In the last of four illustrated essays by different writers on the theme of cliffs, Martin Palmer, Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, reflects on the spiritual responses evoked by cliffs in religious stories and traditions across the world. Drawing on examples, he explores five spiritual responses. First, a sense of awe "Reverence for such majestic soaring creations". The second is a feeling of being closer to God, and one of the reasons for cliff burials around the world such as those near the town of Sagada in the Mountain Province on Luzon Island in the Philippines "Neither earth nor sky – safe also from scavenging animals". The third is adding to the wonder of nature's creation with shrines, temples and monasteries projecting from cliffs. The fourth response could be described as creating or strutting our own power through use of cliff faces as advertisement of our status; "cliffs have been the setting for monumental carvings of victories, for religious texts or poems extolling the beauty of the place" and for carving vast figures with special significance. Finally, Martin suggests, we have created our own versions of cliffs - from skyscrapers to the facades of great cathedrals and temples - and in these we create our own meaning of the cliff face. Vast creations, our natural cliffs speak both of permanence and time, but also bear witness to change,"even if it is change over an unimaginably long period of time".

Written and narrated by Martin Palmer
Readings by David Acton
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt Show less