“The heavens declare the glory of God,” wrote the Psalmist (Psalm 19:1 ESV). Or to use Paul’s language, “For [God’s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20 ESV). The Divine Milieu explains, in mid-20th century philosophical language, just what those verses mean.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a Jesuit Priest/geologist/paleontologist who saw the glory of God shining through every part of the natural world he studied. In this slim-yet-deep volume, he describes how we can understand this without lapsing into pantheism. The Divine Milieu is something we are encompassed by, and drawn into. This is mystical reflection at its best.

I would try to summarize his arguments here, but honestly, I’m ill-equipped for such a task. This is a book that will take several readings to digest fully. That said, the meal’s well worth the effort.

Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre. The Divine Milieu. Harper Perennial, 1960.