The Politics of Spirituality A Study of a Renewal Process in an English Diocese

by Hornsby-Smith, Michael P.; Fulton, John; Norris, Margaret

• ISBN13: 9780198277767
• ISBN10: 0198277768
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-09-28
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

This book provides the first in-depth case study of "Renew," a pastoral program of religious revitalization originated in the United States in 1976 and now widely adopted throughout the Roman Catholic world. Initiated from the top down in a hierarchically-structured church, it can be seen as an example of clerical attempts to stimulate and control lay spirituality in a controlled manner. The authors look at the history of organizations within the Roman Catholic Church and the effects of modernity on religious practice. The work will be of special interest to sociologists and students of the sociology of religion, as well as students of theology and religious studies.

Author Biography

Margaret Norris is a former Senior Research Fellow at the University of Surrey.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Abbreviations	p. xvi
Research Design and Perspectives	p. 1
A Theoretical Frame	p. 27
The Adoption of Renew	p. 51
Conclusion	p. 69
Parish Mobilization for Renew	p. 73
An Assessment of the Diocesan Experience	p. 93
The Experience of Renew in The Parishes	p. 117
The Politics of Social Concern	p. 149
The Outcomes of Renew	p. 178
The Politics of Spirituality	p. 203
Parishioner Questionnaire	p. 235
Questionnaire for Small Group Members	p. 238
Assessment of Renew in Retrospect	p. 240
Bibliography	p. 242
Index	p. 247
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.