The Sacredness of Nature in Pagan Religions
In the pre-Christian world, nature was not a mute object. Rivers had names and will, forests were places of presence, and mountains were homes of the divine. Sacredness was not confined to temples – it permeated the landscape.
With the arrival of Christianity, nature was proclaimed God’s creation, but lost its inherent sanctity. This began a process where the world became a means, not an interlocutor. Pagans knew that nature was not to be “used,” but rather lived with in relationship. The essence of this relationship was not necessarily primitive animism but an awareness that we are all part of one and the same world.

Let us ask ourselves: When was the last time we experienced nature as something sacred, rather than merely useful in (that certain, modern human characteristic) utilitarian sense?

I.M.Pavlov