Spirituality: A Brief History

Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion

by Philip Sheldrake

Engagingly written by one of the world’s leading scholars in this field, this comprehensively revised edition tells the story of Christian spirituality from its origins in the New Testament right up to the present day.

Charts the main figures, ideas, images and historical periods, showing how and why spirituality has changed and developed over the centuries Includes new chapters on the nature and meaning of spirituality, and on spirituality in the 21st century; and an account of the development and main features of devotional spirituality Provides new coverage of Christian spirituality’s relationship to other faiths throughout history, and their influence and impact on Christian beliefs and practices Features expanded sections on mysticism, its relationship to spirituality, the key mystical figures, and the development of ideas of ‘the mystical’ Explores the interplay between culture, geography, and spirituality, taking a global perspective by tracing spiritual developments across continents

Genres: Spirituality, Theology, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Teaching, Christian

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Philip Sheldrake is a theologian who has been closely involved with the emergence of Christian Spirituality as an academic field. Sheldrake is Past President of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, and was Leech Professor of Applied Theology at Durham University. His publications have focused on the interface of spirituality, theology, and religious history, and he has also written on religious reconciliation.

Sheldrake trained in history, philosophy, and theology at the universities of Oxford and London, and later taught at the Universities of London and Cambridge. Sheldrake is Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Senior Research Fellow, Cambridge Theological Federation, and Honorary Professor, University of Wales. He has also regularly been a visiting professor in the United States.

Reviews

[Corey Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book subtitled "A Brief History" that seeks to capture the entire 2000 year trajectory of Spirituality in the Christian tradition, I was impressed. This work and that of "Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity" by Mark Noll feel like good companions for Protestant Christians that have very little knowledge of the broad, beautiful, harried complex history of the Church.

Sheldrake remained fairly objective in his presentation of the different forms of spiritualities that have taken place across the history of the Church, seeking to provide these movements and how they took shape rather than commenting on their validity. I think my favorite part was the mini "biographies" sprinkled throughout this work that anchored the spiritualities he referenced to the lived experience of those that embodied each of these "eras". Again, I am reminded of how much we have to learn from the deep and wide tradition of the saints that have walked the road of discipleship to Jesus before us.

Only lacking piece would be a consideration of the Spiritualities of the Global South. Since the Christianity that has been recorded has been largely Eurocentric and Western in nature, I wanted a touch more exposure to how Asian, African and Latin American spiritualities have taken shape over the last 2000 years. There are glimpses of this, and I think Sheldrake was limited by the accessible literature on such topics, but think this could be useful in an updated edition!

[Pritom Mojumder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although published in 2007, this book is underrated to date. I picked up the book to understand the current market of spirituality. I'm studying this topic to write an article and to pass this time of isolation and social distancing. This book has also directed me to another book Selling Spirituality: The Silent Takeover of Religion, which is kept in my to-read.

This book contains mostly the history of Christian spirituality which has been cleared by the author in preface. In this case, the name of the book could be A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, and it wouldn't be misleading. Still, this book is important. The writer has done a wonderful job. This is basically an academic book. You may not feel pleasure reading it. I have skipped the first three chapters and started from Spiritualities in the Age of Reformations according to my main interest in this study.

[LINDSAY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirituality is not readily suited to the rational approach of publishing. It is, as the author points out early in the book, to be juxtaposed against ‘the flesh’ rather than the secular or material. This is what makes this a generous book in its approach of the wide sphere of the Christian tradition. One may quibble that the title implies a global perspective across all traditions, but it would be naïve to expect that to be coverable in one short book. The format of the book is easy to follow and read as it follows an historical narrative or rather vignettes that contain approaches and individuals of significance without any opinionated conclusions. The variations of forms of spiritualities across that history, both inside and outside the church, makes this a valuable companion to James’ ‘Varieties of Religious Experience’, which is mentioned favourably in the text, and which many would see as a turning point in our understanding of our own spiritual make up. Even limiting his treatise to Christianity is a wide field to cover, and it is done well. Different specialists will find omissions of names, traditions, worldviews, and geographies, but that is to be expected. I cannot think of a better way to present the material that Sheldrake has covered. I recommend the book to all who seek an understanding of something wider that religion and the church; they should find comfort here. Professor Emeritus Lindsay Falvey

[Savannah Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

perhaps more like a 3.5??

This book had a lot to cover, claiming to be a brief history of all of Christian Spirituality. And largely, I think it did a fine job. The reading was kind of dry, but that is likely the fault of the content and not the author.

The book is claiming to be a brief history of all of Christian Spirituality, when it is more like a history of Western Spirituality with a few pages here and there about non Western moments. I think a true overview should have spent equal time talking about the East and West, as well as giving much more attention to non-European expressions of the faith.

If it were titled a brief overview of Western Spirituality, it would be 4 stars. This is one of many books which claim to be about all of Christianity and primarily focus on the western, euro-centric portions. This reinforces dangerous assumptions that westerners are prone to make about their centrality and exclusive claim on the faith of a Middle Eastern Messiah. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will say, as far as covering the Western content and brief moments of other cultures, Sheldrake did a good job knitting so many people and movements together into one book.

[Kyle Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Christian spirituality possesses a rich variety of spiritual practices and contemplative-mystical wisdom that deserves to be better known by contemporary spiritual seekers."

While textbook-ish in its organization, Sheldrake's historical overview of Christian spirituality is surprisingly an interesting and easy read throughout. Christian spirituality typically takes the backseat to Christian theology in both the academy and at the popular level, so there remains much to glean in this short primer. One would find it difficult to maintain the oft-repeated critique that Christianity is bereft of spiritual practices after reading this book.

[Aggie Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work is a quick look into spirituality and how it effects the Christian life through the lens of the history of the Christian Church. It is a very interesting read. It covers the histories of both the Eastern and Western church and relates both perspectives back to where we find spirituality in society today. If you have a bit of time it is work a read. Though it is more of a periodical lacking much unique voice.

[Dale Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheldrake's book is an excellent history of spirituality in Christianity. It's in no way a how to book, but instead explores the practisers of spirituality over the last 1900 years. He covers the varied traditions without giving commenting on their validity.

In particular, the end notes include literally hundreds of references to books that can be used to explore the topic more deeply.

[Will Whitmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Intro to Spirituality of Western Christianity. Not as wide of a focus as the title suggests. Worth a read if Christian Spirituality interests you.

[Kara Koester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly easy comprehensive overview of Christian spirituality beginning with Acts and ending in the early 21st century.

[Matt Fisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, accessible, and far-reaching survey of Christian Spirituality by a master of the subject.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned a fair amount, but was mediocre at best. Read like a textbook

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A text for a Fall 2016 Brite class, "Spiritual Life and Leadership" - very well done and succinct in covering a great deal of information.

From the publisher: Engagingly written by one of the world’s leading scholars in this field, this comprehensively revised edition tells the story of Christian spirituality from its origins in the New Testament right up to the present day. Charts the main figures, ideas, images and historical periods, showing how and why spirituality has changed and developed over the centuries Includes new chapters on the nature and meaning of spirituality, and on spirituality in the 21st century; and an account of the development and main features of devotional spirituality Provides new coverage of Christian spirituality’s relationship to other faiths throughout history, and their influence and impact on Christian beliefs and practices Features expanded sections on mysticism, its relationship to spirituality, the key mystical figures, and the development of ideas of ‘the mystical’ Explores the interplay between culture, geography, and spirituality, taking a global perspective by tracing spiritual developments across continents

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting overview to spirituality that is a good starting point for those interested in defining "spirituality".