Paperback : $47.36
Winner of the Nautilus Silver AwardSpirituality 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.
Winner of the Nautilus Silver AwardSpirituality 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.
Introduction
Part I: What it Is
Chapter 1: Spirit in Motion
Chapter 2: The Spiritual Path
Chapter 3: Spirituality in Religious Tradition
Chapter 4: How Spirituality Became Modern
Chapter 5: Spiritual but Not Religious
Chapter 6: Practice, Practice, Practice
Chapter 7: Why Now?
Part II: Why it Matters
Chapter 8: Spirituality and Healing
Chapter 9: Spirituality and Nature
Chapter 10: Spirituality and Politics
Part III: End/Beginning
Chapter 11: Grace and Despair
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index
Roger S. Gottlieb is Professor of Philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
"The single best book giving an objective look at the burgeoning
interest in spirituality that exists in the English language."
--Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor-in-chief of Tikkun
"We agree with Gottlieb when he affirms a piece of wisdom which
traveled the world: 'Do your best and leave the rest to
God'...Gottlieb puts his faith in grace and in the human capacity
for transformation."--Spirituality & Practice
"Roger Gottlieb has created a piece of art in surveying the
literature on how meditation and Yoga might help reduce pain and
suffering, then switching to a heart-felt narration of struggles
within his own family." -- Christopher Chapple, Loyola Marymount
University
"This book validates and provides grounding for the wide range of
discussions and claims around 'spirituality.' It is much needed in
a time when many claim to be 'spiritual' rather than 'religious,'
eschewing organized religion for individualized experiences of the
sacred."--Stephanie Kaza, Professor of Environmental Studies,
University of Vermont
"Gottlieb is an outstanding scholar whose work in areas related to
spirituality is well known and much appreciated. This book is
timely, perhaps overdue, given the extensive interest in 'things
spiritual' in the broader culture, the intense concern for a more
eclectic approach to 'the spiritual' in the larger culture, and the
need for a single volume text that offers a survey of opinions,
options and practices."--Bill J. Leonard, James and Marilyn
Dunn
Professor of Baptist Studies and Professor of Church History, Wake
Forest University
"Spirituality is a concept that requires attention given its
inconsistent yet ubiquitous employment in a full range of
contemporary human endeavors. Gottlieb's judicious selection of
representative examples of figures and practices will give readers
some tools to help better understand and define spirituality
without falsely representing it as a uniform phenomenon."--Diane L.
Moore, Senior Lecturer on Religious Studies and Education, Senior
Fellow at
the Center for the Study of World Religions, and Director of the
Religious Literacy Project and the Certificate in Religious Studies
and Education, Harvard Divinity School
"Gottlieb s explorations are critical to our times, as new medical
threats arise from superbugs, climate disasters, and accumulating
environmental toxins." -- Stephanie Kaza, University of Vermont
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
