Spirituality and Society in the New Millennium (Hardcover)

At the beginning of the third millenium, concepts of spirituality are undergoing rapid transformation. While still closely connected to Christian values and beliefs, they are now also applied cross-culturally and used in interfaith and secular contexts. Around the globe there is an urgent need for greater spiritual well-being, yet it is not clear how this can best be achieved or even what it means. The development of a wholesome spirituality relating to profound personal and social transformations may well be the most urgent task humanity has to address today.;In this text leading scholars of theology and religion explore the complex dynamics of different spiritual beliefs and practices and their effects on contemporary society. The editor's introductory essay examines the many understandings of spirituality in a postmodern intellectual and social context, but also looks at spirituality as both a personal quest and a new academic field. The essays which follow, from a range of international contributors, present a rich tapestry of reflections on different aspects of spirituality.