Spiritual Conversion and Dietary Change: Empirical Investigations in Two Eco-spiritual Communities

2022

JOE

PurposeThis paper is the outcome of an empirical research on a Seventh-day Adventist farm in Tanzania. The author investigated the role of Christian spirituality in switching to and maintaining vegetarian practices. Dietary change is proposed in the sustainability literature as a crucial trajectory to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The purpose of this paper is to explore the links between spirituality and climate-friendly dining in a localised Christian context and discuss their significance further for wider society.Design/methodology/approachSocial practice theory (SPT) provided the tools to explore, empirically, the dynamic development of dietary practice within the farm community and its relation to the outside world; according to SPT, following the main building blocks of practices, namely materials, competences and meanings (cognitive or emotional), helps to understand the evolution of practices in society.FindingsFindings show that the spiritual element of the community's dietary practice is key in maintaining commitment to vegetarianism, despite the rationale focussing exclusively on human health.Social implicationsExpanding the rationale to animal compassion and environmental concerns could enhance the stabilisation of the practice within and beyond the community's realms.Originality/valueThe research showcases, probably for the first time, how a localised vegetarian practice may be linked to broader societal developments and policymaking through the application of SPT.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bill the American Missionarymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Seventh-day Adventist farm community in Tanzania and vegetarianism as a social practice

2022

JOE

“…Each of these Krishna communities showed a distinct character while still demonstrating and testifying to a homogeneous spirituality and practice. For the purposes of this paper, I treat them as one group, without pointing out differences which I discuss elsewhere (Lestar, 2017(Lestar, , 2018a(Lestar, , 2018b.…”

Section: Aims and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is even possible that first-order learning follows second-or third-order instances when unlearning of a practice takes place. Taking into account mystical experiences and religious/spiritual conversions, it is also possible for second-and third-order learnings to take place simultaneously as these experiences may challenge the system and the individual's own identity at the same time (Lestar, 2017). Moreover, first-order learning can prove to be transformative in circumstances where transformative messages penetrate the mainstream realms.…”

Section: Faith-based Veganismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religions going nuts? Faith-based veganism and transformative learning in the context of sustainability transitions (case 1: The Hare Krishna movement)

2020

JOCM

Self Cite

PurposeThis paper is based on several years of ethnographic and desk-based research studying the Hare Krishna movement. The work is the first in a series exploring how segments of specific faith communities embrace dietary veganism and how this relates to the concept of transformational learning/change in the context of sustainability transitions. The focus is on how these communities embrace a plant-based diet representing different rationales and attitudes of learning in the process of organisational change.Design/methodology/approachI investigated Krishna practices extensively by visiting and volunteering in several of its farm communities in Europe. I used the mixed method of qualitative observations, participation, in-depth interviews and email interviews during a period of ten weeks spent in the communities altogether. I had not been in contact with Hare Krishna believers before the fieldwork.FindingsKrishna veganism is analysed in the context of sustainability transitions by drawing on the concept of transformative (third-order) learning/change. Findings reveal an unexpected tendency to veganism despite the movement's worldview and radical commitment to dairy consumption. By calling into question their own collective dietary paradigm, the Hare Krishna community provides an exemplary case of third-order learning and change in an organisational context.Originality/valueThe paper invites scholars to include third-order learning into sustainability transitions frameworks while aiming to address the shortcomings of theorising levels of learning. The connection between Krishna veganism, third-order learning and sustainability transitions has not been put forward before.

“…Often captured by research in specific community settings, ecospiritual practice is described by the following major lifestyle attributes: 1. Vegetarianism (Carroll 2004, 95;Nath 2010;Lestar 2017) 2. Close connectivity with nature and all other beings (Carroll 2004, 50;Witt 2011Witt , 1059Jackson 2009, 150) 3.…”

Section: Spirituality and Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecospirituality and sustainability transitions: agency towards degrowth

Religion, State and Society

Böhm

2020

Self Cite