Spirituality and Global Ethics
Spirituality and Global Ethics

Author: Mahmoud Masaeli

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2017-05-11

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1443893625

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This volume addresses three fundamental questions about the interplay between the ethics of globality and spirituality: What are the practical implications of spirituality for the condition of life in a turbulent era of violent religious/non-religious extremism? In what way can spirituality, the view of love, compassion, tolerance, and mutual recognition encounter mistrust, enmity, separateness, and violence? How, and in what way, can spirituality contribute to the newly emerging global ethics? Religious scholars distinguish between the esoteric and exoteric sides of belief systems. Esotericism centres on the inner awareness, and conceals a certain spirituality that is only transmittable to those who could successfully pass through a process of initiatic preparation and transpersonal practices to understand the mystical dimensions of existence. In contrast, exotericism takes the outer dimension of every day consciousness into account and favours the possibility of the popular understanding of the essence of existence. In this perspective, truth could be grasped by the public without the need of any transpersonal initiative and transformation of consciousness. Esotericism extends beyond religion and has become the spiritual philosophy of life without the need of being essentially religious. It has become common, notably in the West, to identify oneself as spiritualist without having religious affiliations. The condition of globality has provided an unprecedented opportunity for spiritual perspectives to grow. Ideas, perspectives, beliefs, and philosophies of life are growing outside local/national containers to express themselves in different global settings, while the forces of globalisation are influencing local identities and cultures. While evolving global transformations strengthen people’s capability to leave institutionally ordered belief systems, it simultaneously enables them to rearrange themselves around alternative perspectives. These fundamental transformations cultivate a fabulous landscape for the growth of spirituality.

Beyond Religion
Beyond Religion

Author: Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 0547636350

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"Beyond Religion" is a stirring call to move beyond religion for the guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels--including a guided meditation practice for cultivating key human values.

The Return of Ethics and Spirituality in Global Development
The Return of Ethics and Spirituality in Global Development

Author: Mahmoud Masaeli

Publisher: Gompel&Svacina

Published: 2020-06-02

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 9463712240

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The theory of modernization basically reduces the meaning of development to economic growth often measured by Growth Domestic Product of the country or overall purchase power parity of the nation. This approach ignores the variety of perspectives on development, hence excludes the role of culture, identity, and spirituality as social determinants of good development. More importantly, modernization theory which informs the mainstream view on development ignores the structural causes of underdevelopment, including colonial heritage or the current unbridled capitalism in many societies. Against reductionist views of development, fundamental questions are raised about the theory and programming of development. From what perspective is the conception of development perceived? Who should decide and depict development goals? What kind of development could result in desirable changes? Is it morally desirable to dictate an exclusively Western understanding of development to others? Is there any link between development and a right of nations to self-determination? Who is morally accountable for global inequality or ‘bad development’? The novelty of this book lies in its multidisciplinary approach in exploring the role of ethics and spirituality as the curing alternates for the gamut of ills which originate in global inequality. All authors are academics based in a variety of countries and specialize in questions concerning development and spirituality.

Handbook of Research on Integrating Spirituality in Modern Workplaces
Handbook of Research on Integrating Spirituality in Modern Workplaces

Author: Naval Garg

Publisher: Business Science Reference

Published: 2022

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 9781668425336

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"This book provide relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the area of workplace spirituality, presented as a single source of valuable and latest information and statistics on spirit at work"--

Pagan Theology
Pagan Theology

Author: Michael York

Publisher: NYU Press

Published: 2005-04

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 0814797083

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In Pagan Theology, Michael York situates Paganism—one of the fastest-growing spiritual orientations in the West—as a world religion. He provides an introduction to, and expansion of, the concept of Paganism and provides an overview of Paganism's theological perspective and practice. He demonstrates it to be a viable and distinguishable spiritual perspective found around the world today in such forms as Chinese folk religion, Shinto, tribal religions, and neo-Paganism in the West. While adherents to many of these traditions do not use the word “pagan” to describe their beliefs or practices, York contends that there is an identifiable position possessing characteristics and understandings in common for which the label “pagan” is appropriate. After outlining these characteristics, he examines many of the world's major religions to explore religious behaviors in other religions which are not themselves pagan, but which have pagan elements. In the course of examining such behavior, York provides rich and lively descriptions of religions in action, including Buddhism and Hinduism. Pagan Theology claims Paganism’s place as a world religion, situating it as a religion, a behavior, and a theology.

Cosmic Consciousness and Human Excellence
Cosmic Consciousness and Human Excellence

Author: Mahmoud Masaeli

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2019-01-29

Total Pages: 339

ISBN-13: 1527527166

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Cosmoconsciousness, or cosmic consciousness, is a term used to characterize a transcendence of the limits of self-consciousness. As an ultra-state of illumination of the mind, the roots of the conception are embodied in the quest for a spiritual connection with multi-dimensional cosmos. This quest searches for spiritual development as a pathway to human excellence, and can be associated with the mystics of ancient wisdom, as well as contemporary psycho-spiritual analysts. After its emergence in the late 19th century, cosmic consciousness rapidly became a source of inspiration for transpersonal psychology, moral therapy, and a thoughtful link to mystical quantum physics. By encouraging a spiritual way of perceiving the real world, cosmic consciousness also provides a source of inspiration for human excellence as the central idea of global ethics. In this perspective, the world cannot be changed for the better without changing individual consciousness. Global concerns, including ecological issues, violence and acts of terrorism, materialistic gratification and hedonism, could not be addressed effectively unless people’s consciousness is changed. Cosmic consciousness, by the very perception of the inner life, has the potential to struggle with global concerns, and hence, it holds a promise of human excellence. This book discusses cosmic consciousness against the backdrop of the emergence of the rational and autonomous conception of the self, and the modern psychological depiction of selfhood. It places the idea of cosmic consciousness at the centre of contemporary arguments on the nature of consciousness.

The Philosophy of Spirituality
The Philosophy of Spirituality

Author: Heather Salazar

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2018-11-05

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 9004376313

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The essays in The Philosophy of Spirituality explore a new field in philosophy. Until recently, most philosophers in the analytic and continental Western traditions treated spirituality as a religious concept. Any non-religious spirituality tended to be neglected or dismissed as irremediably vague. Here, from various philosophical and cultural perspectives, it is addressed as a subject of independent interest. This is a philosophical response to increasing numbers of spiritual but not religious people inhabiting secular societies and the heightened interaction between a multitude of spiritual traditions in a globalized age. A provocative array of approaches (African, Indigenous, Indian, Stoic, and Sufic perspectives, as well as Western analytic and continental views) offer fresh insights, many articulated by emerging voices. Contributors are Mariapaola Bergomi, Moses Biney, Christopher Braddock, Drew Chastain, Kerem Eksen, Nikolay Milkov, Roderick Nicholls, Jerry Piven, Heather Salazar, Eric Steinhart, Richard White, Mark Wynn and Eric Yang.

What It Means to Be Moral
What It Means to Be Moral

Author: Phil Zuckerman

Publisher: National Geographic Books

Published: 2019-09-10

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 1640092749

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“A thoughtful perspective on humans' capacity for moral behavior.” —Kirkus Reviews “A comprehensive introduction to religious skepticism.” —Publishers Weekly In What It Means to Be Moral: Why Religion Is Not Necessary for Living an Ethical Life, Phil Zuckerman argues that morality does not come from God. Rather, it comes from us: our brains, our evolutionary past, our ongoing cultural development, our social experiences, and our ability to reason, reflect, and be sensitive to the suffering of others. By deconstructing religious arguments for God–based morality and guiding readers through the premises and promises of secular morality, Zuckerman argues that the major challenges facing the world today—from global warming and growing inequality to religious support for unethical political policies to gun violence and terrorism—are best approached from a nonreligious ethical framework. In short, we need to look to our fellow humans and within ourselves for moral progress and ethical action. “In this brilliant, provocative, and timely book, Phil Zuckerman breaks down the myth that our morality comes from religion—compellingly making the case that when it comes to the biggest challenges we face today, a secular approach is the only truly moral one.” —Ali A. Rizvi, author of The Atheist Muslim

Ethical Considerations at the Intersection of Psychiatry and Religion
Ethical Considerations at the Intersection of Psychiatry and Religion

Author: John Peteet

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-01-05

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 0190681985

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Psychiatry and religion/spirituality (R/S) share an interest in human flourishing, a concern with beliefs and values, and an appreciation for community. Yet historical tensions between science and religion continue to impede dialogue, leaving clinicians uncertain about how to approach ethical questions arising between them. When are religious practices such as scrupulosity disordered? What distinguishes healthy from unhealthy religion? How should a therapist approach a patient's existential, moral or spiritual distress? What should clinicians do with patients' R/S convictions about faith healing, same-sex relationships, or obligations to others? Discussions of psychiatric ethics have traditionally emphasized widely accepted principles, generally admired virtues, and cultural competence. Relatively little attention has been devoted to the ways that R/S inform the values of patients and their clinicians, shape preferred virtues, and interact with culture. Ethical Considerations at the Intersection of Psychiatry and Religion aims to give mental health professionals a conceptual framework for understanding the role of R/S in ethical decision-making and serve as practical guidance for approaching challenging cases. Part I addresses general considerations, including the basis of therapeutic values in a pluralistic context, the nature of theological and psychiatric ethics, spiritual issues arising in diagnosis and treatment, unhealthy and harmful uses of religion, and practical implications of personal spirituality. Part II examines how these considerations apply in specific contexts: inpatient and outpatient, consultation-liaison, child and adolescent, geriatric, disability, forensic, community, international, addiction and disaster and emergency psychiatry, as well as in the work of religious professionals, ethics committees, psychiatric education, and research. Thick descriptions of case examples analyzed using the framework of Jonson and Winslow show the clinical relevance of understanding the contributions of religion and spirituality to patient preferences, quality of life, decision making, and effective treatment.

Practices of Global Ethics
Practices of Global Ethics

Author: Frederick Bird

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2016-02-28

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 1474407064

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The Practices of Global Ethics takes a unique look at global ethics: not as mere written statements but as a set of practices undertaken by thousands of organisations and hundreds of thousands of people to shape the normative trajectory of human affairs. It looks at statements of global ethical principles including The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Earth Charter and the Rio Documents and positions them as the outcomes and expression of ongoing practices. Offering innovative, critical and thoughtful analyses of ethical practices since World War II, the book examines efforts to promote human rights; foster ecological responsibility; end genocide; reduce global poverty; encourage responsible and sustainable international business practices; cultivate understanding and collaboration amongst the world's religions among other worldwide endeavours.