Being Religious, with Religious Responses to Nature

When considering religious naturalism, and not just a naturalist worldview, it is useful to have a sense of what it can mean to be religious.

A range of views on this exist. Among these, as can be seen in this collection of quotes, being religious can be seen as a personal attitude and way of acting that relates to themes that have long been considered by religions.

It involves caring about things that are essential in our lives; and as this may include respect for life and all that enables it, and concern with values, purpose, and meaning, being religious can include:

Appreciation of the wonders of our lives and our world

A sense of humility and gratitude

A sense of responsibility (to try to act in ways that will contribute to what is seen as good)

Being religious can also include practices – as ways of orienting the mind and putting values into action. A focus in this can be transformation, as religious orientation may highlight ideals and offer a path that can be followed to improve well-being of ourselves, our social groups, and the world.

People vary in the extent to which they see themselves as “religious”. (They may also vary in their attitudes toward non-traditional use of this term, as some see it bound to established religions.) But, whether they consider themselves to be religious or not, each person, at times, considers religious questions.

Each forms a view of how things are and what may be possible or not, and a sense of what is important, right, and good.

If they consider the order and beauty and unanswered questions about the world, they may encounter a sense of mystery and form ways of dealing with the unknown.

And, as they stand with others to mark life events (the birth of a child, a wedding, or a funeral), they may acknowledge some things as deeply important, or “sacred”. With these types of responses or feelings, and as they act in accordance with their beliefs, each person can be seen as having their own spiritual sense, or their own personal approach to being religious.