Beyond Religion: Imaging a New Humanity advocates a shift from religiosity to spirituality.
That is because religion is widely misused to fragment humanity, to disable commitment to justice, and to fuel totalitarian proclivities around the world.
Though evolved in response to the dynamics of Indian religio-politics, the author’s insights have global resonances.
The work is informed by a keenness to sketch the truth about what is, as well as what ought to be, as an investment into safeguarding the health and sanity of humankind.
Endorsing Max Weber’s argument that religions begin to decay and contradict their spiritual core when priestly classes hijack them, the author argues for a liberation of human beings from their tutelage to religious middlemen.
Freedom is the temple in which spirituality and wholesome politics meet.
Religious freedom becomes malignant when it is misconstrued as the license to violate spiritual values in pursuance of communal agendas.
In times of religious decay, freedom for religion needs to be complemented with freedom from religion.
Human beings, however, cannot live in a vacuum. The book does not argue for relinquishing religions, but for transcending them.
Spirituality is the horizon beyond religion.
It is the shared dwelling-place of humanity.
Valsan Thampu ( - )
Rev. Valson Thampu, who combines wide-ranging experiences in higher education, social action, multi-faith initiatives, media, preaching, research and writing, has been engaged in mainstreaming the Christian presence in India. Leaving the certainties of a coveted job, he plunged into public life a few years ago and has become, in a short span of time, a household name.A proponent of the “spirituality of seeking,” as against the religiosity of mere compliance, Rev. Valson’s writings are distinguished for their originality of thought and freshness of style. All of his writings are a contemporary response to the words of Jesus, “Cast your net in the deep”.
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