Sacred Nature

Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World

By: Karen Armstrong

Narrated by: Karen Armstrong

From one of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world, a profound exploration of the spiritual power of nature—and an urgent call to reclaim that power in everyday life.

"Much has been written on the scientific and technological aspects of climate change.... But Armstrong’s book is both more personal and more profound. Its urgent message is that hearts and minds need to change if we are to once more learn to revere our beautiful and fragile planet." —The Guardian

Since the beginning of time, humankind has looked upon nature and seen the divine. In the writings of the great thinkers across religions, the natural world inspires everything from fear, to awe, to tranquil contemplation; God, or however one defined the sublime, was present in everything. Yet today, even as we admire a tree or take in a striking landscape, we rarely see nature as sacred.

In this short but deeply powerful book, the best-selling historian of religion Karen Armstrong re-sacralizes nature for modern times. Drawing on her vast knowledge of the world’s religious traditions, she vividly describes nature’s central place in spirituality across the centuries. In bringing this age-old wisdom to life, Armstrong shows modern readers how to rediscover nature’s potency and form a connection to something greater than ourselves.

Breath of knowledge, depth of compassion, urgent relevancy of topic.

Her deep respect and uncommon understanding of each of the worlds religions with regard to their profound respect for nature.

Wore me out.

Not that that’s bad. Just a huge amount of detailed information on how the major religious traditions teach/taught that Nature should be treated as Holy/Sacred. And how we in the West (and the rest of the world as it becomes westernized) have strayed from that with dire consequence.

Certainly will recommend it, but it’s not light reading. Nice poetry selection though. ;)

Sacred Connection

I love this book. It has inspired me to dive deeper into my own work.

Lots of good stuff...

but not the laced in leftist doctrine. We get enough of that everywhere else.

Thank you, Ms Armstrong

What joy to listen to a true scholar share her knowings in not only an accessible manner (including references and dates), but also in a respectful, gentle, and generative way--modeling her points.