On Spirituality: Natural and Non-natural
Discussions pertaining to method and theory in the study of religion often address the problems and concerns regarding definitions. Precise definitions reflect the maturity of a discipline. The ubiquity of ‘spirituality’ in scholarly literature is matched only by its persistent imprecision. What is...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
2008
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| In: |
Religion compass
Year: 2008, Volume: 2, Issue: 6, Pages: 1117-1138 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Discussions pertaining to method and theory in the study of religion often address the problems and concerns regarding definitions. Precise definitions reflect the maturity of a discipline. The ubiquity of ‘spirituality’ in scholarly literature is matched only by its persistent imprecision. What is spirituality? This article presents a precise definition. Employing terror management theory, sociometer theory, attachment theory, and death anxiety studies, I argue that spirituality is existential self-esteem misrecognized. There are two types of spirituality. Natural spirituality reflects a symbolic immortality project; non-natural spirituality reflects a literal immortality project. Where the former is possible, the latter is impossible. |
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| ISSN: | 1749-8171 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religion compass
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-8171.2008.00114.x |