Which culture or religion is more connected with nature?

Question

Which culture is more associated with harmony and balance that links human community with nature? I believe it would something like the ancient Japanese religion of Shinto and the Native-American cultures but I want to know if there are any others out there that I can take note of and learn about.

Answer 1

This question is ambiguous. You do not precise if we are talking about today's cultures or cultures throughout history. Furthermore, you ask about culture or religion, two different notions that can alter our answers. Also, you specify the religion most connected to nature, then, add we should comment on eastern religions if possible. Is this an homework assignment, by any chance?

Anyway, here is a summary of some ideas I came up with (taking in consideration this question deserves some serious revising).

I don't believe we can define which religion most connected with nature is by comparing various cultures but rather we must look at the history of religions in time.  By doing so, we learn that religions of archaic cultures, cultures of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic ages, are the most connected with nature as in these times, Man utterly depended on nature in order to survive.

Described as the "Religion of the Hunter by Christopher Dawson

(1889-1970), primitive religions are in no sense pre-religious or a-religious. They are on the contrary more religious than the peoples of the higher cultures, since the essential religious attitude — the sense of dependence on mysterious external powers — is stronger with them than it is in the case of civilized societies.

In another context, Mircea Eliade  has also referred the importance of religions of archaic cultures in a more precise and valid understanding of religion history in humanity. Sadly, the available evidence for prehistoric religions is so limited as to render any reconstruction highly speculative.

Today, Some cultures/religions are still very much connected to nature. For instance, the Mayan Quiches of Guatemala describe the Nahual or spirit/animal that all of us are born with. Our nahual, which is different for every individual, defines, rules, and decides. The Nahual protects, guides but also revenges, punishes and forbids. A common illness "Susto" describes the "loss" of an individual's nahual as a psycho-somatic illness that can cause serious ailments or even death in some cases. The "curandero" or shaman must guide the patient to his/her lost soul. Animals are also considered signs and symbols one must respect and understand in order to walk a peaceful path in life. Many aspects of Mayan Quiches are relating to nature and earth (The center being the heart of the earth.) Still today, you can notice many rituals that will include listening to the earth's heart. To them, our disrespect towards nature is one of the major reasons for the chaotic world we live in.

Answer 2

Buddhism, and paganism...although the word pagan has a bad wrap because it is often associated with devil worship, it actually is belief in nature as religion.  You know, sun gods, rain gods, harvest gods, etc...  IE your native americans.  It only got a bad wrap after the Roman state converted to Christianity and especially throughout the dark ages when the Church was the final say on so many different issues and had such sweeping influence over the whole of "western society".  Check out some of the ancient south american cultures, incan, mayan, etc...  They all worshiped nature!  Also, if you like to read, check out a book called The Universe in a Single Atom by the Dalai Llama.

Answer 3

Hippies & Tree Huggers!

Answer 4

Buddhism

Answer 5

Native Americans, plain and simple

Answer 6

I think Wicca and paganism fit the bill as well.

Answer 7

I believe it is a form of buddhism, but they are called the Janes (that's how it is pronounced, don't know the spelling), or something like that.

I can't remember exactly.  But they won't harm anything.  They take this to the extreme, like only eating the fruit that falls off the tree, rather than picking it.

Answer 8

Communism

Answer 9

Historicaly all indigenous faiths & cultures have had a connectin with nature. HOW does one judge which culture/faith is more connected with nature than another?

Add to this the issue that most indigenous groups are experenced with their local environment. It's not possible to simply picking up one culture/group & place it in a different enviornment.

The traditional Arabic desert garb will not suit a Rain forest local.

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Answer 10

I would have to say Wicca, Native American religions which are similar to Wicca and Buddhism. (They have a very similar philosophy on nature)

Answer 11

Read "The Mutant Message Down Under" by Marlo Morgan... it is about the Aborigines who call themselves the last of the real people.

Answer 12

Undoubtedly, the amazonian tribes are deeply associated harmonically with their environment, may be they look rude or inhumans, but their connection with the nature is absolutely defined in all aspects, their religions are not clearly defined to us as they identify their spirits, their life and all their daily events with nature in a very natural way, their mysterious dogmas give them freedom and let fly their imagination to their environment. For me there is no other religion more connected to nature.

Answer 13

how about Christianity

woooohoooooooo our God is an awesome God!!

he created the heavens and the earth. what could be more natural than that??

Answer 14

The fewer tools a culture has or uses, the more it relies on natural means to survive.  All primitive cultures and many primitive religions are "connected with nature" in this way.  

Religions based on theories of "Gods" controlling various events would be less nature based than religions based on the divinity within each creature.  

Good question!  I'll be interested to see the other answers.  :)

Answer 15

The Jains (form of Buddhism) are very into nature. They won't eat anything that requires the killing of a plant or animal (some plants don't kill the actual tree though, so they do eat).

They are completely passive and have a no-harm policy.

Answer 16

Paganism Friend, love your hat vamp goddess

Answer 17

Buddhism.

Answer 18

Wicca

Answer 19

Animism

Answer 20

Aborigines....

In my opinion they are the closest to nature....

Probably been here the longest, who knows.......

Answer 21

Budhism, Hinduism.....  They practice never to harm anything alive, even a fly or an ant   .....

Answer 22

cultures most associated with nature;

Borneo tribesman

samii

inuit

mongolian nomads

Answer 23

I know you want to hear about Eastern religions and cultures, but the North American Natives lived by the seasons. They followed the herds of various animals and hunted according to Nature's laws. They ate from, lived with and depended on nature for their very survival until settlers and the Army forced them to give up their Nature based religion and culture. The smudged with plants, worshipped and prayed to The Creator who was all knowing and providing. When Nature took a bad turn, the Natives were directly affected.

If that's not connected with nature...I'm not sure what is.

Answer 24

buddhism is very spiritual and in tune with nature

Answer 25

If you  think about any spiritual practice that is not Christian, that is your answer.  I was once told by a Christian that she used to care about nature but since she was saved it was not a concern anymore.  Most practices that pre-date Christianity are nature based.

Answer 26

ok, you are right about Shinto and Native American Spirituality. I would not say all Buddhism, only Shao Lin.  Taoism in China also. Wicca and Paganism are really about nature! Hindu and Zoroastism to some extent. Judaism follows the seasons and the harvest.  Sukkos is a harvest celebration / giving thanks. Passover is the renewal of spring. Holidays begin or end when the first star appears in the sky. Prayers are said when seeing a rainbow.  Chanukah is lighting lights in the darkest part of winter in hopes of the return of the sun in the spring. The old testament has rules about planting; resting the soil, etc.

Answer 27

Paganism and Wicca. They are both ancient and modern and worship nature.

Answer 28

Wicca and Buddihsm would be two good areas for you to check out.

Answer 29

I'd say it's a tie between Buddhism, which technically can be practiced by anyone, including people who drive cars and chop trees down.  The Buddhist monks in Tibet however are very strong with nature and maintain their traditions way up there in the Himalayan Mountains.

The true nature freaks are the Amish.  Think about it...  They don't drive (or so they say), don't use advanced machinery (or so they say) and don't use conventional medicine (or so they say).  In theory, they are the ones, but I think it's just one big disguise for a group of people to just have endless orgies.