The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality (Religion and Spirituality in the Modern World) [Paperback]

Paul Heelas (Author), Linda Woodhead (Author), Benjamin Seel (Author), Bronislaw Szerszynski (Author), Karin Tusting (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405119594 | ISBN-13: 978-1405119597 | Publication Date: January 24, 2005 | Edition: 1

Comparing existing evidence from the USA and Europe, with a UK-based study of religion and spirituality, this fascinating book addresses the most pressing question in the study of religion today: are new forms of spirituality overtaking traditional forms of religion?

Based on the detailed study of religion and spirituality in Kendal, UK

Compares pioneering findings from Kendal with existing evidence from the USA and Europe

Provides a theoretical perspective which explains both secularization and sacralization

Offers some startling predictions about the future of religion and spirituality in the west

Is written in an accessible and lively style, and will appeal to a broad range of readers interested in the future direction of belief in the western world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an important book that should be read by anyone concerned with the future of religion in this country. I say this for two reasons: first, because it tells us new things about the nature of religious activity in Britain; and second, because the authors offer an interesting interpretation of their data, drawing from innovative theoretical insights." Church Times

“It is clear that this book, with the distinctions it introduces and its daring central thesis, is a major contribution to the current debate. The careful way in which the authors develop their argument step by step, taking into account possible objections, is admirable.” Journal of Contemporary Religion

"Is Britain undergoing a seismic cultural shift with New Age forms of spirituality set to overtake traditional Christian expressions? That's the fundamental question explored in depth by two leading researchers into religious life in Britain today. Their landmark book ... sets out their findings with back-up evidence from studies worldwide. It raises key issues for all concerned for the future of Christianity in Britain." The Baptist Times

"Clearly, this book written by leading sociologists of religion, is a must for anyone interested in sociology, alternative spirituality and Christian studies, and will be made reference to in many forthcoming researches. I strongly recommend anyone with an interest in this field of study to read the book as it highlights current research findings as well as breaks new ground in sociology of religion." Australian Religious Studies Review

"This book explores the significance for contemporary religion and spirituality of the subjective turn in modern culture. To understand this, we need both careful empirical research and constant reflection on our categories. Heelas and Woodhead supply both in generous measure." Charles Taylor, McGill University

"This well-researched and cogently argued study offers a challenging diagnosis of the spiritual condition of present-day Britain. It will be hotly debated by sociologists, theologians, and all those interested in the future of religion and spirituality." Hugh McLeod, University of Birmingham

"The Spiritual Revolution provides a much-needed survey and theoretical synthesis of research on religious involvement, particularly in Great Britain and the United States … The result is a much more nuanced and productive account of religious change than the usual secularization versus sacralization approach." Penny Marler, Samford University

"A book such as this, whose contributors understand the shades of grey and are able to provide a critique of the religious fanaticism and extremism (on all sides) that has given the rise to so much of the controversy surrounding The Passion, should be essential reading in schools and universities everywhere." Chris Deacy, University of Kent

Book Description

This lively and highly accessible book presents a fascinating picture of belief in the western world. Drawing on an in-depth locality study of religion and spirituality in the English town of Kendal, Cumbria, this book addresses the most pressing question in the study of religion today: are new forms of spirituality overtaking traditional forms of religion, particularly Christianity? By combining pioneering findings from Kendal with existing evidence from the USA and Europe, this book shows that there is a good deal to support the claim that a spiritual revolution is well underway in the UK and arguably even further advanced in the USA. In explaining this development, the volume offers a new theoretical approach to the study of contemporary religion which can help make sense of both secularization and sacralization, and which leads to some startling predictions about the future of religion and spirituality in the west.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405119594
• ISBN-13: 978-1405119597
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Aimed at the Statistician, January 10, 2006

By 

Dr. C. H. Roberts (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality (Religion and Spirituality in the Modern World) (Paperback)

This book was a bit of a disappointment to me since it is long on reporting research statistics and analyzing survey results and short on philosophical or cultural discussion. It fairly well chronicles the shift in some demographic groups from "religion" to "spirituality" but it does so from a rather detached, clinical standpoint. If you are on board with the new spirituality and are looking to read an apology for your change or, if you are deeply opposed to such a transition and consider yourself an unbendging traditionalist in religion, you probably won't find what you're looking for in this book. North American readers should be advised also that the focus of the study is a demographic survey of an English town in the U.K.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, but too much research for the general reader, May 10, 2005

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Avid reader (Jerusalem) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality (Religion and Spirituality in the Modern World) (Paperback)

The book attempts to study the rise of spirituality through the in depth study of one community, its different "religious" and "spiritual" practices and their change over time.
For those who are just interested in the general theory-- that "subjectavism" has caused the attractiveness of new pratices -- the detailed information about the specific community is a bit cumbersome, but probably necessary for specialists who need to be convinced that the thesis is true.