I've just finished reading Gordon Lynch's new book - The New Spirituality - which i thoroughly enjoyed and really recommend. It's subtitled 'An introduction to Progressive Belief in the 21st Century'. Lynch attempts to chart the rise of a religious left, a left that moves away from liberalism and engages politically, spiritually and sociologically with contemporary culture. There were moments in the book where i found myself having a 'post-evangelical experience' and saying 'that is me' and at other times where i think that Lynch was pushing me to far and i recognise the difference between the Christian path and that presented within this. There are points of connection and of conversation, but there are also points of major difference.
Lynch starts by looking at the roots and the ideology of progressive belief. The roots he suggests are in the following:
1 - A desire to find new ways of religious thinking and new resources for spiritual growth that really connect people with modern, liberal societies.
2 - It has arisen out of various initiatives that seek to develop spirituality that is not bound up with patriarchy and hence liberate women.
3 - it has arisen out of a desire to reconcile religion with contemporary scientific knowledge, particularly in relation to our understanding of the cosmos.
4 - It seeks to develop a spirituality that has a healthy understanding of the relationship that humanity has with the natural order
The ideology is where he pushes me, and i think that from a Christian perspective it needs re-mixing so that a progressive Christian ideology can be developed. Groups such as Progressive Christianity have done this, i have a great deal of sympathy with them.
The ideology that he develops is focused on a number of themes; The unity of the ineffable and immanent divine, Pantheism/Panentheism; Mysticism and the divine feminine and the sacralization of self and of nature. There are points of correlation with Matthew Fox's Creation Spirituality, which is another book that i have a great deal of time for.
Lynch moves forward to look at the relationship between the demoralization thesis and progressive spirituality, basically there are a number of theories as to why society is become less moral - secularisation, move towards a liberal society etc. - and he explores the relationship between these theories and progressive spirituality.
Great book, academic but accessible - i really enjoyed his book exploring the relationship between religion and popular culture - and for me this book is an equally important read.
Technorati Tags: Gordon Lynch, Progressive Spirituality
