TY - CHAP
T1 - Naturalism and Spirituality
T2 - The Need of Expanding the Concept of Sustainability
AU - Jackelén, Antje
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - A naturalistic view should make us appreciate the rich possibilities of nature. This naturalistic point of departure, as formulated by Willem B. Drees, invites reflection on the relationship between nature and spirituality. Today, the concept of sustainability occupies a key role in what has come to be the greatest challenge ever that humankind has faced together at the same moment in history. Usually, sustainability is described as a three-dimensional term: ecological, economic and social sustainability. The concept of sustainability has been critiqued because it seems to build on continuity instead of calling for radical change, discontinuity and conversion. I argue that the concept should be expanded rather than dismissed. Spiritual sustainability is introduced as a fourth dimension. It can contribute in multiple ways to identity, habit, mood, method, content and attitude. Referring to the biblical story of the Canaanite women (Matthew 15) this article describes a spirituality of resilience, co-existence and hope that surpasses notions of optimism and pessimism.
AB - A naturalistic view should make us appreciate the rich possibilities of nature. This naturalistic point of departure, as formulated by Willem B. Drees, invites reflection on the relationship between nature and spirituality. Today, the concept of sustainability occupies a key role in what has come to be the greatest challenge ever that humankind has faced together at the same moment in history. Usually, sustainability is described as a three-dimensional term: ecological, economic and social sustainability. The concept of sustainability has been critiqued because it seems to build on continuity instead of calling for radical change, discontinuity and conversion. I argue that the concept should be expanded rather than dismissed. Spiritual sustainability is introduced as a fourth dimension. It can contribute in multiple ways to identity, habit, mood, method, content and attitude. Referring to the biblical story of the Canaanite women (Matthew 15) this article describes a spirituality of resilience, co-existence and hope that surpasses notions of optimism and pessimism.
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-52292-5_8
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-52292-5_8
M3 - Book chapter
SN - 978-3-031-52291-8
T3 - Issues in Science and Religion: Publications of the European Society for the Study of Science and Theology
SP - 103
EP - 113
BT - Science, Religion, the Humanities and Hope
A2 - Runehov, Anne
A2 - Fuller, Michael
PB - Springer
CY - Cham
ER -
