Environmentalism/Naturism As A New Religious Thought

In the decade known as the sixties, the west was introduced to the east – to Asia. Here intellectualism and Asian mystic philosophy began to mix. The freaks (initially) were a mix of Christian ideals and Asian mystic (neo-pagan) practices. Beyond the Jesus Freaks there was the emergence of various artist colonies and communes. The included a number of cults with mystic rites that frightened mainstream society. This group became collectively known as the Hippies. They were the counter-culture that questioned the status quo. The supposedly rejected the materialism of their parents and embraced new beliefs and thoughts. There is much that they were known for, but the most common of which, was their opposition to war and peace and love as slogans.

Beginning as early as 1967, in the midst of the Vietnam war, they took over the streets, music and attention of the public media. Beginning in the early 1960's, they began as the counter culture that promised a new utopia based on harmony of all ideals and the rejection of none. (Except that of those they disagree with!) However, as reality took hold (drug addiction and sexually transmitted diseases) they swapped their “holistic” lifestyle for the material riches and comfort of their parents. However, the seeds were planted, and as they become the professionals and intellectuals – the contradictions of materialism presented itself, once again. Thus in the 1990's as many of the hippies entered their 40's, they evolved yet again mixing intellectual science of ecology with various philosophies and adopted structures similar to a religion.

This new religion – was environmentalism/naturism. Mother Earth was in peril from the evils of corporations and greed. The spirits of nature cried for protection – and they answered the call. One of these groups are the Vegans, who refuse to eat meat or use (consume) any animal product or by-product, because they believe it's cruel. Many vegans also mix their beliefs with animism and the wisdom of those who claimed could commune with the spirits of the animals. Particularly with those enslaved by man. This means that naturism isn't confined to one definition, but a consortium of groups. There are techno-environmentalists who are intellectuals with no fundamental belief in God (eco-atheists). Then there are a large variety of Vegans, with a belief in animal spirits. The belief in spirits are not confined to animals, but include all of nature (trees, rivers, rocks, etc.). Communication with these spirits are achieved and facilitated through crystals, Earth healing, and a form of shamanism

However, there are many contradictions. The first of which is the association of naturism with neo-feminism (where females take the image of the nurturing mother). This association is due to the personification of nature in Mother Earth. In this males are viewed as inferior – primitive and primal. However, a study of animals in their environment quickly dispels this myth. Male wolves provide, and other males in species similar (in structure) to wolves, parents – protective and attentive to their children and mate. Female mice (and rats) will eat their young in times of stress. The viewing the predator/prey relationship, one sees the female as able and willing to kill as the male. Further, the Vegans concept of diet is seriously contradicted. Vegans may be vegetarians, but carnivores and omnivores are not.