Spirituality
Subtitle: what it is and why it matters
By: Roger S. Gottlieb
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 241
ISBN-13: 9780199738755; 9780199738748
Subjects: Spirituality
Description: Spirituality is a unique account of spirituality from traditional religion to the present that reveals the common thread that joins Mahayana Buddhism and Hasidic Judaism, the Sufi Rumi and the Catholic St. Thomas a Kempis, people of all faiths and those who are "spiritual but not religious." Roger S. Gottlieb argues that spirituality is the simple but extraordinarily difficult attempt to face life's rigors and disappointments by becoming more mindful, accepting, grateful, compassionate, and lovingly connected to others. These virtues oppose both the social ego's attachment and arrogance, and any habitual, unreflective religiosity; and the path towards them can be shared equally by people inspired by belief in one God or many, the divinity of nature or the sacredness of life. Spirituality examines the promises and perils of spiritual life as understood both within and outside of traditional faiths, explains the rise of the widespread spiritual detachment from institutional religion, and offers illuminating accounts of yoga, meditation, and prayer. There are also insightful studies of spirituality's relation to modern medicine, nature and the environmental crisis, and political activism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: What it is; title: Spirit in motion; title: Spiritual path; title: Spirituality in religious tradition; title: How spirituality became modern; title: Spiritual but not religious; title: Practice, practice, practice; title: Why now?; title: Why it matters; title: Spirituality and healing; title: Spirituality and nature; title: Spirituality and politics; title: End-beginning; title: Grace and despair.