How did scholars use the term nature worship when studying religion?

In the study of religion, the term "nature worship" is primarily a philosophical or poetic conception developed by modern Western scholars rather than a well-documented, complex system of belief found among indigenous cultures.1

Scholars have used the term to describe the veneration of natural phenomena—such as celestial bodies (the sun, moon, stars) or terrestrial forces (water, fire, animals)—that are perceived to influence human life. However, researchers note that many indigenous peoples do not conceptualize "nature" as a singular, total entity; instead, they interact with specific, individual natural objects or forces.1

A notable figure in this discourse was Max Müller, who argued that religion originated from human encounters with the "Infinite" through the naming and perception of natural objects. Müller suggested that early humans perceived intangible or semitangible objects, such as the sun or mountains, and that these objects were initially described as "bright" (deva) before being anthropomorphized into gods through a process he famously termed a "disease of language," where nomina (names) became numina (deities).2

While these theories were influential in the 19th century, they have largely been superseded by more contemporary anthropological approaches that focus on the social and symbolic functions of religious beliefs.32