Whither Religion

In Chapter 2, "Congregating around Nature," Berry has a section labeled "Recreation in American Religious Life." In this section he examines the connection between the religious mainstream and spiritual motivated enthusiasm for nature which was very prevalent during the Progressive Era. He notes this connection particularly in recreational organizations, like the YMCA, and how they were used to push the agenda of social improvement through religious reform and used as a type of moral sanitation with the connotations that the outdoors and activities that pertain to it, are good for morale. He also notes that these programs when they began during the Progressive Era set the groundwork for today and that since then, churches and religious organizations have continued to run these nature influenced programs because they believe these programs have proved to be beneficial. Today, certain religious sects have developed these homosexual conversion camps where people who identify as homosexual are sent to be "cleansed" and converted to be heterosexual because it is a seen as a sin to be gay. These camps are usually set in a forest or wooded area because as stated earlier, outdoor activities are believed to improve morale and encourage participation. Berry references this in this section saying that there was a "nature craze" in the late 19th century and churches were holding revivals in the woods and camping as well. This led to an understanding that camping itself was a religious experience. So, these beliefs seem to still resonate within churches and religious recreational organizations today. Nature can help facilitate religious agendas because everyone seems to have this spiritual connection with nature. These programs mostly have a nature element in the activities because, as Berry says, people have been looking to "harness the morally salubrious benefits of nature." (Berry 70)