Australian Soul: Religion and Spirituality in the 21st Century 1st Edition, Kindle Edition
by Gary Bouma (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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Australian Soul challenges the idea that religious and spiritual life in Australia is in decline. This fascinating book describes the character of religious and spiritual life in Australia today, and argues that, far from petering out, religion and spirituality are thriving. Gary Bouma, the leading expert on the state of religious life in Australia, provides the most up-to-date facts and figures and compares the 'tone' of Australian religious practices with those of other countries. Australians might be less vocal and more reticent about their religion than Americans are, but their religious and spiritual beliefs are no less potent. Australian Soul describes and analyses our religious and spiritual life in detail as well as providing a series of case studies that illustrate the range of practices and beliefs in Australia today. Australian Soul predicts a vital future for religion and spirituality.
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ISBN-13
978-0521673891
Edition
1st
Sticky notes
On Kindle Scribe
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publication date
15 March 2007
Product description
Review
'Bouma's references to theoretical and research resources are authoritative and, in my view, worth the value of the book. The suggested reading, references and index at the back of the book are second-to-none. The book is strong on analysis, diagnosis, trends, surveys, and aetiology, rather than prescription.' Insights
'The Professor … is positive about the remaining and growing 'spirituality' outside, as well as inside, organised religion.' Church Times
Book Description
This fascinating book challenges the idea that religious and spiritual life in Australia is in decline.
Book Description
This fascinating book challenges the idea that religious and spiritual life in Australia is in decline. Australian Soul not only describes and analyses religious and spiritual life in detail, it also provides a series of case studies that give voice to the range of practices and beliefs in Australia today.
Review
'Bouma's references to theoretical and research resources are authoritative and, in my view, worth the value of the book. The suggested reading, references and index at the back of the book are second-to-none. The book is strong on analysis, diagnosis, trends, surveys, and aetiology, rather than prescription.' Insights
'The Professor … is positive about the remaining and growing 'spirituality' outside, as well as inside, organised religion.' Church Times --This text refers to the digital edition.
About the Author
Professor Gary Bouma is head of the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University. He holds the UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific and is Chair of the Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans. He is the author of numerous works on the interaction between religion and society in Western countries including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
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Product details
ASIN : B000SIWMQ4
Publisher : Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (15 March 2007)
Language : English
File size : 2420 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Up to 4 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
Print length : 254 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : 0521673895Best Sellers Rank: 605,048 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)155 in Religious Studies - Sociology
378 in Religion & Sociology
393 in Sociology of ReligionCustomer Reviews:
4.3 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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4 global ratings
Top reviews from Australia
M. I. McGuinness
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 20 February 2016
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An interesting picture of spirituality in Australia
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D Cronshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Australian cultural and spiritual shifting tidesReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 18 August 2018
Australian Soul offers a comprehensive description of the nature of religious and spiritual life in Australia today. It analyses the post-modern, post-Christendom, post-empire, post-colonial, post-national, post-ecumenical, post-denominational, secular, post-secular, post-book, post-family, post-patriarchal and multicultural characteristics of the Australian context. Bouma builds his case with up-to-date facts and figures, the latest research and astute insights and case studies. Rather than bemoaning religious decline, he observes how religious and spiritual life is changing and showing itself as 'A whisper in the mind and a shy hope in the heart' (words used by Manning Clarke and Thornhill to refer to a key characteristic of the ANZAC psyche, appropriate also to broader Australian spirituality). A key theme was his analysis of the cultural shift from tradition to rationality (after the Renaissance, Reformation and especially the Enlightenment), and now to experience and emotion as the dominant form of authority. It is a move from orthopraxy (in terms of right worship scripting), to orthodoxy (right beliefs and creeds), to orthoprassy (right feelings and emotional responses). Bouma indicates how this shift in authority-base is reflected in what spirituality is appealing, what church forms are declining and how religious communities and worship services are organized. His analysis of globalization and changing family structures were also significant, particularly because these issues are not often dealt with in the emerging church literature. Churches need expressions that address global justice issues and that cater for people other than the 40% that live in nuclear families.
Gary Bouma is a La Trobe University Professor and an authority on religion and society in Western countries, and his work is worthwhile background to understand the heritage and trends of Australian religious life and grass-roots expressions of spirituality.
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Margaret C. Sadler
5.0 out of 5 stars Super BookReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 24 December 2010
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This book is very intriguing to read. It relates to US readers as well as those from Australia. Gary Bouma uses statistics from Australia to illustrates changes in how we practice religion in the 21st Century. Many changes are happening all around us but they happen without analysis for the most part. Dr. Bouma has spent most of his career in this field and has many insights which are helpful to the student of religion and society.
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Tony Castle
3.0 out of 5 stars an interesting readReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 15 February 2014
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It's always interesting to see what others perceive about your nation. Yet when we consider a nation, how can the whole be encapsulated? Statistics are of no use, particularly in Australia - (We're notorious for not trusting those who govern and therefore are sometimes less than honest in what we give away!) Overall, I think that Bouma does justice to the spiritual question of Australia; a hard task for any author.
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