Spiritual Individualism or Engaged Spirituality? Social Implications of Holistic Spirituality among Mind–Body–Spirit Practitioners
Scholars disagree whether spirituality promotes individualistic withdrawal or fosters social engagement. This study addresses the spiritual individualism versus engaged spirituality debate and investigates the social implications of “holistic” spirituality among mind–body–spirit (MBS) practitioners...
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| Contributors: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2012
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| In: |
Sociology of religion
Year: 2012, Volume: 73, Issue: 3, Pages: 299-322 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | Scholars disagree whether spirituality promotes individualistic withdrawal or fosters social engagement. This study addresses the spiritual individualism versus engaged spirituality debate and investigates the social implications of “holistic” spirituality among mind–body–spirit (MBS) practitioners belonging to fitness (Yoga), therapeutic (Dahn Yoga and Healing), and cult (Art of Living) types of practice. The findings indicate that spirituality is positively associated with altruistic behaviors, participation in nonreligious voluntary associations, and individual political action. Collective forms of political engagement, however, are most prevalent at moderate levels of spirituality. These relationships depend on the type of MBS practice: spirituality is related to social involvement among those practicing Yoga and Art of Living but not among Dahn Yoga practitioners. Thus, spirituality of MBS practitioners does not entrap them in spiritual individualism, although its ability to foster social engagement is limited insofar as collective action is concerned and does not extend to the therapeutic type of MBS. |
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| ISSN: | 1759-8818 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Sociology of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/socrel/srr054 |