CR Blog

Really nice work. That’s certainly made my Friday afternoon!

This really captured my imagination. I use google earth almost everyday, and looking at aerial photos became a usual practice, until now.

I’m by no means a religious sort, but isn’t saying:

“As a method of representation satellite photography is so trusted, it has been interesting to mess with that trust.”

just a little bit cheeky?

Again, like Horatio I’m in no way religious, but I think the relationship between satellite images and trust is an interesting one. Whilst a vast number of people trust the technology to find their way around using devices such as sat-nav, others will claim that their government are using it to spy on them, thus negating that trust.

I think these works scream the question - is seeing really believing?

Nice work Mr Dive…… something original in this post modern world we live in

It is good to see critical thinking about satellite images entwined with their beauty. bravo.

Keep these mythologically-themed ones coming - they’re quite interesting!

I must admit that these are quite work of arts which inspired us how “the real things” will look alike live.
Bravo!

Steve in Washington - chill out. Everybody knows that digital images can be altered. The sanctity of Google Earth (whatever that is worth) is not being threatened here. If these people had created different sorts of alterations - instead of illustrating Biblical accounts - to Google Map images I doubt people would be so upset. People just don’t like religion, and I can’t blame them. But being an ass about it just makes the situation worse.

I am commenting a second time to say that I love the typography on the wall. Very nice.

Steve - sympathies mate, but I think the world has been doing this stuff for a long time. Maps contain blank spaces and people believe there’s nothing there… on the M4 to London I drive past the US Air Force’s main ammunition compound for heavy munitions in all of Western Europe and it’s not on the map.
Shouldn’t art (if done well) make you look twice at something familiar, and see it in a new way?

I think some people leaving comments here seem to be missing the point. Read the description.

I think it’d be fun to put some voiceovers on these, so we can hear God’s thoughts on what he’s (He’s) seeing.

If you want to read more into it: the ripples on the water in the Moses picture could be seen as making part of a giant fingerprint.

“Nice work Mr Dive…… something original in this post modern world we live in”

Yah, it’s very post-modern tho.

I think these show some real original thought in the overblown world of digital manipulation of photography. As a non-christian, I’m not bothered by the subject matter in the slightest. It definitely stirs up conversation and thought. But, at least here in the US, both sides will latch onto these as fodder for the freakin “culture war”, heaping blame and accusations across the divide. The shrillness is deafening.

Those really are some nice pictures. Thank you so much for sharing them.

this is cool, this is art not religion. the caption reads “as if captured by Googel Earth” in other words hypothetical not real. I wonder what comments we would see if they did scenes out of the Koran or of Buddha? people need to get thicker skin…I can’t wait to see other historical events/mythology done in this way.

Great art, based on a great question; “Is photographic evidence ‘conclusive’”?

The effect of these creative and clever works is to provoke the tensions that arise when we try to resolve spiritual belief and rational belief. Of course there is neither “photographic evidence” for the resurrection nor the electron, but in either case the believers find it to be a good enough explanation for the observed phenomenon of life and reality.

And of course a photograph would not be enough to “prove” that electrons or resurrections exist to someone who is looking for proof only for what they already believe. Whether rationalists or men of faith (a.k.a. materialists and magicians).

“Cynic” and “Alex” prove again that the smallest poke will get the biggest response when Christianity is challenged. I do not think TGS set out to prove or disprove any point of view; but the true believers want everything to be presented and accepted in accordance with their own viewpoint, just as the rationalists see fantasy fascism in any work of art or science that threatens their own.

Along with the challenge to think for oneself, these pieces provide beautiful images that help us see things from outside our own position, and to the frustration of the rationalists, will provide great materials for Sunday Schools (or “child brainwashing”, depending on your point of view!).

Me? I am a Christian, but do not object to free thought, free expression, or even direct challenges that invite me to think better through what I believe.

It’s art, it’s beautiful, it serves its purpose, it arouses spirits and thoughts and definitely stirrs conversations, this is a fantastic piece for a blog, the comments are such a precise response to what most artists look for. Did it move you? Touch you? Make you feel angry? Happy? Inspired? Disgusted? Please keep the comments going it is so musical to see a form of expression do so much for us. I don’t think it is about missing a point, taking offense, believing in it or not, I think it’s about all of it.
And aside from it all, to me, the pieces are just wonderful, whether true or false, offensive or complimenting, they are an exciting mix of myth, truth, faith, science, art and human perspective on what God could see things like or even what God is, and by that I think I establish I am not an atheist but it is great to read it all.

Fantastic job guys. Art at its purest!

How long before these images show up in some Bible belt fundamentalist church being touted as further ‘evidence’ to validate the myths and legends of the old n new testament?
They’ll probably be seen as miraculous….

Vendo essas imagens podemos ter a noção exata de como a Bíblia é fantasiosa.
Muito bom.

Oh, God, it´s breathtaking!

Good idea. There’s a lot of money to be made with gullible christians :)

nice work. pity the comment thread is so ridiculous, but it’s interesting to think about events as they would appear from the sky, whether or not you believe they are real. It intrigues me to imagine this view of a full house at the Roman Coliseum, the construction of the pyramids, the eruption of Vesuvius, or many other events. It would be awesome to behold.
Side-note, I also appreciate the choice of using biblical imagery. While the exact locations of events may never be known, I like the work of using existing images of real places as the scenery for these events.

Excellent work! As for the atheists on here, let me say this. I have witnessed many people die in my lifetime, and to a person, all those that did not profess to believe in God always said, as their last words, “Oh God”. I wonder why that is?

Nicely done! It’s exactly what it is represented to be: and exercise in artistic expression. Nothing more, nothing less. You have no excuse to be offended, folks. Chill. Big time. But, it made you think, didn’t it? That’s what they wanted you to do! Brilliant! I’ll bet God smiled, too. He gave us the power to think…

As art, the photos are interesting, and I enjoyed them. Please, however, don’t let James Dive of The Glue Society venture into literature. Our language suffers enough from made-up terms like “preventative” instead of “preventive”. We don’t need Mr. Dive promoting the use of “disorientate”, when the word is “disorient”.

The images add an interesting dimension to how we envision the events and places they portray.

It is interesting to see how quickly and vehemently the atheists among us have to jump in to assert that the Bible is a “fairy tale,” that Christians are “deluded,” etc., etc., etc.

Two points:

First, atheists, I have some bad news for you. You are not original. It isn’t like we haven’t heard from you about–what–a jillion times? I hate to disappoint you, but your insults do not leavs us slack-jawed, dazzled by your wit, and embarrassed for ourselves.

Second, is there some reason why you feel compelled to jump in and mouth off?

To show your sophistication and superiority? Talk about a fairy tale….

Insecurity? Don’t worry, we have a big tent, and we will welcome you when you open your eyes.
_____

Lameness in its purest form.

I mean, splaaa. Who CAN’T photoshop that crap onto sat images?

(Almost) Completely off-topic, but hey, so was the original…Beentheredonethat says,

As for the atheists on here, let me say this. I have witnessed many people die in my lifetime, and to a person, all those that did not profess to believe in God always said, as their last words, “Oh God”. I wonder why that is?

I can only wonder what Beentheredonethat would make of the fact that the most frequently-occuring last words on cockpit voice recorders from crashing airliners are “Oh, sh*t!”

As for the art–very nifty work! Like others here, I’d love to see imagined satellite versions of other “events.” Surely there’s some Photoshop-savvy Tolkien fan out there right now working on a satellite view of the Battle of Barad-Dur for GoogleMiddleEarth…

I very much appreciate the comments of Michael (not a believer): “I really didn’t think I’d come across so much bigoted disrespect of other’s people beliefs here, not to mention total idiocy (Christians are going to think this is real?). Yeah… people are going to think the crucification and building of Noah’s ark were captured on Google earth. Wow.”

As a Christian who’s an ivy league graduate, it’s pretty offensive to hear some people bash all believers as naive simpletons. C.S. Lewis, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Abigail Adams, Francis Scott Key, George Washington Carver, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr., J.R.R. Tolkien, Galileo, Isaac Newton, The Wright Brothers, Florence Nightengale, Louis Pasteur, Jimmy Carter, Noah Webster, Johannes Kepler, Stonewall Jackson, Johann Sebastian Bach, Samuel Morse, and a very, very long list of others were (or are) thoughtful, intelligent human beings who have given a great deal to the world, and all are professing Christians. While faith in Christ is a matter of the heart (letting yourself experience being loved by God), it doesn’t require checking your brain at the door. The bible itself encourages people to think for themselves, to study what it says and come to their own conclusions.

As an artist, I think this work is very cool, and agree that if it stimulates this much debate, it must be doing something right! Looking forward to more.

QUOTE “Its disturbing to see that you’ve only posted christian/catholic stuff on here. did you forget the world consists of other religions as well?”

Christians won’t blow up their HQ unlike other extremist organisations.

Remember its ok to take the piss out of Christiantity, but other religions can become violent.

VERY COOL PICTURES!
To paraphrase Steve from DC
I believe the evidence supports that they were actual historical events, not fairy tales. I would say that his assertion that they are “fairy tales” implies that the Bible is wrong. I think its a big mistake to discredit a trusted and proven source like the Bible by calling it lies and deceit. Throughout history, countless people have relied on the Bible and Steve’s comment reveals a clear, unproven assumption that it’s inaccurate in some degree. I think this is a bad move. I think science and history and changed lives testify to the fact that the Bible is the most reliable book ever written. Here’s some links to back that up.

Manuscript evidence for the reliability of the New Testament [PDF] http://www.startingpoint.com/members/pdfs/Manuscript%20Evidence.pdf

What about the contradictions in the Bible? [PDF]
http://www.startingpoint.com/members/pdfs/Manuscript%20Evidence.pdf

Historic Reliability of the Old Testament [PDF]
http://www.gordonconwell.edu/communications/contact/bibarch/archpdf/sailhamer.pdf

How neat!!! Great new representations. Thanks!

Gracies per la vostra creativitat.
Les vostres fotografies sempre canvian la perspectiva amb la que veiem la realitat o les possibles realitats que van existir.

I am a bit religeous, specially of the Christian type. I am not offended or worried about the images themselves if they are exact so let’s get it clear. The sea Moses parted was the sea of reeds not the Red Sea. Come on guys let’s get real, there was no need to go so far as the Red Sea to run away from the egyptians to get to were they had to get. Don’t forget the Suez Canal came maaaany years later. C U

I like them. It would be nice to see them in higher resolution, or is that the resolution they’re at - being supposedly satellite images?

I can imagine how they’re nice for Christians as they’d allow you to better imagine the events. I’m not a Christian, but can still enjoy them as art. I wonder what events will be covered next!

Any chance of some other religions also being covered? We could have Buddha teaching, the battlefield from the Bhagavad Gita with Krishna and Arjuna in their chariot any other number of scenes from that religion, any more?

I didn’t know that God might be confined to directional vision. I thought His vision might be spatial - and he can see inside our hearts. Glad no one else can see what he sees sometimes. My surgeon’s sight was limited to flesh and blood although that was enough for him to do a good job. God needs to see a bit more when doing his job, especially sincere love and repentance.

how to calculate good-friday & first Good-friday?

This post it´s fantastic. Wow…thank´s…

i dont understand the fuss about this, i really dont, its just some aerial photos with really easy photoshoping over it, each of these photos i make in maybe 5 to 10 minutes of work. ive seen better ideas accomplished from google earth, but whatever..

if anyone is going to reply, just know im not going to reply back as i accidently got here..

I’d like to see them try God, according to Google Earth.

Very fantastic! The scenes are very actual. Congratulations!

I think these are ace.

Haha, there really cool

I hate yall

These images are great! They’ve really captured my imagination. Especially liking the one of Moses crossing the Red Sea and Crucifixion - they have a real sense of atmosphere. Congrats!!

‘The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me’. Meister Eckhart.

Very cool!