Spirituality - A Brief History 2e - (Wiley Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion) 2nd Edition by Philip Sheldrake (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 Back Cover

"The best available introduction to a fascinating subject. This new edition expands the geographical coverage to Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with new material on apocalyptic movements, Eastern Christianity, and the historical development of spiritual practices. No one can match Sheldrake for a winning combination of accuracy, comprehensiveness, and lively writing."
--Arthur Holder, Graduate Theological Union

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 twenty-first century features of spirituality across the world, as well as 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.

Review Quotes

"This volume would be an excellent text for the upper-level or seminary student. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners." (Choice, 1 October 2013)

"[Sheldrake's] grasp of the key figures and movements within the western Christian tradition is consistently sure-footed, and the book will be very useful for those seeking an accessible one-volume introduction to the subject by an acknowledged authority ... This is an excellent book and can be safely recommended to students and others alike." Theology (of the previous edition)

"Wonderfully encapsulates the complex manner in which the term spirituality has taken on various meanings within the Christian tradition ... Those who are interested in learning more about the major movements in the Christian tradition are sure to find this book a wonderful introduction into learning more about thinkers who have ardently longed to attain wisdom." The Heythrop Journal (of the previous edition)

"One gets the sense that Sheldrake knows and loves his subject, and more importantly, wants to share his knowledge with others. I strongly recommend this book." Anglican Theological Review (of the previous edition)

About the Author

Philip Sheldrake is Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Theological Federation, UK, regularly a visiting professor in the United States of America, 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).