Spirituality: A Brief History (Wiley Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion)

Book info: Spirituality: A Brief History (Wiley Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion) (Hardcover, 262 pages) – Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. Language: English.

Engagingly written by one of the world’s leading scholars in this field, this comprehensively revised edition tells the story of Christian spirituality from its origins in the New Testament right up to the present day.

• Charts the main figures, ideas, images and historical periods, showing how and why spirituality has changed and developed over the centuries
• Includes new chapters on the nature and meaning of spirituality, and on spirituality in the 21st century; and an account of the development and main features of devotional spirituality
• Provides new coverage of Christian spirituality’s relationship to other faiths throughout history, and their influence and impact on Christian beliefs and practices
• Features expanded sections on mysticism, its relationship to spirituality, the key mystical figures, and the development of ideas of ‘the mystical’
• Explores the interplay between culture, geography, and spirituality, taking a global perspective by tracing spiritual developments across continents

From the Inside Flap

Engagingly written by one of the world’s leading scholars, this comprehensively expanded edition tells the story of Christian spirituality from its origins in the New Testament right up to the present day. It charts the main figures, ideas, images and historical periods, showing how and why spirituality has changed and developed over the centuries. Sheldrake deftly extracts the distinctive themes of Christian spirituality, exploring the historical and cultural experiences that changed people’s attitudes and practices.

New to the second edition are chapters on the nature and meaning of spirituality, and 21st century features of spirituality across the world; and an account of the development and core features of devotional spirituality. Sections on mysticism, its relationship to spirituality, the key mystical figures, and the development of ideas of ‘the mystical’ are all expanded. It also offers a fascinating insight into Christian spirituality’s relationship to other faiths throughout history, and their influence and impact on Christian beliefs and practices. The result is a lively and informative introduction to the varieties of Christian spirituality across the globe and throughout the ages.

From the Back Cover

Engagingly written by one of the world’s leading scholars, this comprehensively expanded edition tells the story of Christian spirituality from its origins in the New Testament right up to the present day. It charts the main figures, ideas, images and historical periods, showing how and why spirituality has changed and developed over the centuries. Sheldrake deftly extracts the distinctive themes of Christian spirituality, exploring the historical and cultural experiences that changed people’s attitudes and practices.

New to the second edition are chapters on the nature and meaning of spirituality, and 21st century features of spirituality across the world; and an account of the development and core features of devotional spirituality. Sections on mysticism, its relationship to spirituality, the key mystical figures, and the development of ideas of ‘the mystical’ are all expanded. It also offers a fascinating insight into Christian spirituality’s relationship to other faiths throughout history, and their influence and impact on Christian beliefs and practices. The result is a lively and informative introduction to the varieties of Christian spirituality across the globe and throughout the ages.

About the Author Philip Sheldrake is Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Theological Federation, UK, regularly a visiting professor in the USA, and a former president of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. He is the author of numerous books including Explorations in Spirituality: History, Theology & Social Practice (2010), Spaces for the Sacred: Place, Memory & Identity (2001), and Living between Worlds: Place and Journey in Celtic Christianity (1997).