Spirituality A Brief History [Hardcover]

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

Preface xi

1 What is Spirituality? 1

Origins of the Word “Spirituality” 2

Contemporary Meaning 3

What is Christian Spirituality? 6

Spirituality and Mysticism 7

The Study of Spirituality 9

Spirituality and History 11

Interpretation 12

Types of Spirituality 15

Periods and Traditions 17

Conclusion: Criteria of Judgment 18

2 Foundations: Scriptures and Early Church 23

Christian Spirituality and the Scriptures 24

Scriptural Markers 25

Spirituality in the Nló,