ABSTRACT
We are clearly living in a time where there is more interest in spirituality in a general sense and in at least some religious traditions. There are many reasons for this including questioning of economically or materially driven goals, a desire to be seen as a whole person and concern for the environment. While spirituality is defined in many different ways, there is agreement that its importance has become much more part of Western culture (Heelas and Woodhead 2005). This book has defined spirituality as that which gives life meaning, a sense of connection to something greater. This might be experienced as a sense of transcendence or of an expanded awareness in the everyday or a combination of these. For individuals, this might mean the sense of relatedness that comes from a family interaction or from walking mindfully in a forest or from being part of a community event seeking broader social change. Religion is part of this definition of spirituality and has also experienced a resurgence of interest and of visibility in the world, perhaps related to a desire for clarity about meaning and/or to resisting the minimising of religious expression. This expansion of interest in spirituality has fostered remarkable diversity and a greater acceptance that individuals, groups and communities will find ways to form their own spiritual paths, not necessarily connected to formal institutions or organisations. For some, their interest in what might be seen as ‘New Age’ spirituality combines with continued commitment to traditional religious practices; others combine attending their own religious community, with taking retreats or workshops with other spiritual or religious groups (Kavanagh 2007).
