The spirituality of contemporary sustainability
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Abstract
Spirituality has been a foundation of civilizations for centuries. Despite an overall movement away from identifying with nature as a basis for spiritual identity, the contemporary sustainability movement seeks to reconnect man and nature in an effort to restore our provisional resources. Sustainable methods help to strengthen connections between the individual, community, and Earth in a manner that mirrors the practices of many ancient cultures exhibiting beliefs in the concept of universal connectivity. Analysis of Mesopotamian, Aztec, and Native American belief systems provides insight to man's place as servants and caretakers of the Earth. By examining American ideals of production and progress through its cultural development from colonization to modern times, the need for sustainable technologies is better understood. As methodologies of sustainable agriculture, water management, and energy production usher in yet another cultural shift that helps men realize their roles as stewards of the Earth's resources, these tools can be viewed as symbols of a contemporary belief in universal connectivity.