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Wake Forest University

Publication Date

Fall 2022

Program Name

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

Abstract

The religious affiliations of citizens in the West are currently shifting away from the fundamentalist, traditional structures of the past towards more alternative spiritualities. Furthermore, as a result of the climate crisis, ecovillages are becoming increasingly popular. Ecovillages are intentional, “sustainable” communities that seek to reduce consumption, live in harmony with nature, and create strong social bonds. They are characterized by varying levels of spiritual involvement (Greenberg, 2014, p. 274). As such, the objective of this paper is to study the relationship between spirituality and environmentally-friendly practices and attitudes, using the ecovillage Ananda Valley – an Ananda Marga Master Unit (Appendix A) in Northern Portugal – as a case study. The relationship in Ananda Valley is assessed during a seven-day field stay, through interviews and field notes, where participants were asked how they viewed their personal spirituality and the spirituality of the community as influencing the sustainable practices in the ecovillage. Members feel their spirituality inspires and intensifies the sustainability of the community as well as their personal habits. This data was supplemented with secondary sources on ecovillages, the effect of community on social justice actions, and alternative spiritualities versus religious fundamentalism. Using the data from ten interviews combined with existing literature, it was concluded that spirituality is an integral part of the culture and success of Ananda Valley, and thus, the base of the community’s environmental work.

Disciplines

Civic and Community Engagement | Human Ecology | New Religious Movements | Place and Environment | Sustainability | Urban, Community and Regional Planning

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