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Informationen zum Autor Paul Heelas is Professor in Religion and Modernity in the Department of Religious Studies at Lancaster University. For some thirty years he has published extensively, including The New Age Movement (Blackwell, 1996) and The Spiritual Revolution (Blackwell, 2005, with Linda Woodhead), and is one of the world's leading authorities on the study of contemporary spiritualities. Klappentext This enlightening book explores the ways in which inner-life spirituality has been experienced, understood, and valued in western society. In doing so, it traces the development of modern spiritualities of life, from the origins of Romanticism in the late-eighteenth century, through to the counter-cultural sixties and on to the wellbeing culture. The result is an insightful account of the spiritual landscape. In a provocative argument, Heelas takes on the belief that holistic spirituality is merely an extension of capitalism in which people consume spirituality without giving anything back. He contends that much of the wide range of popular mind-body-spirit practices are really an ethically charged force for the "good life". These expressivist and humanist spiritualities, he argues, are helping us to find balance in the face of the suffocating demands of twenty-first century living. Building on The Spiritual Revolution (2005, with Linda Woodhead) and The New Age Movement (1996), Spiritualities of Life completes a trilogy of books by this acknowledged world leader in the field. Zusammenfassung Building on The New Age Movement (1996) and The Spiritual Revolution (2005)! Spiritualities of Life serves to complete a trilogy of books that Paul Heelas has published with Blackwell. The primary aim of this volume is to explore the three main ways in which spirituality have been experienced! understood and valued in western settings. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface. Introduction. PART I: PORTRAYING SPIRITUALITIES OF LIFE . 1 From the Romantics: The Repertoire. 2 Wellbeing Spirituality Today. PART II: THE 'CONSUMING GROWTH' DEBATE . 3 The Debate. 4 The Language of Consumption and Consumeristic Aspects of Mind-Body-Spiritualities of Life. 5 The Sacred and the Profane: Spiritual Direction or Consumer Preference?. 6 The Matter of Personal Significance: Profaned Superficiality?. 7 Work: Consumptive or Productive?. PART III: TO WORK BEYOND THE CONSUMING SELF . 8 A 'Fag Ending' of the Sacred or Fit for the Future?. 9 Inside Out. Epilogue: Birthright Spirituality Beyond the West. Appendix: Evidence Indicative of Inner Life 'Beliefs'. Notes. References. Name Index. Subject Index: Some Main Themes and Arguments ...
