Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Beginning in the 15th century, Western tradition and ideas spread successfully over the planet. One of the strongest tenets of the Western world is Individualism. The presentation investigates the ideational roots of the specific form that the West developed, and compares it with alternative concepts of small-scale societies and different civilizations. A result of the leading role of Western individualism can be seen in contemporary Globalization in connection with Neoliberalism. Both having a decisive impact in even the remotest parts of the world, and exerting economic and ideological pressure on spiritual worldviews of indigenous peoples. Furthermore, world economy and ecology has reached a phase of unsustainability that urges for a new approach towards nature, society, and spirituality.