A view from the South.(Ciencia, Religiao e Desenvolvimento: Perspectivas Para o Brasil)(Book review)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Baha'i International Community

For anyone studying trends in the theory of social and economic development, there can be little doubt that some of the most important thinking is today being done at the intersection of science and religion.

This new approach comes because the so-called "Western" development paradigm, with its focus on big projects, monetary incentives, and top-down knowledge, has generally failed.

In the search for alternatives, development practitioners and theorists are increasingly realizing that the realm of values, spirituality and religion must be considered if new efforts in development are to succeed.

Another important stream of thought calls for greater participation by the subjects of development in the formulation of development theories--a viewpoint known as "Southern" because most global development work takes place in the southern hemisphere.

These two streams come together in a new book, Ciencia, Religiao e Desenvolvimento: Perspectivas Para o Brasil (Science, Religion and Development: Perspectives for Brazil)--and the result is illuminating. Published by Editora Planeta Paz in Brasilia, and currently available only in Portuguese, Perspectivas Para o Brasil contributes greatly to the overall discourse on how these new viewpoints--spiritual...

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