Spirituality for the Skeptic : The Thoughtful Love of Life

Is it possible to be spiritual and yet not believe in the supernatural? Can a person be spiritual without belonging to a religious group or organization? In this book, philosopher Robert Solomon offers challenging answers to these questions as he explodes commonly held myths about what is means to be spiritual in today's pluralistic world. Based on Solomon's own struggles to reconcile philosophy with religion, Spirituality for the Skeptic offers a model of a vibrant, fulfilling spirituality that embraces the complexities of human existence and acknowledges the joys and tragedies of life. Solomon has forged an enlightened new path that synthesizes spirituality with emotions, intellect, science, and common sense. His new paradigm, naturalized spirituality, establishes as its cornerstone the thoughtful love of life—a passionate concern for the here-and-now, and not the by-and-by. Being spiritual doesn't mean being holed up as a recluse, spending hours in meditation and contemplation, Solomon argues. It demands involvement and emotional engagement with others in the struggle to find meaning in our lives. As such, this modern-day spirituality encompasses a passionate enthusiasm for the world, the transformation of self, cosmic trust and rationality, coming to terms with fate, and viewing life as a gift, all of which are explored in depth throughout this book. Spirituality for the Skeptic answers the need for a non-institutional, non-dogmatic spirituality that leads to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. By examining the ideas of great thinkers from Socrates and Nietzsche to Buddha to Kafka, Solomon arrives at a practical vision of spirituality that should appeal to many seekers looking to make sense of the human condition.

is It Possible To Be Spiritual And Yet Not Believe In The Supernatural? Can A Person Be Spiritual Without Belonging To A Religious Group Or Organization?
In spirituality For The Skeptic, Philosopher Robert Solomon Explores What It Means To Be Spiritual In Today's Pluralistic World. Based On Solomon's Own Struggles To Reconcile Philosophy With Religion, This Book Offers A Model Of A Vibrant, Fulfilling Spirituality That Embraces The Complexities Of Human Existence And Acknowledges The Joys And Tragedies Of Life. Solomon Has Forged An Enlightened New Path That Synthesizes Spirituality With Emotions, Intellect, Science, And Common Sense. His New Paradigm, Naturalized Spirituality, Establishes As Its Cornerstone The Thoughtful Love Of Life—a Passionate Concern For The Here-and-now, And Not The By-and-by. Being Spiritual Doesn't Mean Being Holed Up As A Recluse, Spending Hours In Meditation And Contemplation, Solomon Argues. It Demands Involvement And Emotional Engagement With Others In The Struggle To Find Meaning In Our Lives. As Such, This Modern-day Spirituality Encompasses A Passionate Enthusiasm For The World, The Transformation Of Self, Cosmic Trust And Rationality, Coming To Terms With Fate, And Viewing Life As A Gift, All Of Which Are Explored In Depth Throughout This Book.
spirituality For The Skeptic Answers The Need For A Non-institutional, Non-dogmatic Spirituality That Leads To Personal Fulfillment And Satisfaction. By Examining The Ideas Of Great Thinkers From Socrates And Nietzsche To Buddha To Kafka, Solomon Arrives At A Practical Vision Of Spirituality That Should Appeal To Many Seekers Looking To Make Sense Of The Human Condition.

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solomon (business And Philosophy, Univ. Of Texas, Austin; A Passion For Wisdom) Has No Sympathy For New Age Spirituality Or Any Family Heritage Of Traditional Religious Practice. Nevertheless, He Has Also Grown Weary Of Academic Philosophy's Tendency Toward Clever Paradox And Puzzle-solving And Often Cynical Obscurantism. Philosophy, He Reminds Us, Is A Spiritual Practice. He Looks To Philosophy Itself, Especially The Work Of Hegel And Nietzsche, To Provide The Tools To Pursue A Naturalized Spirituality, Spirituality As The Thoughtful Love Of Life. Separate Chapters Address Thoughtful Spirituality As Characterized By Passion, Cosmic Trust, And Rationality; As Facing Up To Tragedy, Fate, And Death; And As Fostering Transformation Of The Self. This Is A Warm And Wise Book. While Solomon Does Not Begin To Touch The Historical Riches Of Philosophy As Spiritual Practice (as In The Pioneering Work Of Pierre Hadot), He Does Begin The Important Task Of Reconceiving Contemporary Philosophy As A Passionate Spirituality A Spirituality For Those Skeptical Of Supernaturalism And Authority-based Religious Claims. Steve Young, Mchenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, Il Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

"Is it possible to be spiritual and yet not believe in the supernatural? Can a person be spiritual without belonging to a religious group or organization? In this book, philosopher Robert Solomon offers challenging answers to these questions as he explodes commonly held myths about what is means to be spiritual in today's pluralistic world. Based on Solomon's own struggles to reconcile philosophy with religion, Spirituality for the Skeptic offers a model of a vibrant, fulfilling spirituality that embraces the complexities of human existence and acknowledges the joys and tragedies of life. Solomon has forged an enlightened new path that synthesizes spirituality with emotions, intellect, science, and common sense. His new paradigm, "naturalized" spirituality, establishes as its cornerstone the "thoughtful love of life"--A passionate concern for the here-and-now, and not the by-and-by. Being spiritual doesn't mean being holed up as a recluse, spending hours in meditation and contemplation, Solomon argues. It demands involvement and emotional engagement with others in the struggle to find meaning in our lives. As such, this modern-day spirituality encompasses a passionate enthusiasm for the world, the transformation of self, cosmic trust and rationality, coming to terms with fate, and viewing life as a gift, all of which are explored in depth throughout this book. Spirituality for the Skeptic answers the need for a non-institutional, non-dogmatic spirituality that leads to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. By examining the ideas of great thinkers from Socrates and Nietzsche to Buddha to Kafka, Solomon arrives at a practical vision of spirituality that should appeal to many seekers looking to make sense of the human condition"--Publisher's description Is it possible to be spiritual and yet not believe in the supernatural? Can a person be spiritual without belonging to a religious group or organization? In Spirituality for the Skeptic , philosopher Robert Solomon explores what it means to be spiritual in today's pluralistic world. Based on Solomon's own struggles to reconcile philosophy with religion, this book offers a model of a vibrant, fulfilling spirituality that embraces the complexities of human existence and acknowledges the joys and tragedies of life. Solomon has forged an enlightened new path that synthesizes spirituality with emotions, intellect, science, and common sense. His new paradigm, "naturalized" spirituality, establishes as its cornerstone the "thoughtful love of life" - a passionate concern for the here-and-now, and not the by-and-by. Being spiritual doesn't mean being holed up as a recluse, spending hours in meditation and contemplation, Solomon argues. It demands involvement and emotional engagement with others in the struggle to find meaning in our lives. As such, this modern-day spirituality encompasses a passionate enthusiasm for the world, the transformation of self, cosmic trust and rationality, coming to terms with fate, and viewing life as a gift, all of which are explored in depth throughout this book. Spirituality for the Skeptic answers the need for a non-institutional, non-dogmatic spirituality that leads to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. By examining the ideas of great thinkers from Socrates and Nietzsche to Buddha to Kafka, Solomon arrives at a practical vision of spirituality that should appeal to many seekers looking to make sense of the human condition. ## Abstract For most of my life, I have been dismissive of both spirituality and religion. I say this to make clear the perspective and the starting point of this book, this search. No doubt, many of my readers will think of me as simpleminded, trying to recover what I should have learned had I been rightly raised in the matrix of religion, ritual, and belief. Others, my friends from the field of science and most of my political friends, will think that I am benighted, or perhaps something of a sell out, for giving up my lifelong down‐to‐earth scientific, and admittedly hyperrational way of thinking about things. But if the very idea of spirituality seemed to me to be contaminated by sectarian religion and by uncritical and antiscientific thinking, my view of life, which manifested in my becoming a philosopher (it did not come from philosophy) pointed to something else. Spirituality is not just organized religion. Nor is it antiscience, unnatural or supernatural. There is a naturalized spirituality that I have always had a glimpse of, and this is what I want to pursue in this book. "Spirituality for the Skeptic answers the need for a non-institutional, non-dogmatic spirituality that leads to personal fulfillment and satisfaction. By examing the ideas of the great thinkers from Socrates and Nietzche to Buddha and Kafka, Solomon arrives at a practical vision of spirituality that should appeal to many seekers looking to make sense of the human condition"--Cover By examining the ideas of great thinkers from Kafka to Socrates, this text arrives at an alternative vision of spirituality, one that is non-dogmatic and practical, that should appeal to many seekers looking to make sense of the human condition