Looks at how nature and religion come together, where nature functions as an absolute that grounds and orients life, and religion being the way that people use this absolute of nature to form a meaningful life. Original. "Catherine Albanese deftly argues that a range of practices, including osteopathy, environmentalism, and animal communication, properl fall under the rubric 'Nature Religion, ' which she devised more than a decade ago. This fascinating book represents an important advance on her earlier thinking."--Sanford Lakoff "Catherine Albanese has consistently, throughout her distinguished career, invited her readers to explore the breadth of American religion, drawing them beyond conventional understandings of what it has meant to live in the world religiously. In this fine book she explores, in a lucid and imaginative way, the implications of her argument that the American fascination with nature has repeatedly displayed religious sensibilities and assumed religious forms. She instructs and delights, and she allows us to see the seemingly familiar in fresh and surprising ways." E. Brooks Holifield, Charles Howard Candler Professor, Emory University Blurb from reviewer.--Sanford Lakoff "In this fine book, Albanese explores, in a lucid and imaginative way, the implications of her argument that the American fascination with nature has repeatedly displayed religious sensibilities and assumed religious forms. She instucts and delights, and she allows us to see the seemingly familiar in fresh and surprising ways."--Sanford Lakoff "This is a delightful and almost lyrical piece that seeks to demonstrate, in sweeping terms, the passionate religious bases of such modern impulses as New Age, animal communication, vegetarianism, and environmentalism. A satisfying read-historically, conceptually, and literarily."--Sanford Lakoff "This is a delightful, short, and almost lyrical piece that seeks to demonstrate, in sweeping terms, the passionate religious bases of such modern impulses as New Age, animal communication, vegetarianism, and environmentalism. It stands in the tradition of the programmatic, incisive essay and is a satisfying read historically, conceptually and literarily." Linda Mercandante Ph.D., Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Blurb from reviewer.--Sanford Lakoff "This is a remarkable work. In a brief span Albanese demonstrates the historical roots of the religious dimensions of today's environmental and ethical movements, and does it with reliability, richness of detail, and eminent readability."--Sanford Lakoff Drawing on such diverse and eclectic sources as Native Americans, Edward Abbey, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Aldo Leopold, Catherine Albanese deftly argues that a range of practices, including osteopathy, environmentalism, and animal communication, properly fall under the rubric "Nature Religion," which she devised more than a decade ago. This fascinating book represents an important advance on her earlier thinking. Randall Balmer Ann Whitney Olin Professor of American Religion Barnard College, Columbia University Blurb from reviewer.--Sanford Lakoff This is a remarkable work. In a brief span Albanese demonstrates the historical roots of the religious dimensions of today's environmental and ethical movements, and does it with reliability, richness of detail, and eminent readability. Peter W. Williams, author of Popular Religion in America and America's Religions. Blurb from reviewer.--Peter W. Williams Catherine L. Albanese is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Used Book in Good Condition