The Green Faith
Veneration of the Natural World
Alignment: Any neutral
Scope: Global
Centers of Belief: Andoran, Nirmathas
Associated Religions: druidism, Erastil,
Gozreh
The concept of druidism is, many scholars
believe, older even than the concept of faith. In
the earliest days of the world, before even mortal man
could envision such abstract ideas as gods or philosophies,
the world in which he lived was a constant. The heat of
the sun, the coolness of rain, the violence of the storm,
the strength of the beast, and the beauty of the wildf lower
were all physical proof of the complexity and power of
nature. Certainly, the fact that ancient druidic marks
appear in cave paintings or carved in stone so ancient that
the markings are little more than shadows testif ies to
the faith’s ancient genesis.
So while the philosophy of the Green Faith may
be one of Golarion’s oldest, its roots
lie far beyond. Legends hold that
the Green Faith f irst began in war, as
four sects of druids battled for control
of a great natural wilderness. One sect
held their faith in the storms of the
sky, another in the earth that provides
a home to all living things, another
in the strength and purity of the wild
beast, and the fourth in the cleansing
quality of f ire. One morning, the leaders
of the four gathered in a war-torn vale, intent
on f inishing their conf lict once and for all. Before
any could strike, a geyser that seemed made of equal
parts bubbling water, soil, and snapping f lames spiraled
up from the ground. A host of multicolored birds sprung
from the geyser and f lew away before the geyser sank back
into the ground. The druids realized that, although their
methods differed, their philosophies all held root in the
same concept, and where they had come to do battle they
instead forged a lasting peace.

Dedicated worshipers of the Green Faith spend some
time each day in deep meditation, communing with the
natural forces. Peasants and farmers show their adherence
to “the old ways” by hanging bundles of fresh herbs over
their doorways, tending to their regions without disturbing
the natural order, and showing respect for nature whenever
possible. Not all druids are members of the Green Faith,
but only the most bitter and disenfranchised druids scoff
and deride the philosophy’s values.

The Green Faith is a naturalistic philosophy based on the belief that natural forces are worthy of attention and respect.
Followers of the Green Faith meditate daily, commune with natural forms of power, and show respect to nature in all things. Commoners, for example, often hang fresh herbs from the lintels of doorways as a sign of respect for nature.
Although the Green Faith is based on nature, one need not be a druid to value its tenets; nor do all druids necessarily count themselves as members of this philosophy.¹
History

The Green Faith is, with little argument, the oldest form of worship in Golarion, as evidenced by the numerous druidic symbols found in the cave drawings of early man.
According to legend, in the earliest years of its existence, the Green Faith was split into four factions. One group venerated the strength and endurance of stone; another the power and ferocity of wild beasts; a third the bountiful earth; and the last, the cleansing purity of fire. For years, these four factions fought for supremacy, each claiming that the aspect of nature it venerated was the most important. Finally, the leaders of the four factions agreed to resolve their conflict through single combat. Before the battle cuold begin, however, a multicolored geyser sprang from the ground, equal parts water, earth, and flame. The geyser was followed by an enormous flock of multicolored birds, which flew off in all directions. The faction leaders saw this as a clear sign from nature that no one element could be more important than another, and that ultimately, the four factions shared the same basic philosophy.¹