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A spiritual person
1Princeton Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 821, Princeton, NJ 08542-0803, USA. cappsdonald@aol.com
Journal of Religion and Health
|March 6, 2010
Summary
Phillips Brooks exemplified William James's concept of spirituality as imaginative susceptibility to ideals. This study argues that spirituality is not universal but uniquely manifested in individuals, using Brooks as a prime example.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of Religion
- Theology
- Literary Analysis
Background:
- William James defined spirituality as "a susceptibility to ideals, but with a certain freedom to indulge in imagination about them."
- Phillips Brooks was nominated by James as an exemplar of this spiritual type.
- This article examines Brooks's life, sermons, and poem "O Little Town of Bethlehem" to explore this nomination.
Discussion:
- Brooks's life and works illustrate James's definition of spirituality through his imaginative engagement with ideals.
- The nomination of Brooks supports the view that spirituality is not a monolithic concept but exists in diverse individual expressions.
- This challenges generalized notions of spirituality, emphasizing personal and unique manifestations.
Key Insights:
- Phillips Brooks serves as a case study for William James's nuanced understanding of spirituality.
- The study validates the idea that "spirituality" is characterized by individual, imaginative susceptibility to ideals.
- Evidence suggests a move away from a universal definition towards recognizing unique spiritual expressions.
Outlook:
- Further research could explore other historical figures as exemplars of James's spiritual typology.
- Investigating the impact of individual imagination on spiritual expression across different cultures and contexts.
- Analyzing the relationship between religious practice and the imaginative susceptibility to ideals in contemporary spirituality.
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