In this Book
- Spirituality and Aging
- Book
- 2009
- Published by: Johns Hopkins University Press
summary
Winner, 2009 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award. Gerontological Society of AmericaA spiritual life, one focused on personal growth and deep human experience, is a major focus and motivator for people over the age of forty. Yet there is a marked lack of rigorous academic study of spirituality's importance in the lives of aging people. Noted gerontologist Robert C. Atchley remedies this problem by developing complex concepts and language about spirituality.Spirituality and Aging incorporates material from two decades of interviews, observations, study, and reflection to illustrate ways of thinking about and discussing spirituality—what it is, why it is important, and how it influences the experience of aging. This book provides a nuanced view of spirituality and the richness it brings to the lives of older people. The book is divided into three sections, with the first providing basic frames of reference for examining spirituality and aging, such as the nature of spirituality, spiritual development, and the spiritual self. Atchley next focuses on two dimensions of spirituality that are likely to manifest later in life: becoming a sage (developing the capacity to bring spiritual light to everyday issues) and serving from spirit (creating opportunities for service that are rooted in spirituality). The last section illustrates how spirituality informs other aspects of late life, such as psychological coping and the experience of dying and death.Separating spirituality from religion—something few books on this topic do—Spirituality and Aging offers a plan for incorporating spirituality into gerontological scholarship, research, education, and practice.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xv-xvi
- PART I: BASIC FRAMES OF REFERENCE
- 1 The Nature of Spiritual Experience
- pp. 13-28
- 2 Spiritual Development
- pp. 29-45
- PART II: SPIRITUAL JOURNEYING
- PART III: EXAMPLES USING AN EXPANDED VIEW
- Appendix A. Spirituality Inventory
- pp. 161-182
- References
- pp. 191-195
Additional Information
ISBN
9780801896538
Related ISBN(s)
9780801891199
MARC Record
OCLC
647868283
Pages
224
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No