Spiritual Resilience for Sustainable Living
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Author
Strand, Noni
Date
2012
Degree
Master of Arts in Earth Literacy
Abstract
Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, is the living laboratory for exploring what it
means to live sustainably and embody the four themes of Earth Literacy: worldview, the
interconnectedness of systems, social justice, and importance of place. “Spiritual Resilience for
Sustainable Living” chronicles the history of Bethany’s grassroots Green Team efforts, along
with institutional initiatives that are helping to move the College towards more faithful living out
of its core value of sustainability in its full understanding — economic, environmental, social, and
spiritual. Non-linear models for planning and future efforts, including a Bethany Ecosystem, are
presented to help in that direction. The final section explores the realm of spiritual resilience by
providing a smorgasbord of ideas, practices, and activities that can be used on campus. A wide
variety of sources and kinds of experiences, to serve a range of spiritual types and learning
styles, are aimed at helping bring healing and wholeness to the Bethany community while
providing avenues for living with more resilience in times of increasing complexity and stress.
The four themes of Earth Literacy and the author’s personal journey give the foundation and
impetus for spiritual resilience for sustainable living.