Spirituality and environmental activities at a North American intentional community
Abstract
This study investigates the nature and effectiveness of environmentalism in providing cohesion in an intentional community. I explore the question: Can environmentalism, as an ideology, promote the same type of cohesiveness that religion has been seen to have, as has been shown in previous research? Religion as been theorized as a major contributing factor in group cohesion and commitment in ICs. I will examine the effects of ideology as providing specific types of cohesive factors normally attributed to religion in historical utopian intentional communities. Along with other literary sources, this study uses data taken from participant observation and interviews at an intentional community in the Appalachian foothills of Southeast Ohio to explore the role of environmentalist ideology in activities on the community land. This study also explores the contested nature of ideology as a significant factor in the identity and activities for participants at this community. The author will show that environmentalism does indeed provide some of the same factors that have been theorized to provide for cohesiveness through religion in intentional communities. Furthermore, the activities and participation at this community provides for important aspects of identity formation and reinforcement that enable actors to negotiate their own participation, and find meaning, in environmentalist activities.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Buckser, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Cultural anthropology|Environmental science
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.