The relation to nature and the environment in religions is a fascinating subject, and it takes a new and surprising form these days – with the rise of the ecological discourse, and in light of the apocalyptic fears of an imminent ecological disaster. Some of the new religions place a special emphasis on the sanctification of nature (such as neo-shamanism). In the popular spiritual discourse the concept of nature adoration and caring for the environment feature, in the context of spiritual values.
In this session, four studies dealing with ecology and nature in contemporary spiritualities are presented.
The session was organized by Prof. Marianna Ruah-Midbar Shapiro (who is also one of its lecturers – see link below), and was part of the 7th annual conference of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions (IASR), held at the Open University in Ra’anana, on 10 June, 2024. The annual conference was dedicated to the topic “Religion and Environment”. See below for a link to another session at the same conference.
Below one can download the abstracts of the lectures of the session.
Session's Structure
Below is the schedule of lectures and lecturers at the session:
Chairman: Dr. Shai Feraro (University of Haifa and the Open University)
1. How the Deluge Myth became a Symbol of the Ecological Crisis: A Comparative Cinematic Study
Prof. Marianna Ruah-Midbar Shapiro (University of Haifa)
Dr. Lila Moore (independent reseracher)
2. Ethnography of Voluntary Simplicity Living in an Ecological Community in Israel
Mr. Tal Amar (Tel Aviv University)
3. Shamanic Ceremonies Held on Mount Meron as an Expression of Harmony and Synchronization
Ms. Fania Grinshpon (Bar Ilan University)
4. Closer to the Land – Romantic Views of Rootedness and ‘Native American’ Spirituality, between Israel and Mexico
Mr. Idan Edut (University of Haifa)
Session's participants
Marianna Ruah-Midbar Shapiro
Lila Moore
Tal Amar
Fania Grinshpon
Idan Edut
Links
Date
June 10, 2024
Language
Hebrew
Academic/Non-academic
Academic item
