Present-Day Spiritualities: Contrasts and Overlaps (Studies in Theology and Religion, 18)

Many forms of present-day Western spirituality contribute to people's well-being, whereas others have raised criticism. The study of these different forms is, however, complicated by their continuously diverging practices and ideas. By bringing to bear a multidisciplinary approach, the ten specialists of this volume are able to analyze diverse new instances of spirituality, e.g. in religious contexts (Buddhism, Christianity), popular use, organizations and enterprises, (alternative) health service, and works of art. Most contributions also discuss methods and theories. In their editorial chapters, Elisabeth Hense, Frans Jespers and Peter Nissen show the remarkable overlaps in the approaches, definitions and evaluations of the contributions in this volume and provide a theoretical framework. Both the fresh analyses and the theoretical reflections in this volume point the way to new approaches in this field of study. Contributors include: Jerry Biberman, Mark Elliott, Miguel Farias, Johan Goud, Paul Heelas, Elisabeth Hense, Frans Jespers, Hubert Knoblauch, Peter Nissen, Paul van der Velde Introduction: Present-day Spiritualities In Confessional, Popular, Professional And Aesthetic Contexts: Contrasts Or Overlap? / Elisabeth Hense -- What Is 'spiritual' In Modern Western Buddhism? / Paul Can Der Velde -- Current Forms Of Christian Spirituality / Elisabeth Hense -- Old Forms, New Motives Spirituality In Traditional Forms Of Catholic Popular Devotion / Peter Nissen -- Popular Spirituality / Hubert Knoblauch -- Spirituality In Organizations: Parallels With Spirituality In Other Disciplines--toward A Coherent Theory / Jerry Biberman -- Cam: Healing The Person, Spiritual Humanism, And The Cultivation Of Humanity / Paul Heelas -- Spirituality And Eroticism: Corpus Mysticism In Contemporary Dutch Literature / Johan Goud -- Overlap And Contrasts Between Forms Of Spirituality From A Theological Perspective / Mark W. Elliott -- Inside T He Spiritual Mind: Cognitive Implications Of Spiritual Versus Religious Engagement / Miguel Farias -- Explorations In The Border Region Of Religious And Secular Spiritualities From The Perspective Of Religious Studies / Frans Jespers -- Epilogue: Some Remarkable Overlaps In The Study Of Present-day Spiritualities / Elisabeth Hense, Frans Jespers, And Peter Nissen. Edited By Elisabeth Hense, Frans Jespers, Peter Nissen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 216-218) And Index. Ten specialists of the diverging present-day Western spiritualities offer fresh analyses of new cases and theories, e.g. in religious contexts (Buddhism, Christianity), popular use, organizations and enterprises, (alternative) health service, and works of art; the outcome is a theoretical framework