Abstract
This chapter attends to the significance of water as it relates to spirituality, highlighting the meaning that various cultures assign to water and rites for which this natural resource is used. It is apparent that a majority of people worldwide place utmost importance on the organic or inherent value of water as it relates to spirituality. We argue that this is a value that should be incorporated into water development planning. The Eastern beliefs we include are Jainism, Hinduism, Chinese traditional religion (including Taoism), Buddhism, and Shinto. Regarding Western spiritual beliefs, we reflect on Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and other spiritual and ecologically oriented thought as addressed by Zoroastrianism and the Bahá’í faith. We also discuss ecological-based spirituality as embraced by some Native American and African groups.
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Notes
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© 2013 Kira Artemis Russo and Zachary A. Smith
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Russo, K.A., Smith, Z.A. (2013). Non-Conventional Community Values of Water. In: What Water Is Worth: Overlooked Non-Economic Value in Water Resources. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137062499_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137062499_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-34345-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-06249-9
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