Introduction
"There is no word for 'nature' in my language," said Audrey Shenandoah, a member of the Onondaga clan. She said this to Harvey Arder and Steve Wall who wrote the book Wisdomkeepers (1990). "Nature, in English, seems to refer to that which is separate from human beings. It is a distinction we don't recognize." I try not to recognize this distinction either; however, in the English language there are many words for nature such as the environment, the earth, the wilderness, the natural world, the ecosystem, and Gaia just to name a few. Many native and indigenous cultures used words that are roughly translated into English as Mother Earth or Great Grandmother, so I will use the term the Earth Mother.
The Earth Mother has been worshipped all over the world in almost every religion throughout history. She has inspired many people to do extraordinary things and write amazing books. Recently, she has even received recognition from the modern and scientific world. Many scientists have elaborated on the Earth Mother concept, giving her the name Gaia and a full spectrum of research. Now, not only the religious world but also the scientific world has recognized the Earth Mother. Nevertheless, many people still pave over her skin, suck out her resources, and pollute her natural beauty. Often, this abuse is recognized but it is not always truly comprehended as self-abuse. We are merely a small part of the great Earth Mother who is simple yet complex, unified yet diverse. The Earth Mother is a composite organism made up of living beings, ecosystems, and elements, all of which share a common sentience and purpose. This course will explore different aspects of the Earth Mother's body and spirit in religious views as well as scientific and philosophical views.