The New Spirituality : An Introduction to Progressive Belief in the Twenty-first Century

Much attention has been given in recent writings about religion to fundamentalism and the 'religious right'. But much less attention has been given to their opposite - the emergence of a new generation of progressive religious thinkers and organisations on the 'religious left'. The New Spirituality is one of the first books to give a comprehensive and authoritative account of this burgeoning progressive religious movement. It offers a clear and engaging analysis of the cultural roots, key ideas and organisational structures of this new faith, assessing its significance in the changing moral and religious landscape of contemporary western society. Gordon Lynch argues that we are witnessing the rise of a new religious ideology which reveres the natural world, connects religious faith with novel scientific theories, and has a forward-looking agenda for society's transformation. Produced by one of Britain's leading writers on the changing patterns of modern religion, The New Spirituality will be essential reading for students attempting to understand the shape of religious belief in the twenty-first century. "Much attention has been given in recent writings about religion to fundamentalism and the 'religious right'. But less attention has been given to their opposite - the emergence of a new generation of progressive religious thinkers and organisations on the 'religious left'. "The New Spirituality" is one of the first books to give a comprehensive and authoritative account of this burgeoning progressive religious movement. It offers a clear and engaging analysis of the cultural roots, key ideas and organisational structures of this new faith, assessing its significance in the changing moral and religious landscape of contemporary western society. Gordon Lynch argues that we are witnessing the rise of a new religious ideology which reveres the natural world, connects religious faith with novel scientific theories, and has a forward-looking agenda for society's transformation. Produced by one of Britain's leading writers on the changing patterns of modern religion, "The New Spirituality" will be essential reading for students attempting to understand the shape of religious belief in the twenty-first century."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 1. The roots of the new, progressive spirituality......Page 24 2. The ideology of progressive spirituality......Page 47 3. Progressive spirituality and the new generation of religious progressive organizations......Page 78 4. Progressive spirituality and modern religion in the West......Page 108 5. The collapse of civilization? Progressive spirituality and the demoralization debate......Page 137 6. Future prospects for progressive spirituality and the progressive milieu......Page 169 Appendix......Page 180 Notes......Page 182 Bibliography......Page 208 Index......Page 220 The Roots Of The New, Progressive Spirituality -- The Ideology Of Progressive Spirituality -- Progressive Spirituality And The New Generation Of Progressive Religious Organizations -- Progressive Spirituality And Modern Religion In The West -- The Collapse Of Civilization? Progressive Spirituality And The Demoralization Debate -- The Future Prospects For Progressive Spirituality And The Progressive Milieu. Gordon Lynch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [201]-212) And Index. This volume gives a comprehensive and authoritative account of the emergence of a new generation of progressive religious thinkers and organisations on the 'religious left'