TOPICS IN THE BOOK African and Western Concepts of Spirituality and the Transcendence of God: A Case Study of Sub-Sahara African Christians in Finland Ethical Investigation of Material Possession Among Contemporary Christians in Nigeria Audre Lorde and the Archetypal Back to Africa Movement The Decolonisation of Religion and Spirituality: A Case of Shembe Philosophy
In metaethics, there is a divide between those who believe that there exist moral facts independently of human interests and attitudes (i.e., moral realists) and those who don't (i.e., antirealists). In the last half century, the field of religious ethics has been inundated with various antirealist schools of moral thought. Though there is a wide spectrum of different positons within antirealism, a majority of antirealist religious ethicists tend to see moral belief as an historically dependent social construction. This has created an environment where doing religious ethics in any metaphysically substantial sense is often seen not only as out of fashion but also as philosophically implausible. However, there is a lack of clarity as to what antirealists exactly mean by "construction" and what arguments they would use to support their views. Religious Ethics and Constructivism brings together a diverse group of scholars who represent different philosophical and theological outlooks to discuss the merits of constructivism vis-à-vis religious ethics. The essays explore four different kinds of constructivism in metaethics: social (or Hegelian) constructivism, Kantian constructivism, Humean constructivism, and theological constructivism. The overall aim of these essays is to foster dialogue between religious ethicists and moral philosophers, and to open the field religious ethics to the insights that can be provided by contemporary metaethics.
This book explores three central concepts, namely justice and human rights, ethics and values, and intercultural learning. These are important to everyone in a multicultural society and of special interest to students and scholars of philosophy, cultural studies, religious studies, and other related disciplines. In this volume, a pluralistic approach is adopted to examine ethical and value questions. Accordingly, readers will learn much from the interaction between Western and Eastern methods of ethical inquiry. The impetus for this collection of essays is the notion that cultural diversity represents a source of exchange, innovation and creativity. Consequently, cultural diversity is as critical for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. Furthermore, cultural diversity is a property of the entire community, just as biodiversity is a property of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, understanding and learning from cultural pluralism is as central to social and cultural stewardship as protection and restoration are to biological diversity. Within the pages of Perspectives on Culture, Values, and Justice readers will experience a growth in perspective and a greater understanding of issues of culture, value, and justice. A major starting point for these contemplations is that culture and values are integral to our identity and the essence of who we are and what we do.
Are there such things as moral truths? How do we know what we should do? And does it matter? Constructivism states that moral truths are neither invented nor discovered, but rather are constructed by rational agents in order to solve practical problems. While constructivism has become the focus of many philosophical debates in normative ethics, meta-ethics and action theory, its importance is still to be fully appreciated. These new essays written by leading scholars define and assess this new approach in ethics, addressing such questions as the nature of constructivism, how constructivism improves our understanding of moral obligations, how it accounts for the development of normative practices, whether moral truths change over time, and many other topics. The volume will be valuable for advanced students and scholars of ethics and all who are interested in questions about the foundation of morality.
In society, diversity is often complicated by the considerations of the intersections of gender and religion. Given that religion is particularly shaped by and intertwined with its social context, as well as constructed by social actors through social relations in complex ways, the conversations of the intersectionality of diversity with bias to gender, sex, and religion are also clearly socially located. This social location as well includes spatial location, which is continuously changing geographies and is also linked to shifting demographics with its dynamics of the complex picture of new diversity. The Handbook of Research on Diversity and Gender Differences in Spiritual Experiences discusses diversity in multidimensional perspectives such as religion, gender, sex, the degree of acceptance in the public sphere, the ideological commitment to values of diversity, and the increasing scope of acceptability of multiple layers of diversity in society. It further interrogates how religious diversity manifests itself in society, how it provides sites for political contestation and stratification as well as inclusion and exclusion, how it affects other social dimensions, and how to respond to it in the effect toward a more peaceable and just society. Covering topics such as gender discrimination, religious identity, and spiritual needs, this major reference work is a comprehensive resource for leaders of religious and related organizations, theological scholars, students and educators of higher education, government officials, business leaders and managers, librarians, researchers, and academicians.
In metaethics, there is a divide between those who believe that there exist moral facts independently of human interests and attitudes (i.e., moral realists) and those who don’t (i.e., antirealists). In the last half century, the field of religious ethics has been inundated with various antirealist schools of moral thought. Though there is a wide spectrum of different positons within antirealism, a majority of antirealist religious ethicists tend to see moral belief as an historically dependent social construction. This has created an environment where doing religious ethics in any metaphysically substantial sense is often seen not only as out of fashion but also as philosophically implausible. However, there is a lack of clarity as to what antirealists exactly mean by "construction" and what arguments they would use to support their views. Religious Ethics and Constructivism brings together a diverse group of scholars who represent different philosophical and theological outlooks to discuss the merits of constructivism vis-à-vis religious ethics. The essays explore four different kinds of constructivism in metaethics: social (or Hegelian) constructivism, Kantian constructivism, Humean constructivism, and theological constructivism. The overall aim of these essays is to foster dialogue between religious ethicists and moral philosophers, and to open the field religious ethics to the insights that can be provided by contemporary metaethics.
"Paths of Faith" is an enlightening and immersive journey into the rich tapestry of religious and spiritual traditions that have shaped humanity throughout history. This thought-provoking book delves dееp into thе fundamеntal quеstions of еxistеncе, purposе, and thе naturе of thе divinе, inviting rеadеrs to еmbark on a quеst for dееpеr undеrstanding and pеrsonal growth. With twеnty-four insightful chaptеrs, "Paths of Faith" еxplorеs various topics, from intеrprеting sacrеd tеxts to practising mеditation, dеvotion, and sеlf-rеflеction. It dеlvеs into monothеism and polythеism, transcеndеnt and immanеnt divinity, and pеrsonal and impеrsonal concеptions of thе divinе, rеvеaling how diffеrеnt rеligious traditions undеrstand and rеlatе to thе sacrеd. Thе book also еxaminеs thе pursuit of salvation, libеration, and еnlightеnmеnt, uncovеring thе paths and practicеs that various rеligions offеr as mеans to transcеndеncе and spiritual fulfilmеnt. It dеlvеs into thе еthical principlеs and moral tеachings that undеrpin rеligious bеliеf systеms, еmphasizing thе univеrsal valuеs of compassion, justicе, and rеciprocity. "Paths of Faith" furthеr еxplorеs thе intеrplay bеtwееn sciеncе and rеligion, highlighting thеir distinct but complеmеntary ways of knowing and addrеssing thе mystеriеs of thе univеrsе. It discussеs thе еthical implications of sciеntific advancеmеnts and thе potеntial for rеsponsiblе tеchnological dеvеlopmеnt guidеd by rеligious tеachings. This book goеs bеyond mеrе thеorеtical еxploration by еxamining thе practical application of faith in daily lifе. It discussеs thе intеgration of spirituality into еvеryday activitiеs, rеlationships, and acts of sеrvicе, rеvеaling how rеligious tеachings can guidе individuals towards a morе mindful, gratеful, and compassionatе еxistеncе. "Paths of Faith" еmphasisеs thе importancе of intеrrеligious dialoguе, coopеration, and undеrstanding. Thе book showcasеs succеssful intеrfaith initiativеs and collaborations and еxplorеs thе challеngеs and bеnеfits of еngaging in convеrsations that bridgе rеligious dividеs and promotе harmony and rеspеct. "Paths of Faith" is a comprеhеnsivе and illuminating guidе for rеadеrs of all backgrounds, bеliеfs, and intеrеsts. Whether you are sееking personal enlightenment, pursuing academic knowledge, or simply curious about the divers tapestry of human spirituality, this book offers profound insights and transformative pеrspеctivе that will resonate with you long after you turn the final page. Embark on this captivating journey of exploration, reflection, and discovery, and unlock new dimensions of faith, wisdom, and interconnectedness.
Weaving together interdisciplinary theory and research, as well as the results from a national survey of practitioners, the authors describe a spiritually oriented model for practice that places clients' challenges and goals within the context of their deepest meanings and highest aspirations. Using richly detailed case examples and thought-provoking activities, this highly accessible text illustrates the professional values and ethical principles that guide spiritually sensitive practice. It presents definitions and conceptual models of spirituality and religion; draws connections between spiritual diversity and cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; and offers insights from Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Indigenous religions, Islam, Judaism, Existentialism, and Transpersonal theory. Eminently practical, it guides professionals in understanding and assessing spiritual development and related mental health issues and outlines techniques that support transformation and resilience, such as meditation, mindfulness, ritual, forgiveness, and engagement of individual and community-based spiritual support systems.
Eminent black social ethicist Peter Paris focuses on African "spirituality"--the religious and moral values pervading traditional African religious worldviews. Paris's careful scholarship and his eye for value in varying cultural milieus combine to model comparative cultural analysis and to clarify cultural foundations of black ethical life.
