Should I embrace Nature or God?

Question

If Nature and God are both amazing and unique lifegiving entities, what should I devote my energies to? And don't tell me "both" - pick one and give me the rational, logical pragmatic explantion. Thanks.

Answer 1

Embrace nature. You are a part of nature to which you you connected to. You are not a part of God. There is no need of connection with the supernatural.

Answer 2

God, since he created Nature & you can not look at a tree or watch the sunrise or watch the waves crashing on the shore without seeing him anyway.

Some people don't believe in God. That's fine. As long as you love Nature, you are still close to divine beauty and you will still lead a good life. God will forgive you.

There is nothing rational or pragmatic about the soul. Live with passion. Faith is something you feel. No one can explain it to you or make you believe. You just know it in your gut. So if you feel God's presence, embrace it and if you're not sure if you believe in God but you are struck with wonder by the awesome beauty of nature, then embrace that. Fill your heart with love & you can't go wrong.

Answer 3

Well, I was going to say both. But I guess I can't. What the problem here seems to be is that you cannot have two conflicting powers like this. Assuming they both exist as entities, Nature and God must be united, or else one of the two must be greater. According to most traditions, God would have created Nature, and therefore be greater, so I'd say God. Unless you have a personal philosophy that counters most traditions, which you obviously don't since you are asking the question, embrace God.

I'd rather have said that God and Nature are united in one purpose, or that Nature is a tool of Gods that complies with Him.

Answer 4

I think nature is created by God, so you should devote your energies to preserving the wonders of nature that our amazing God has created. Have you read much of the Bible? There are a lot of answers there, believe it or not. I understand your skepticism, it is human nature to question. But you will find the answers you seek in the Bible. The best thing to do is read it, then discuss it with a group of people.

Answer 5

Well, you took away my answer of "both." I really don't understand why you can't embrace both, but that probably stems from my beliefs.

For me, God is contained in everything. All of those entities together create this guiding force or higher power, if you will. So, in my heart, I can't separate God from nature. They are one and the same.

And as far as logical and pragmatic goes, I don't believe that one's faith can be narrowed down that way. I couldn't possibly explain the logic of my beliefs--I can explain why I believe in evolution; there's science backing that up. But I can't explain how watching and listening to a thunderstorm causes my spirit to well up inside me and leave me speechless. I can't possibly explain how the intricate design of a simple leaf humbles me to my very core. I can't explain why hearing the sounds of a lake freeze brought me to joyful tears. There is no explanation, just acceptance on my part.

I wish you the best in your personal journey and I hope you find what you're looking for.

Namaste

Answer 6

God because he created this world which includes nature. Don't forget you can always praise him for how amazing and unique life and living things are.
He knows this (I'm positive) but hearing how much you care for it he would love to hear, also ask Him how you can devote you energies best you will find if you truly ask and truly mean it with whole of heart you will be answered.

Answer 7

I never feel closer to god than when I am in nature. It fills me with wonder and awe. And embracing god fills me with joy at the marvel of creation. I think your answer lies beyond the rational, logical and pragmatic, but is no less true or wondrous for that. There is no need to choose. It is all one.

Answer 8

You cannot embrace Nature without acknowledging God. God created mother nature. But mothertnature is there waiting for us to rediscover her. Everything in nature is alive., is magical carrying powers with healing qualities that are connected to each individual thing that God created. Everyone needs some kind of contact with mother nature to be balanced & grounded. Is expecially true for those who are utililizing the energies for learning.

Answer 9

Nature was created by a living, thinking, caring God. If you choose to devote your energies to nature, it would be devoting them to something that is not conscious and cannot appreciate what you are doing.

It would be sort of like marveling at a painting while the artist is standing right next to it. Would you tell the painting how beautiful it is or would you give credit and thanks to the one who created it?

If you think nature is awesome now, just wait until God's kingdom comes and those that choose to worship him under his terms are free from death, sickness, and wickedness. The world will once again be a beautiful garden filled with loving people that give all credit and worship to the one true God. Jesus said at John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

It would depend on your philosophical approach to God. If you believe that God is above nature by any means, you should devote your energies to him/her/it/his noodly appendage/whatever. If you believe that nature is above God, by all means worship it instead.

Given my personal stance on the prospect and existance of God, I would worship it over Nature, with it being God's creation (and thusly inferior, given that God is the embodiment of infinity and nature is limited) but my reasons and logic may be very different from your own.

Answer 11

In my view, if you embrace one you are embracing both. God is a part of Nature and Nature is a part of God.

God 'created' nature from his own being and in doing so embodied nature with his own presence.

Utlimately, they are both really the same thing in the end.