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 Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Introduction: In the Spirit of Hegel 1 From Philosophy to Spirit and Spirituality Spirituality, Religion, and Science Being and Doing: Spirituality, Society, and Ritual Imagine There’s No Heaven: Naturalizing Spirituality Self-Actualizing Spirituality Spirituality as a Larger Sense of Life Liberating the Soul of Philosophy 2 Spirituality as Passion Spirituality and Erotic Love Spirituality as Reverence The Passions of Spirituality: Nietzsche on Overflowing 3 Spirituality as Cosmic Trust Spirituality and Authentic Trust Faith as Trust Emotional Poisons: Paranoia, Envy, and Resentment Beyond Envy and Resentment: Contentment and Forgiveness 4 Spirituality as Rationality Reason Versus the Passions? Rationality Relativized Science, Spirituality, and Rationality Rationality Perverted: Smart Selfishness Spirituality as the Rationality of Emotions 5 Facing Up to Tragedy The Tragic Sense of Life Denying Tragedy: The Temptation to Blame The Problem of Evil Blaming the Victims The Meaning of Tragedy 6 Spirituality, Fate, and Fatalism Making Sense of Fatalism Fate as Character Fate and Time Fate and Luck as Two Modes of Meaning Gratitude: The Idea of Life as a Gift 7 Looking Forward to Death? The Denial of Death: A Brief History The Denial of Death: An Analysis Death Fetishism Death is Nothing Spirituality and the Social Dimension of Death 8 The Self in Transformation: Self, Soul, and Spirit “Who are you?” Self and Soul Beyond Descartes: Mind and the Mind-Body Problem Body, Mind, and Soul: Some Asian Perspectives The Rise of the Western Soul Soul and Society (Kafka’s Identity Crisis) Spirituality, Soul, and the Transformation of the Self Credits Notes Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z 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. "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