Spiritual Capital: Spirituality in Practice in Christian Perspective

by Bernadette Flanagan, Michael O'Sullivan

Overview

Spiritual capital is a concept that is being embraced by a range of theorists in response to the great destruction being wrought by the global economic crisis. Spiritual Capital seeks to re-focus discussion on core social values, on individuals' value systems and the internal dynamics that impel human beings to live by truth, goodness and love. Genuine social capital requires the cultivation of spiritual capital. While some scholars approach spiritual capital from the perspective of the beneficial social influence of religious belief and practice, others approach it more broadly as the value of transcendent or artistic human activities which foster contemplative living, stimulate creativity, encourage moral behaviour, and motivate individuals.

This book defines, refines and disseminates the concept of spiritual capital. Contributions by practitioner-scholars in applied spirituality who have practical experience of spiritual capital at work in diverse human situations, provide accounts of concrete expressions of spiritual capital and create an interdisciplinary discussion between spirituality practitioners, artists, ecologists, sociologists and others on the frontiers of change in contemporary culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409483717
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	10/28/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr Michael O’Sullivan is Director of the MA in Applied Christian Spirituality at All Hallows College (Dublin City University), Ireland. He has served on the Governing Board of the international Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and the Steering Committee of the Christian Spirituality Study Group of the American Academy of Religion. He has published in the fields of spirituality as an academic discipline, liberation theology, and feminist theology and is a member of the Editorial Board of Spiritus (Johns Hopkins University Press). He is also a Jesuit priest.

Dr Bernadette Flanagan is Director of Research at All Hallows College (Dublin City University). Her publications include The Spirit of the City (Dublin: Veritas, 1999) and in collaboration with Una Agnew / Greg Heylin With Wisdom Seeking God: The Academic Study of Spirituality (Leuven: Peeters, 2008). She has served on the Governing Board of the international Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and is a non-resident faculty scholar of the Duke University Center for Spirituality, Religion and Health. She is currently researching 'women and new monasticisms'.

Bernadette Flanagan, Chris Baker, Rana Jawad, Michael O'Sullivan, June Kennedy, Thomas McKenna, William O'Brien, John K. Guiney, Ruth Harris, Gráinne Putney, Niamh Kelly, Senan D'Souza, Mary O'Brien, Ann O'Farrell.

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction, Bernadette Flanagan; Exploring spiritual capital: resource for an uncertain future?, Chris Baker; A secular response to social solidarity? Social capital, religion and the implications for social policy, Rana Jawad; Spiritual capital and the turn to spirituality, Michael O'Sullivan; The ecological crisis and spiritual capital, June Kennedy; Frederick Ozanam's spiritual capital and today's consumer society, Thomas McKenna; Spiritual capital in a competitive workplace, William O'Brien; Faith-based organisations and the work of international development, John K. Guiney; The spiritual dimension to bereavement through suicide, Ruth Harris; Spiritual capital at work in the shadows, Gráinne Putney; Pilgrimage and spiritual capital, Niamh Kelly; Gardening as a source of spiritual capital, Senan D'Souza; Poem-making, creativity, and meditative practice, Mary O'Brien; Leonard Cohen, spiritual capital and post-modern seekers, Ann O'Farrell; Index.