Spirituality: A Guide for the Perplexed by Philip Sheldrake. Bloomsbury Academic (London 2014). Pbk. 216 pages. £14.99.
The Bloomsbury Guides for the Perplexed are intended to be clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects which students and readers find especially challenging or even bewildering. Philip Sheldrake's Guide to Spirituality is a welcome addition to the series. As he points out in his introduction, 'spirituality' is a subject that fascinates many people in our contemporary age. It is a word which is increasingly used, yet its meaning is ill defined, because 'spirituality' is not a single reality but depends on the religious, philosophical or context in which it develops. Nonetheless Sheldrake believes there are sufficient common features to hazard the following overall summary definition: spirituality stands for lifestyles and practices that, explicitly or implicitly, portray a vision of human existence and of how our human spirits may achieve their fullest potential. In other words, the contemporary interest in spirituality embraces an aspirational approach to the meaning and conduct of human life, whether this is seen in religious or non-religious terms.
Sheldrake has been teaching and writing on spirituality for nearly thirty years in universities and adult education and his teaching experience is evident in the clear way the book is structured. He has succeeded in organising a large amount of material into a coherent and easily understandable format without over-simplification and stereotypes. However, the reader must make allowances for the fact that the guide is written for an audience who may not be familiar with the key figures in religion, philosophy and the arts. Nonetheless, I was surprised to find that he felt the need to explain that Gandhi was the prominent leader of the Independence Movement under British Imperial Rule in India (though not until the third time he is mentioned) and Martin Luther King was the leading figure of the American Civil Rights Movement. On the other hand, I am grateful to him for introducing me to the work of Pierre Hadot, who wrote Philosophy as a Way of Life (2006), a topic which I plan to explore further in my U3A Philosophy Group, as it will perhaps be a good opportunity to introduce some of my fundamentalist atheist colleagues to spirituality in a philosophical context.
The book is divided into three main parts. Part One, in four chapters, provides an introduction and overview and describes a method for studying the subject. Sheldrake suggests that there are three main approaches to studying spirituality: religious spirituality arising from the great religious traditions; esoteric spirituality (Theosophy, Spiritualism, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and Kabbalah etc.); and non-religious or secular spirituality. A number of historians have developed a range of typologies to help organise what could be a confusing mass of information. Sheldrake is keen to stress that these typologies are helpful tools and should not be regarded as absolute or self-contained. However, he considers they provide a useful framework for interpretation. The four types on which he bases his study in this book are: the ascetical, the mystical, the practical and the prophetic.
Moving on to Part Two, he uses this framework to consider spirituality as practised in the five major religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. In doing this he begins by providing a brief introduction to each of these traditions. Part Three deals with secular spirituality and contemporary perspectives. In an online-interview Sheldrake advises readers to read Part One and then go on to dip in and out of the rest of the book. In my dipping in and out I found Part Three the most interesting and relevant from a SOF perspective. The concept of spirituality is increasingly found outside religious circles and, whether religious or not, people understand spirituality as a quest for values and practices that can be embraced in the pursuit of a meaningful life. In earlier times religion permeated every aspect of life. Reading this book, it occurred to me that spirituality seems to be taking over this role and, alongside science and philosophy, is providing a means whereby humanity can find meaning and purpose. Nowadays spirituality is discussed and practised in relation to many areas of human activity. For example, it is associated with creative activities and also plays an important role in sexuality, gender and childhood development. A significant area of development is the relationship between spirituality and professions such as healthcare, social work and even business.
At just over 200 pages, with plenty of subheadings for ease of reference, this book would provide a good basis for a discussion group. The structure would also adapt well to a PowerPoint presentation if anyone was so inclined.
Carol Palfrey is Secretary to SOF Trustees.