Global Warming Calls for an Inner Climate Change: The Transformative Power of Worldview Reflection for Sustainability
Spirituality and Sustainability: New Horizons and Exemplary Approaches
Short Title:
Global Warming Calls for an Inner Climate Change
Format:
Book Chapter
Publication Date:
Nov 30, 2015
Publisher:
Springer International Publishing
Place of Publication:
Cham
Pages:
199 - 214
Sources ID:
87881
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
As an opening case, this chapter begins with the author’s personal exploration of spirituality and sustainability. It stems from a nature experience she had in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, which altered her worldview and her sense of self, sparking an existential inquiry and shaping her quest for learning. Ultimately, this experience led her to investigate the main worldviews as present in the contemporary West, as well as their distinct relations with our environmental challenges. Building forth on her body of work in this field, this chapter discusses the dynamic evolution of the traditional, modern, and postmodern worldviews, thereby offering a larger, cultural-historical context to the newly emerging integrative worldview. Some authors have argued that this latter worldview may have particular potential for addressing global challenges such as climate change. By discussing its context of emergence, this chapter highlights the potential role of this worldview in addressing our sustainability issues. More fundamentally, the chapter aims to inspire curiosity to learn more about one's own as well as others' worldviews, as reflexivity, compassionate understanding, skillful communication, and creative collaboration are essential skills for addressing our complex, global challenges.