Religious Naturalism
an orientation grounded in the sciences, humanities, and arts
Religious Naturalism
a worldview grounded in the sciences, humanities, and arts
About Religious Naturalism
About Religious Naturalism
“If religious sensibilities can be elicited by natural reality — and I believe that they can — then the story of Nature has the potential to serve as the context for the global ethos that we need to articulate.”
Ursula Goodenough, president of the Religious Naturalist Association and author of The Sacred Depths of Nature
“A religious naturalist takes Nature to heart.”
Loyal Rue, member, Religious Naturalist Association Board of Advisors, and author of Nature Is Enough: Religious Naturalism and the Meaning of Life
“It is a form of life that takes nature as the context for the discernment of meaning, value, and what matters to us ultimately.”
Michael S. Hogue, member, Religious Naturalist Association Board of Advisors, and author of The Promise of Religious Naturalism
Key Concepts
Naturalism
Naturalism is a view that all that exists and all that occurs is due to natural processes.
A Central Story
The modern story of our origins, via the “Big Bang” and evolution, offers ways of understanding ourselves and our world.
Connection
The recognition that all life exists in interconnected ecosystems has profound implications.
Religious Responses
We are amazed and moved by the wonders of our lives and our world.
Why “Religious” Naturalism?
“Religious”, as it is used here, is not based on belief in a deity or involvement with an organized religion. It refers to personal attitudes, values, and ways of living that reflect a deep reverence for life, a sense of awe at the wonder of nature, and a desire to act in ways that reflect this.
“If something is in me which can be called religious, then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.”
Why Religious Naturalism Matters
A Focus on Nature
A focus on nature encourages us to spend time in and learn about the natural world.
A Way of Saying We Care
Seeing ourselves as religious naturalists is a way of saying that, we care about life and the world in general.
Something We Can Believe
A naturalist view provides a foundation for morals and values that fit with what we understand is real.
“Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”