Power and spirit: The political dimensions of popular spiritual practices as illuminated through Lectio Divina, Jesus Prayer, pilgrimage, and labyrinth.

摘要

This dissertation analyzes the political dimensions of Christian spirituality and the four popular spiritual practices of Lectio Divina, the Jesus Prayer, pilgrimage, and labyrinth by studying the birth and revival of these practices in the history of the early church, in the modern and postmodern western political history, and world globalization. This dissertation seeks a political and historical interpretation of Christian spirituality and the popular spiritual practices. The primary method the dissertation employs is a political-historical approach to analyze the political influences found in the birth and revival of the spiritual practices along with an anthropological approach to examine the political influences of the current globalizing political world on the spiritual practices and the ability of Christian spirituality and practices to respond to that progressing world. For these aims, this dissertation studies the history and the political thoughts of the Ancient Greek philosophers and the contemporary political events. Political ideas of the philosophers, theologians, and scholars have been applied to interpret the political dimensions of Christian spirituality and the four popular practices. The insights of scholars of history, philosophy, politics, theology, globalization, spirituality, and geography have been utilized in order to construct a history of the four practices.;The main argument of this dissertation is that Christian spirituality and spiritual practices are sensitive to political changes. This sensitivity could be called the political nature of Christian spirituality and spiritual practices. Sensitivity first means that Christian spirituality and spiritual practices embrace spiritual-political ideas. Second, these generate and pursue authority and power with which the Church can function as a government for the spiritual well-being of its members. Third, these are capable of creating a new political culture in the Church. Fourth, these help Christians to resist or support political activities of power. Fifth, these provide spiritual shelter and territory. Sixth, these have the capacity to transform themselves for new political situations. Seventh, these are indicators of the influences of political activities. Eighth, these change the body, mind, spirit, and the world. Ninth, these are the means for unity, identity, and citizenship. Tenth, these can be used for politics, and vice versa. Eleventh, these are power.