Spirituality: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

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It has been suggested that 'spirituality' has become a word that 'can define an era'. Why? Because paradoxically, alongside a decline in traditional religious affiliations, the growing interest in spirituality and the use of the word in a variety of contexts is a striking aspect of contemporary western cultures. Indeed, spirituality is sometimes contrasted attractively with religion, although this is problematic and implies that religion is essentially dogma, moralism, institutions, buildings, and hierarchies.

The notion of spirituality expresses the fact that many people are driven by goals that concern more than material satisfaction. Broadly, it refers to the deepest values and sense of meaning by which people seek to live. Sometimes these values are conventionally religious. Sometimes they are associated with what is understood as 'the sacred' in a broader sense - that is, of ultimate rather than merely instrumental importance. This Very Short Introduction, written by one of the most eminent scholars and writers on spirituality, explores the historical foundations of the thought and considers how it came to have the significance it is developing today.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Review

Deserves reading and referring to again and again. (The Reader)

written by an eminent scholar in the field ... This is a clearly written and helpful book. (Rima Devereaux, Spirituality)

About the Author

Professor Philip Sheldrake is currently Senior Research Fellow in the Cambridge Theological Federation (Westcott House), Honorary Professor of the University of Wales, and a regular visiting professor in the United States. He is also a member of the Guerrand-Hermès Forum for the Interreligious Study of Spirituality. Philip Sheldrake co-founded and directed (1984-94) the Institute of Spirituality, Heythrop College University of London. He is on the editorial boards of three international academic journals. For the last twenty five years he has been a leading figure in the field of spirituality as an interdisciplinary area of study.

Review:

4.2 out of 5

84.62% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent demonstration of the diversity of spirituality

J.M. · 26 November 2012

This book shows how vibrant and diverse spirituality is in the twenty-first century.While organised religion may be on the decline, spirituality is very much in the ascendant, although it isn't really fair to make such a direct contrast between the two as this book explains.To use a Malcolm X example, there are the "house believers" and the "field believers" - the house believers are those in the establishment who want to hang on to their own wealth and privilege, and who support reactionary and backward looking values. But the field believers are the vast majority who have a lot more creativity, imagination and basic ethics - look at how damaging and basically evil is the Catholic church teaching on contraception, but look at how many (Western) Catholics take any notice of it. So there are plenty of "good" believers who want nothing to do with the anti-women, homophobic, anti-science talk of fundamentalists.Yet spirituality isn't just to do with religion - there are plenty of those outside organised religion who find they thrive and grow through having a spiritual dimension to their lives. This book looks at all the different aspects of spirituality - secular, prophetic/political, ascetic, mystical - it is astonishing all the area of life it affects - sport, diet, food, exercise, architecture, art, literature, music, poetry, science it seems like the list is endless.The way I would characterise it is to see the spiritual as somehow accessing something beyond the immediate here and now. So science looks at the objective and the general, art looks at the subjective and particular, but through engaging with either or both of these we can glimpse the spiritual which is beyond both. This isn't to characterise the spiritual as the supernatural, but rather that which gives us meaning, purpose, value and identity. Looking up in awe at the stars or studying the amazing world of nature, or engaging with a painting, a film or a play are all ways we get glimpses of the spiritual.In any training or exercise - diet, physical training, training for sport etc - we give ourselves identity and purpose that link through to the ascetic notion of training and controlling ourselves.This is why - as the book explains - academic studies in spirituality aren't just linked to religion, but increasingly are spirituality and health, spirituality and architecture, spirituality and education, spirituality and psychology, spirituality and design, spirituality and business and so on. It affects so many aspects of our lives that getting a sense of what is out there - through reading this book - will be especially valuable whatever your background, hobbies or interests.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, readable, informative, interesting, and relevant

G.C. · 26 November 2014

This is an excellent introduction to, and call for, spirituality. Our consumer society and reductionist philosophy have left us with a materialist rationalist physical world with no account of our metaphysical being, whether intellectual, emotional, or spiritual.Philip Sheldrake presents overviews of religious and secular spirituality, offering a useful typology of ascetic, mystical, activist and prophetic spirituality. We are more spiritually aware in childhood, than we are later in life (p61). Spirituality is holistic, transformative, meaningful, coherent, heuristic, creative, individual and communal. It examines self, develops self, but transcends self. It invokes the sacred. It is a discipline. It gives us identity. Its hallmark is virtue.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book!

R.C. · 18 March 2019

Nice introductory book on the topic of spirituality.

4.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend this book

J. · 5 June 2015

A short and concise overview on Spirituality. I would recommend this book, especially for those who are studying theology.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

A. · 6 July 2014

helpful summary

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a scheme of work on the subject

J.J. · 9 November 2020

Beat VSI I've read yet! Bought initially just out of interest and then ended up using as a reference point for my PGCE assignment on pedagogy in secondary school RE. Gives a really broad and balanced overview of most if not all religious and secular views, and the historical detail and context is phenomenal. Well researched and a joy to read, I'll be coming back to this when its time to write a SoW!

1.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful and reflective overview

M.H.B. · 4 November 2013

An excellent overview: concise, comprehensive, readable, thoughtful and critical. Discursive rather than practical - I recommend it without reservation as an up-to-date introduction..

2.0 out of 5 stars A bit advanced

L. · 27 July 2013

I think I was looking for something a bit more of a introduction. I found this a bit advanced, It's a short introduction but covers a lot for information!

short, powerfully and nuanced

K.d.B. · 16 October 2018

This book does what is says; I got a fine and balanced view during my Spiritual Care study of the diversity in spirituality.

Five Stars

s. · 18 February 2015

very good

Completely refreshing look at ancient beliefs

R.M. · 17 March 2013

Oxford is to be congratulated, as well as Philip Sheldrake, for even trying to put together such a vast topic in a mere 140 pages, but Sheldrake alone deserves credit doing it so well. This gives a great overview, and also offers deep insight into ancient traditions and the challenges facing people and people's faith in the 21st century.Thanks so much. I will be using it as a textbook for a World's Religions course I teach.Roberta Morris, M.Div, PhD[...]

Thoughtful, clearly written, exploration of a tough topic

J.S. · 27 March 2020

Read and reread it to absorb the points. The more I looked at it the more I saw the work that went into this. To me, it's a tough topic and I found the writing to be thoughtful, clear, and interesting.

Numberous abstractions.

B.K. · 8 March 2015

I found it hard to read so much abstractions. The author covered the subject from all possible angles, but having to put it all in capsules took the life out of it for me.

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Spirituality: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Name: Spirituality: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Brand: OUP Oxford
SKU: K0199588759
Price: 6.43 BHD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (13 reviews)

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