Philip Sheldrake is Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Theological Foundation, UK, and Director at the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, USA. He is author of a dozen books, editor of the New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (2005) and is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.

Philip Sheldrake offers here the type of distilled overview of spirituality which only an exceptionally accomplished expert can provide. He ranges from the more classical forms of spirituality that are associated with religious traditions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, to those which are more hidden or "esoteric" – Anthroposophy, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, non-traditional Kabbalah, Spiritualism and on to those which are secular or atheist. The result is an invaluable resource that will empower those who wish to critically discuss spirituality in the academy, the public square or the temple.

• IntroductionPart 1: Definitions and Methods of Study1. What is Spirituality?2. How Do We Study Spirituality? 3. Spirituality and Mysticism4. Spirituality, Beliefs and Spiritual PracticePart 2: Leading a Spiritual Life 5. Jewish Spirituality 6. Christian Spirituality 7. Muslim Spirituality8. Hindu Spirituality 9. Buddhist Spirituality Part 3: Secular Approaches to Spirituality10. Secular Spirituality and Contemporary PerspectivesBibliographyIndex

Philip Sheldrake is Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Theological Foundation, UK, and Director at the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, USA. He is author of a dozen books, editor of the New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (2005) and is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.

Philip Sheldrake offers here the type of distilled overview of spirituality which only an exceptionally accomplished expert can provide. He ranges from the more classical forms of spirituality that are associated with religious traditions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, to those which are more hidden or "esoteric" – Anthroposophy, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, non-traditional Kabbalah, Spiritualism and on to those which are secular or atheist. The result is an invaluable resource that will empower those who wish to critically discuss spirituality in the academy, the public square or the temple.

• IntroductionPart 1: Definitions and Methods of Study1. What is Spirituality?2. How Do We Study Spirituality? 3. Spirituality and Mysticism4. Spirituality, Beliefs and Spiritual PracticePart 2: Leading a Spiritual Life 5. Jewish Spirituality 6. Christian Spirituality 7. Muslim Spirituality8. Hindu Spirituality 9. Buddhist Spirituality Part 3: Secular Approaches to Spirituality10. Secular Spirituality and Contemporary PerspectivesBibliographyIndex

Philip Sheldrake is Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Theological Foundation, UK, and Director at the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, USA. He is author of a dozen books, editor of the New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (2005) and is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.

Philip Sheldrake offers here the type of distilled overview of spirituality which only an exceptionally accomplished expert can provide. He ranges from the more classical forms of spirituality that are associated with religious traditions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, to those which are more hidden or "esoteric" – Anthroposophy, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, non-traditional Kabbalah, Spiritualism and on to those which are secular or atheist. The result is an invaluable resource that will empower those who wish to critically discuss spirituality in the academy, the public square or the temple.

• IntroductionPart 1: Definitions and Methods of Study1. What is Spirituality?2. How Do We Study Spirituality? 3. Spirituality and Mysticism4. Spirituality, Beliefs and Spiritual PracticePart 2: Leading a Spiritual Life 5. Jewish Spirituality 6. Christian Spirituality 7. Muslim Spirituality8. Hindu Spirituality 9. Buddhist Spirituality Part 3: Secular Approaches to Spirituality10. Secular Spirituality and Contemporary PerspectivesBibliographyIndex