Spiritual Quest

Robert Torrance's wide-ranging, innovative study argues that the spiritual quest is rooted in our biological, psychological, linguistic, and social nature. The quest is not, as most have believed, a rare mystical experience, but a frequent expression of our most basic human impulses. Shaman and scientist, medium and poet, prophet and philosopher, all venture forth in quest of visionary truths to transform and renew the world. Yet Torrance is not trying to reduce the quest to an "archetype" or "monomyth." Instead, he presents the full diversity of the quest in the myths and religious practices of tribal peoples throughout the world, from Oceania to India, Africa, Siberia, and especially the Americas. In theorizing about the quest, Torrance draws on thinkers as diverse as Bergson and Piaget, van Gennep and Turner, Pierce and Popper, Freud, Darwin, and Chomsky. This is a book that will expand our knowledge—and awareness—of a fundamental human activity in all its fascinating complexity.

Addressing fundamental questions about life, this unique volume examines the way in which distinguished scientists of different faiths explore the connections between science, ethics, spirituality and the divine.

The Qur'an is the sacramental foundation of prayer in Islam. Its inspirational power is perpetually renewed through being recited and meditated upon by Muslims on a daily basis throughout their lives. This succinct monograph provides a unique contemporary insight into the spiritual, intellectual and moral dynamics set in motion by the short Qur'anic chapters recited in their prayers by Muslims of all traditions, but which are particularly recommended within Shi'i Islam. Dr Shah-Kazemi engages creatively with the chapters of the Qur'an, including the 'Opening' (al-Fatiha) chapter, basing his own philosophical reflections on the teachings of Imam 'Ali. He focuses in particular on the relationship between the moral and the mystical aspects of the texts. The result is a stimulating philosophical meditation probing the depths of meaning comprised within the verses of a Revelation by which the spiritual quest of Muslims has constantly been inspired, nourished and fulfilled.

This book is about the new rules of the business world now that the energy in the universe is changing. It can help you achieve business sustainability and business success by guiding you to take the inner journey in order to redefine your product and service. You can also gain a different perspective about your employees, suppliers, and customers. This is a workbook with cards to draw for each chapter, indicating the areas you need to work on for your growth. Enjoy the Journey!

This book reveals one of the most vital, yet under-researched, areas of youth ministry: how Christian adults can accompany young people in their spiritual quest or journey. For young people, discovering who they are is an exciting and essential quest. Accompanying them in this exploration offers a unique opportunity to enable them to grow in awareness and use their gifts in a creative way for themselves and for the community. Based on the Biblical model of Christ meeting with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, the authors show how we can be alongside young people and help them to develop their own confidence and maturity in their faith. They consider: What is accompanying? What is achieved by successful accompanying programmes? How does peer accompanying work? How leaders can develop accompanying programmes? The authors have developed their understanding of accompanying through real-life stories, and offer practical examples and models of good practice.

A young mother takes up meditation and discovers a hidden flair for art; a middle-aged homemaker opens to the voice of her inner spirit and develops into an internationally recognized poet; a down-and-out young actor incorporates his Native spiritual traditions into his work and eventually wins acclaim for both his acting and playwriting abilities. Many people today find themselves on a spiritual path yearning for understanding of the mysteries of life and striving for a closer connection with the Divine. As part of the spiritual process, some individuals encounter powerful compulsions to express themselves creatively. And others experience an enigmatic, wonderful, and quite inexplicable increase in their creative abilities. Teri Degler's personal and passionate exploration of the creative spiritual quest through the stories of present-day seekers is well supported by teaching from respected traditions such as Yoga, and balanced by the stories of historical creative geniuses, mystics and visionaries such as Rumi, St. Hildegard of Bingen, Walt Whitman and Johannes Brahms. Also included are exercises in creative writing and visualization that offer helpful ways to find our own expressive abilities. By increasing inspiration and stilling the critical inner voice of resistance, we open ourselves to a more joy-filled existence.

In 2017, Anne Bokma embarked on a quest to become a more spiritual person. After leaving the fundamentalist religion of her youth, she became one of the eighty million North Americans who consider themselves spiritual-but-not-religious, the fastest growing “faith” category. In mid-life she found herself addicted to busyness, drinking too much, hooked on social media, dreading the empty nest and still struggling with alienation from her ultra-religious family. In response, she set out on a year-long whirlwind adventure to immerse herself in a variety of sacred practices—each of which proved to be illuminating in unexpected ways—to try to develop her own definition of what it means to be spiritual. In My Year of Living Spiritually, Bokma documents a diverse range of soulful first-person experiences—from taking a dip in Thoreau’s Walden Pond, to trying magic mushrooms for the first time, booking herself into a remote treehouse as an experiment in solitude, singing in a deathbed choir and enrolling in a week-long witch camp—in an entertaining and enlightening way that will compel readers (non-believers and believers alike) to try a few spiritual practices of their own. Along the way, she reconsiders key relationships in her life and begins to experience the greater depth of meaning, connection, gratitude, simplicity and inner peace that we all long for. Readers will find it an inspiring roadmap for their own spiritual journeys.

“An insightful, scholarly resource for dialogue about the symbiotic relationship between the life of the mind and the life of the heart of faculty, and what faculty can do to provide students an education that focuses on meaning and purpose.” —Larry A. Braskamp, professor emeritus, Loyola University Chicago “Among the strengths of this book are Lindholm’s solid research design and data analysis, deft integration of quantitative and qualitative data in presentation of findings and interpretation, and clear writing. Dr. Lindholm makes an important contribution both to higher education literature on faculty, and to religious studies literature, on this dimension of religion and spirituality in colleges and universities.” —Michael D. Waggoner, professor, University of Northern Iowa; editor, Religion & Education “No one understands more thoroughly the roles that spirituality and religion play in higher education today than Jennifer Lindholm, who has spent more than a decade documenting their impact. The Quest for Meaning and Wholeness adds greatly to her earlier findings of how college can enhance the spiritual lives of students.” —Gary Luhr, executive director, Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities “Based on both quantitative and qualitative data, Lindholm’s thoughtful, well-written book opens new ground, addressing a largely ignored topic in the research on faculty lives and work—spirituality, religion, and meaning in academic life. Institutional leaders, faculty members, and students will benefit from the fresh perspectives, careful definitions, issues, and questions discussed in this book.” —Ann E. Austin, professor of higher, adult, and lifelong education, Michigan State University; coauthor of Rethinking Faculty Work: Higher Education’s Strategic Imperative “At last, a book for faculty about faculty on an important, but long-neglected, topic. Jennifer Lindholm provides a cogent, readable analysis of how faculty view spirituality and religion not only in their own lives, but also their role in higher education.” —Peter C. Hill, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University