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Reflecting on Faith: Healing Through Understanding, Growth, and the Wisdom of Nature

Writer's picture: Diana ErwinDiana Erwin

Faith is often our anchor, providing comfort, purpose, and stability. Yet as the complicated legacy of Christianity comes into focus, many find themselves wrestling with a deeply unsettling tension. It can be painful to acknowledge the harm done over centuries in the name of Christianity — from colonialism and violence to cultural and political distortions of faith. For some, this leads to a questioning of their beliefs, while others may feel torn between the comfort their faith provides and the damage done in its name.


This journey of reflection invites us to engage with Christianity thoughtfully, moving beyond a version of faith that may be tied to culture or political identity. It encourages us to explore a faith rooted in love, humility, and justice, rediscovering a connection that resonates with our deepest values. And for those who find themselves weighed down by the complexities of this journey, nature-based psychotherapy offers a unique path for healing, helping individuals to reconnect with the essence of their faith while grounding them in the healing power of the natural world.



Confronting Christianity’s Complex Legacy in Nature’s Healing Space


One of the most significant challenges in revisiting one’s faith is coming to terms with Christianity’s history of harm. Across centuries, the message of love and service central to Jesus’s teachings has been diluted or distorted to justify domination, violence, and exclusion. This history can feel especially painful for those who experience a deep and personal connection to their faith; reconciling a love for Christianity’s message with the knowledge of its misuse can create profound inner tension.


Nature-based psychotherapy can offer a unique environment for processing these feelings. Unlike the walls of an office, nature provides a nonjudgmental, expansive space that allows us to confront uncomfortable truths in a gentle, grounded way. The natural world has its own cycles of growth, death, and renewal, reflecting the transformations we may need to experience as we explore the legacy of our beliefs. This backdrop of renewal and resilience offers a reassuring context for those wrestling with what it means to honor their faith, while letting go of the pain and disillusionment it might bring.


In nature, we are reminded that we are part of something greater, a perspective that helps to hold the weight of these difficult reflections. The simplicity and constancy of the natural world can serve as a mirror, gently guiding us as we sift through the complexities of faith, culture, and history. Nature becomes a partner in this work, inviting a deeper, more compassionate exploration of who we are and what we truly believe.



A Break from Cultural and Political Christianity


Today’s “cultural Christianity” often serves as an extension of social or political identity rather than as a spiritual practice rooted in the teachings of Jesus. This version of faith, shaped by societal and political influences, can easily obscure the gospel’s true message of compassion, humility, and justice. Christian nationalism, for example, has fused faith with a sense of national superiority, using the Bible as a means to justify exclusion or control. As a result, the line between spiritual faith and cultural identity can become blurred, making it challenging to discern what beliefs are truly our own.


This is where nature-based psychotherapy can be particularly powerful. Outside the traditional settings where religion or social expectation may shape our experience, the natural world allows us to let go of societal pressures. Here, people can explore what their faith means to them without the filters of culture, politics, or historical distortions. Nature, free from human agendas, encourages a return to simplicity and truth, giving individuals permission to strip away the layers of cultural Christianity and seek a more personal connection with God.


In the quiet of a forest or the openness of a meadow, we are invited to ask difficult questions and examine inherited beliefs without the constraints of tradition or community judgment. This expansive environment nurtures a faith that is more genuine and less defined by outside influences, one that feels anchored in personal values and a deeper understanding of scripture in its historical context. In this space, we can move toward a faith that is compassionate and justice-driven, free from the pressures to follow cultural or political interpretations of Christianity.



Navigating Spiritual and Mental Health in Nature’s Embrace


The journey of questioning and redefining faith often brings up challenging emotions. Confronting Christianity’s complex legacy can lead to feelings of grief, anger, or betrayal, especially for those who have experienced harm from cultural or political Christianity. These emotions can weigh heavily on mental health, making it difficult to feel grounded or at peace. Left unaddressed, these feelings can create a sense of isolation and disconnection, causing some to abandon faith altogether as a means of self-protection.


Nature-based psychotherapy provides a way to work through these emotions with a gentleness that traditional settings might lack. Being outdoors calms the nervous system, creating a sense of grounding that makes it easier to confront these feelings in a manageable way. Nature also encourages embodied awareness, allowing people to connect with their physical selves, which can be especially healing for those who have internalized shame, guilt, or trauma associated with faith. By reconnecting with their bodies, individuals can experience faith as something that nurtures and sustains, rather than something that constricts or harms.


The natural world also brings perspective. The cycles of the seasons, the growth of trees, and the endurance of life through adversity all serve as reminders that renewal is possible, even after painful transformations. For those struggling with feelings of betrayal or disappointment in their faith, nature offers a compassionate mirror, reflecting resilience and the promise of growth through hardship. This setting invites individuals to approach their journey with patience, accepting that healing and transformation are gradual processes.




Reclaiming Faith through Reflection and Nature


As we each confront our personal beliefs, sift through our understanding of faith, and release patterns of unreflective Christianity, we contribute to a broader healing within the faith community. Each person’s journey toward self-aware, compassionate faith adds to a collective transformation that moves us away from Christianity’s historical harms and toward a more just, authentic expression of belief.


Nature-based therapy can be a guiding force in this transformation, helping individuals reclaim faith from cultural or political distortions. In nature, individuals can explore scripture with fresh eyes, reflecting on the historical context of Jesus’s teachings about love, humility, and compassion, while grounding themselves in the quiet strength of the natural world. This allows for a new perspective, one that honors the teachings of the gospel without the influence of human agendas.


By blending faith exploration with the nurturing power of nature, individuals can move through discomfort and into a faith that is both healing and true to its essence. This process invites a rediscovery of faith as a source of love, compassion, and clarity, creating a space where both personal and spiritual wellbeing can flourish. Through thoughtful reflection, self-awareness, and nature’s quiet wisdom, we can navigate this journey of faith with grace, allowing it to be a force for healing both for ourselves and for the world around us.


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