In this article, we argue that the current crisis of civilization and the countless social and environmental problems we face today are the result of a culture of materialism that emerged out of the industrial revolution and has, over the past century and a half, become a kind of universal religion that claims absolute authority and shapes all aspects of human life -social, environmental, economic and cultural. In this article we demonstrate how prevalent but erroneous assumptions about human nature as predominantly individualistic, competitive and selfish contribute to a materialistic culture that is environmentally, economically, socially and culturally unsustainable. We examine, for example, the implications of materialism on technology-adoption, conceptions of beauty and international financial crises. We then argue that these prevalent assumptions are incompatible with what we demonstrate as true human nature informed by biological and social sciences, religious scripture, spirituality and indigenous beliefs. Finally, we suggest how science and religion, as two complementary systems of knowledge, can inform and achieve a sustainable future for humanity. We explore the spiritual roots of sustainability to paint a different picture of human nature, which is essential in building a society founded on the principle of the oneness of humankind and the convictions that underpin it. We also make the case that spirituality, defined here as a practical expression of a deep understanding of the nature of reality, should be more widely considered in the sustainability discourse as it is closely associated with the motivation to implement sustainable structures and practices. In writing this, we hope to set a foundation for further exploration of how spirituality can inform sustainability policy and practice and suggest that its role should be more closely considered.
Over the past 15 years, through the platform of a senior-level undergraduate course at the University of Guam, a team of professors, researchers, and development practitioners have been striving to refine a pedagogic approach that draws on the value of an embedded international field school to Bali, Indonesia. These efforts are designed to help students understand and appreciate the foundational concepts of community development, while also fostering a learning environment and an experiential program that empowers participants to actively engage in social discourses that contribute in positive and transformative ways to their communities. Employing a curriculum that focuses on both classroom work and international field school experience, students and professors as well as many other participants in the field explore such concepts and practices that are proving to be essential to a sound understanding of community development in the modern age.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.