Finding God in the Forest: an exploration into connecting with nature as a Christian spiritual practice

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, and in common with much of the Western world, people have become increasingly detached from the natural world. Where once most people had a hands-on and reliant relationship with nature, they have lost familiarity with it and in just a few generations have become increasingly alienated from it. The consequences of this severance are hard to overstate but, on a purely anthropocentric level, the evidence suggests that increased isolation from nature has had a direct and devastating impact on the well-being of people.
In this thesis, I examine the cultural phenomenon of the attempt to correct this malaise and ask the question of what the church is doing to join in with this effort.
I do this through a dialectical approach. Firstly, I examine the shape of this cultural movement, through an interrogation of what has been called New Nature Writing, to understand some of the theoretical ways that the literature is enticing people back into nature connection and then consider the rise in popularity of organised, nature-connecting activities. Secondly, in a bid to construct a work of practical theology, and reflecting upon what this cultural moment reveals, I question what impact this has had on the practices of the Church. I do this through a substantial study of the most cohesive and obvious ecclesiastical response so far, namely the Forest Church movement. Through an empirical approach, involving interviews, questionnaires, and observations I engaged with the progenitors, practitioners and participants of Forest Church, I try to construct a thorough representation of what the movement is in practice before moving on to analyse and critique it.
Finally, I suggest some theological and biblical resources that might affirm and encourage the Church to engage more boldly in nature-connecting initiatives. To see this fecund, cultural space as a natural and needed place of mission, through creative and confident activities that happen outside of the church building, connecting people to God the creator.