot of people hear the word "conference" they usually think of strictly formal academic presentations. I think Dr. Redick broke the mold a little bit, because it shows that he's not just saying words, he is enacting them. In my life up to this point, I have learned that it is easy to accept and agree with wise words, but so much harder to actually go through with them. By playing this song for us, we are enveloped in the meaning of the lyrics and the music taps into our pathos. The emotions that we feel as we listen show us what words cannot. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sarah Chapman- Homelessness Countering the Destruction of Home by Kip Redick

Reading Homelessness Countering the Destruction of Home by Kip Redick challenged the way I think about both ecology and spirituality. What struck me most is the idea that “home” is not just a physical structure but an event, a lived relationship. Drawing from Martin Heidegger, Redick describes dwelling as a kind of embodied participation in a community that includes not only humans, but also earth, sky, plants, animals, and even tools. I found myself reflecting on how rarely I actually experience that kind of dwelling. So often, I move through spaces quickly, distracted, or focused on productivity rather than presence. However, as I have continued to take classes with Dr. Redick, I try to be more intentional and aware of nature. The essay made me more aware of how deeply modern technology shapes the way I relate to the world. Through thinkers like Jacques Ellul and Emmanuel Levinas, Redick argues that we have turned the world into “standing reserve”, something to be used efficiently ra...
Read more

Iroquois Creation Story Paper Presentation (Amanda Capper)

 During today's class, one of our classmates shared her essay on the Iroquois creation story. I thought this was actually really interesting, because I had never heard of it before. One thing that struck me as particularly interesting was the main theme of reciprocity and balance. For example, the earth (Gaia) as an independent resource was interesting to me. Through Gaia, other environmental constituents also spring up, such as trees, grasses, dirt, the ocean, the rivers, etc. These features give humanity sustenance, breadth, and life. This is where the reciprocal practices come from. Using these materials and the natural world for our benefit, yes, but there's more to life than just this.  I've always thought that the Native worldview is so much better than our own worldview. I think when we get so involved in ourselves, materialistic and capitalistic culture, we lose sight of what really matters - community and the ecosystem we live in. Its not just about the things we h...
Read more

Kip Redick Introduction

Welcome to the Religion and Ecology blog for 2026. Make sure to start the blog with your name and the subject of the entry (Just as I have done with this post). Blog entries will be considered informal writing assignments and as such will be graded more in relation to content than style. Blog entries will contain questions and answers to questions, as well as reflections which relate to daily classroom discussions, completion of exercises, and reading assignments. Any questions the student has when reading or completing assignments should be written in their blog. Reflections may relate to connections the student makes between discussions in this class and those in other classes, between arguments raised in the readings in this class and those raised in other classes or in informal conversations. Students are encouraged to apply the ideas learned in this class to activities that take place outside of the class. These applications make great reflections. The student s...
Read more