Nature-connection and creation care in Australia: intertwining Indigenous, Christian and holistic spiritualities

The lands now commonly known as Australia are religiously and spiritually diverse. Australians have long engaged in spiritual practices which are Indigenous, religious and/or holistic, with significant overlaps among these categories. In this article we focus on Common Grace, a nondenominational Christian group, as an example of spiritual diversity in contemporary Australia. We draw on interviews with Common Grace staff, and textual analysis of available material about Common Grace. Without minimising the distinctiveness of various Indigenous, Christian and holistic practices, or the tensions which arise between them due to historic and ongoing colonial violence, we argue that a connection with nature–or ‘creation care’ in Christian parlance–informs member’s desire for self and planetary wellbeing and world repairing, weaving together aspects of Indigenous, religious and holistic spiritualities at Common Grace. We contend that this is illustrative of spiritual complexity and practices of ‘truth-telling’ and decolonising religion in Australia.