Project Description

Research hypothesis: This project follows the assumption that the existing development of monastic activities in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, energy, nutrition and tourism (AFENT) is shaped by the monastic spiritual foundations and the historical models of monastic life as well as the political, economic, social and technical development of the surrounding society (and its upheavals). The supposed economical, organizational and personal investments in the AFENT sectors are heavily competitive with the other (business) sectors of the monastery. These general conditions and interdependencies also require a revaluation within the monastery in the view of the goals and criteria of sustainable development. Theological, sociological, economical and organization approaches shed light on the possibilities and conditions for implementation of such a process.

Research questions and goal setting:

The project explores the options that are available for monastic life and economy, particularly regarding the general principles of sustainable development and the monasteries’ intellectual and spiritual foundation.

In addition to the discussion within the monasteries, previous development processes will be reflected upon and compared from an outside perspective (secular and spiritual institutions, regional stakeholder groups etc). Thereafter they’ll be synthesized together with the monasteries to further development perspectives such as quality standards and cooperation potential. The monasteries as well as their relevant community stakeholders can thus be stimulated towards and provided with a basis for a practical and sustainable redirection of their economic activities and interrelationships. A comparison with two German monasteries contrasts the influences of historical and political developments. The both inter– and transdisciplinary project is composed of the following three sub–questions: How has the monasteries’ way of “dealing with divine creation” evolved over time? What positions within the AFENT sectors are the monasteries aspiring to in the future? And finally, how can reorientations be implemented and communicated both internally and externally?

Targeted groups: These are, firstly, the monks, clerical or secular parties responsible for managing the studied businesses, and (other) monastery employees from the six partner monasteries. Secondly, we work with important stakeholders and institutions in the monasteries’ environments such as business partners and politicians, as well as with students and teachers of convent schools (This is particularly targeted with the sub-project: “Pilgrim School”/education on sustainable development).

Methods: The research questions will be thoroughly examined using qualitative interviews (e.g. guideline supported, narrative and expert interviews), archival analysis, participatory focus groups, scenario techniques, SWOT-analyses, and cause and effect matrix models.

Cooperation: The research team consists of scholars from disciplines such as:

theology (focusing on intellectual and spiritual foundations and orientations)
sociology (working on aspects of community development organization and interdependencies with society),
agronomy and other agricultural related disciplines (adding scenario techniques, indicator systems),
history (engaging with historical transformations),
regional development (concentrating on interactions between the monastery and their surroundings),
pedagogy (working in the field of education on sustainable development)
marketing (studying the perception and presentation of AFENT activities).

Impacts from the results for furthering and applying science: This research will provide a scientific contribution to sociological and economic theories regarding the ecological and environmental transition of monasteries. Furthermore, there will be (trans-) scientific contributions both to a spiritually enhanced understanding of sustainability and to the discourse on practiced sustainability (innovative, ecological work-, live- and business styles with social and ecological welfare effects).

Methods and material for teaching programs on sustainability in schools will also be tested and developed.

UmiS-Flyer (PDF 147KB)

Presentation within Session STS10 (An Utopian Economy? Economy of Religious Institutions) at the 31st Conference of the International Society for the Sociology of Religion (ISSR) (PDF 2,6MB)

Presentation within Session STS6a (Religion and the Fostering of a Sustainable and Just Global Economic Order) at the 31st Conference of the International Society for the Sociology of Religion (ISSR) (PDF 2,5MB)