Ecospirituality

Ecospirituality connects the science of ecology with spirituality. It brings together religion and environmental activism.[1] Ecospirituality has been defined as "a manifestation of the spiritual connection between human beings and the environment."[2] The new millennium and the modern ecological crisis has created a need for environmentally based religion and spirituality.[3] Ecospirituality is understood by some practitioners and scholars as one result of people wanting to free themselves from a consumeristic and materialistic society.[4] Ecospirituality has been critiqued for being an umbrella term for concepts such as deep ecology, ecofeminism, and nature religion.[3][5]

Proponents may come from a range of faiths including: Islam; Jainism; Christianity (Catholicism, Evangelicalism and Orthodox Christianity); Judaism; Hinduism; Buddhism and Indigenous traditions.[6] Although many of their practices and beliefs may differ, a central claim is that there is "a spiritual dimension to our present ecological crisis."[7] According to the environmentalist Sister Virginia Jones, "Eco-spirituality is about helping people experience 'the holy' in the natural world and to recognize their relationship as human beings to all creation.[1]

Ecospirituality has been influenced by the ideas of deep ecology,[8][9] which is characterized by "recognition of the inherent value of all living beings and the use of this view in shaping environmental policies"[10] Similarly to ecopsychology, it refers to the connections between the science of ecology and the study of psychology. 'Earth-based' spirituality is another term related to ecospirituality; it is associated with pagan religious traditions and the work of prominent ecofeminist, Starhawk.[11] Ecospirituality refers to the intertwining of intuition and bodily awareness pertaining to a relational view between human beings and the planet.[12]

  1. ^ a b Bonfiglio, Olga (21 April 2012). "Celebrating Earth Day Through Eco-Spirituality". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. ^ Lincoln, Valerie (September 3, 2000). "Ecospirituality". Journal of Holistic Nursing. 18 (3): 227–44. doi:10.1177/089801010001800305. PMID 11847811. S2CID 242260140.
  3. ^ a b van Schalkwyk, Annalet. "Sacredness And Sustainability: Searching For A Practical Eco-Spirituality." Religion & Theology 18.1/2 (2011): 77–92. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
  4. ^ Gottlieb, Roger S., ed. The Oxford handbook of religion and ecology. "Hindu Religion and Environmental Well-being." O.P. Dwivedi. Oxford University Press, 2006.
  5. ^ Taylor, Bron Raymond. Dark green religion: Nature spirituality and the planetary future. Univ of California Press, 2010.
  6. ^ Ritz, Janet (8 September 2007). "Thoughts on Eco-Spirituality". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. ^ Vaughan-Lee, Llewellyn (17 May 2013). "Eco-spirituality: towards a values-based economic structure". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  8. ^ Aburrow, Yvonne (26 January 2013). "Eco-spirituality and theology". Sermons from the Mound. Pantheos. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Eco-spirituality". Acton Institute. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  10. ^ Drengson, Alan. 2012. "Some Thought on the Deep Ecology Movement." Foundation for Deep Ecology. http://www.deepecology.org/deepecology.htm Archived 2020-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Blumberg, Antonia (11 December 2013). "Celebrate The Winter Solstice With Los Angeles' Own Eco-Pagans". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  12. ^ Lincoln, Valerie. "Journals". American Holistic Nurses' Association. p. 227.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search