Indigenous Spirituality with a Focus on Maya Religion and Ritual Practices in Connection with Education on Sustainable Development in RE Classrooms

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Bodil Liljefors Persson

Published:

2025

Abstract This contribution has two purposes. It aims at grasping Indigenous religions with an emphasis on Maya religious discourse seen in long term perspective and aims to give examples of how teaching about ecology, sustainability and global ethics and values can benefit from connecting to Indigenous religious traditions rituals within Religious Education. Questions of powerful knowledge and religious literacy are also discussed in this context. Central themes in Maya cosmology, mythology and rituals will be highlighted together with the viability of Maya view on nature, agriculture, ecology and thus sustainability. Local knowledge of agriculture and ethnobotany, as well as ritual healing ceremonies are handed down from ancient traditions and still visible in present everyday life. These ritual practices today still communicate meaning and spirituality in the Maya area. Knowledge of Indigenous religions and spirituality, exemplified by the case of Maya cosmology and ritual practices, will deepen understanding of processes of change and permanence and thus of sustainability. The objective is to emphasise the importance of integrating questions of sustainability and ecology in RE classrooms and to encourage future teachers in RE to develop their knowledge on the relations between religion(s) and sustainability.

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