Question 2

Understanding "nature spirituality" as a theme is the focus of all of Berry's arguments in the book.  By different names and for different goals of understanding the world around them, humans have assessed nature in spiritual ways for our entire existence.  Negative and positive views of nature are shared by masses of people who choose to interact with nature according to their respect for its preservation. Berry describes nature spirituality, in its modernity, as being devoted to experiencing nature and its preservation.  "Communicating the soteriological benefits of nature and articulating a strong apologetic for [nature's] public utility forms an important basis for modern environmental movements."  This makes nature spiritualists the Augustine's and Origin's of their "faith."  People speak and act religiously about their attitudes toward nature.  Besides the preservationists and their devotion to living religiously to help protect nature, those who are "climate change deniers" and the like regularly spout mantras about their feelings when the topic of global warming or the name Al Gore comes up.  Aside from avoiding charged topics about climate, one thing that most Americans have in common when it comes to experiencing nature is that they wouldn't recognize America without it.  Nature is the field of grass and the wind blowing at a baseball game, the camping experience tacked onto a modern day music festival, herding cattle as a prisoner at Angola, a fishing rodeo on Lake Pontchartrain during carnival, or simply taking your dog for a walk in the park.  All of these scenarios can be experienced in a religious way in our culture, and would be devoid of spirituality for those who can particularly appreciate the out-door aspect of the activity.