No new theological movement arrives without friction. Traditional environmentalists have accused New of anthropomorphism, arguing that calling a virus "holy" (which she does in her chapter on disease) is dangerous magical thinking. Evangelical Christians have labeled her a pantheist (a label she rejects, preferring "panentheist"—God in all things, not equivalent to all things).
who writes about the "scientific culture" and the history of how we have "possessed" nature through museums and collecting. Paula Proaño Mesías holy nature paula new
: Humans act as guardians, not owners, of the natural world. No new theological movement arrives without friction
In a world filled with chaos and shifting values, the concept of a "holy nature" might seem outdated or unreachable. Yet, there is a profound, growing desire for deeper spiritual meaning—a longing for a "new" nature that is aligned with the divine. Embracing this new holy nature isn't about perfection; it is about transformation, intentional living, and aligning our internal lives with higher principles of love, peace, and purity. What Does a "New Holy Nature" Mean? who writes about the "scientific culture" and the
New’s response is characteristically blunt: "If your theology cannot hold the holiness of a maggot eating a corpse, your theology is too small for this world."
Paula New (hypothetical example) might describe this as "holy nature"—the idea that God’s presence is woven into every leaf, tide, and mountain range. A new way of seeing creation isn’t about worshiping nature itself, but recognizing it as a reflection of divine beauty. When we pause to listen to birdsong or walk barefoot on grass, we enter a kind of prayer.