Spirituality

The origins of spirituality are found in our evolutionary history, starting from shamanistic and animistic traditions in numerous societies, to pantheistic and monotheistic religious traditions that characterize the world today. According to Robert Bellah, a prominent U.S. sociologist, the term spirituality was always a subdomain of religion and the two are historically compatible. However, Bellah claims that since the 1970s, societal use of the word spiritual is used to connote something other than being religious. A common remark one hears today is, “I am not religious, but I am spiritual,” which is a relatively new sociological phenomenon. The late 20th century was a time of renewed interest in spirituality around the world, with many people exploring indigenous spiritualities of Native Americans, Aboriginals, and West Africans ...