The Unbearable Elusiveness of the European Union's Spiritual Heritage
Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage the European Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity.' This remarkable assertion in the Preamble of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU) has received scant reg...
| Published in: | Journal for the Study of Spirituality |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
[2015]
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| In: |
Journal for the Study of Spirituality
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| Further subjects: | B
spiritual heritage
B European Union B Charter Preamble |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage the European Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity.' This remarkable assertion in the Preamble of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU) has received scant regard because the meaning of spiritual' is considered unproblematic. There is no interpretive guidance regarding the Preamble and still no convincing attempt at defining spiritual' in the European context. Discussions about the Union's spiritual dimension' invariably insinuate references to its religious roots and historical relationship with Christianity. Similarly, spiritual' and spirituality', used interchangeably, are emerging as umbrella terms for, and alternatives to, religion'. The spiritual' terminology favoured in European political discourse is a more generic, neutral and inclusive expression suited to the secular sensitivities of a pluralist society. However, over time spirituality has emancipated itself from its religious origins to plant new roots in various academic and professional disciplines. A multi-faceted non-theistic new spirituality' has since emerged but has yet to migrate to the field of European studies. The founding fathers of the European Union had the vision of post-war Europe as a united political and spiritual entity. In light of today's global crises, the Union must radically redefine itself as more than a regeneration project for continued and sustainable integration. Given the teleological tradition of the European Court of Justice, the Charter Preamble could impact on EU law interpretation and development, spelling the advance of a spiritual age for European integration. This calls for a more informed conceptualization of this spiritual heritage'. |
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| ISSN: | 2044-0251 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the Study of Spirituality
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1179/2044024315Z.00000000039 |