Soulful Spirituality

by Benner, David G.

• ISBN13: 9781587432972
• ISBN10: 1587432978
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-01
• Publisher: Brazos Pr

Summary

Spirituality has an indispensable role to play in the expression of our humanity. However, spiritual practices can sometimes make us less, not more, authentically human. We may be good Christians, but we aren't good human beings. How can we ensure that our spiritual journey is conducted in a way that allows us to become fully alive and deeply human?David Benner has spent thirty-five years integrating psychology and spirituality. Here he presents an expansive, psychologically informed understanding of spirituality, probing the contrasts between soulful and soulless spirituality, deep and shallow religion, and healthy and unhealthy relationships with God to affirm the vital role of human development in the spiritual journey. Benner then suggests soulful practices for cultivating the Christian spiritual life.This book will appeal to readers seeking depth and substance in their quest for authentic spirituality. It will also be a helpful resource for mental health professionals and spiritual directors. Reflection questions and exercises for individual or group use are included at the end of each chapter.

Author Biography

David G. Benner (PhD, York University; post-doctoral studies, Chicago Institute of Psychoanalysis) is an internationally known psychologist, author, spiritual guide, and personal transformation coach who has spent thirty-five years integrating psychology and spirituality. He currently serves as emeritus distinguished professor of psychology and spirituality at Psychological Studies Institute, Richmont Graduate University (Atlanta, Georgia). He has authored or edited more than twenty books, lectures widely around the world, and has held numerous clinical and academic appointments. Visit his website at www.drdavidgbenner.ca.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
The Challenge of Becoming Fully Human
The Struggle to Be Fully Alive	p. 3
Being Spiritual, Being Human	p. 4
Toxic Spirituality	p. 5
Being a Good Christian Is Not Enough	p. 7
The Glory of Being Fully Alive	p. 10
The Value of an Accurate Diagnosis	p. 12
Starting Where You Are	p. 12
Our Restless Hearts	p. 15
The Spirituality of Desire	p. 17
Managing the Unquenchable Fire	p. 18
Life-Enhancing Spirituality	p. 21
What Is Spirituality?	p. 23
Assessing Your Actual Spirituality	p. 25
Understanding Our Humanity	p. 27
What Makes Us Human?	p. 28
Dust and Breath	p. 30
Lightness and Mystery	p. 31
The Spirituality of Being and Becoming	p. 32
Becoming Fully Human	p. 34
Choosing Life	p. 36
The Path to Becoming Fully Human
Living with Spirit and Soul	p. 41
Spirit as Fire in the Belly	p. 43
Soul as the Womb of Experience	p. 44
The Journeys of Spirit and Soul	p. 46
Soulful Living	p. 47
Longing and Belonging	p. 50
Soulful Spirituality	p. 51
Living Soulfully and Spiritually	p. 52
The Spiritual Nature of the Human Journey	p. 54
Stages of the Journey	p. 55
The Original Self	p. 56
From We to Me	p. 57
Ego and Self	p. 58
Egocentricity	p. 60
The Crisis	p. 62
Transformation	p. 64
Reflecting on the Journey	p. 65
Deep Religion and Healthy Spirituality	p. 67
Religion and Spirituality	p. 67
Deep Religion	p. 68
Deep Religion and Soulful Spirituality	p. 69
Loving Relationships	p. 72
Faith and Belonging	p. 73
Transcendent Meaning	p. 74
Taking Stock	p. 76
Embodied Spirituality	p. 78
The Body Self	p. 78
Primal Alienation	p. 80
The Emotional Self	p. 82
Our Sexual Self	p. 83
Integrated Sexuality	p. 84
Sexuality and Spirituality	p. 86
The Religious Context of Sexuality	p. 88
Being an Embodied Self	p. 89
Grounding Spirituality in the Body	p. 90
Spiritual Practices for the Human Journey
Awareness	p. 95
Learning to Pay Attention	p. 97
Mindfulness	p. 99
The Present Moment	p. 101
Breath as the Meeting of Body, Spirit, and Soul	p. 102
The Gifts of Presence	p. 104
Being Aware	p. 105
Wonder	p. 108
The Enchanted World	p. 109
Wonder and Reverence	p. 111
Befriending Mystery	p. 112
The Transformation of the Ordinary	p. 114
The Gifts of Wonder	p. 116
Cultivating Wonder	p. 117
Otherness	p. 120
Encountering Otherness	p. 121
Managing the Threat of the Other	p. 122
Strangers, Monsters, and Gods	p. 124
Tourists and Discoverers	p. 125
Hospitality	p. 125
Dialogue	p. 127
Ultimate Otherness	p. 129
Honoring Otherness	p. 130
Reality	p. 133
Seduced by Illusion	p. 134
The Journey of Descent	p. 135
Living with Authenticity	p. 137
Listening to Our Life	p. 139
Holding the Tensions	p. 141
Embracing Reality	p. 142
Presence	p. 145
Presence and Absence	p. 145
Stillness, Silence, and Solitude	p. 146
Desire and Stillness	p. 148
Meditation as Presence	p. 149
Letting Go	p. 151
The Soul's Aura	p. 152
Practicing Soulful Presence	p. 153
Surrender	p. 156
The Illusion of Control	p. 157
The Religious Core of Addiction	p. 159
Inner Nonresistance	p. 160
Daring to Welcome Life	p. 161
Blessings and Misfortunes	p. 162
Welcoming Prayer	p. 164
The Spirituality of Letting Go	p. 165
Choosing Surrender	p. 166
Epilogue: Being at One	p. 169
Acknowledgments	p. 173
Notes	p. 177
Index	p. 185
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