Spiritual Friendship after Religion: Walking with People while the Rules Are Changing - Softcover

Stewart-Sicking, Joseph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0819232491 ISBN 13: 9780819232496

Publisher: Morehouse Publishing, 2016

Synopsis

Hardly a day goes by without some poll or news story documenting the changing relationship between the general population and religion, often accompanied by predictions of doom. The rise of the "nones" and the "dones" leaves many adrift in a world with multiple complex challenges. Providers of "spiritual friendship"―pastors, spiritual directors, pastoral counselors, concerned Christians―will need to change their approach as those with whom they interact distance themselves from the church. How should we talk with the "nones" and the "dones" about their spiritual lives? How can we be with them in their struggles when they are suspicious of our motives?

These are questions providers of spiritual friendship face every day. This book offers answers that can help them look at their work in new ways. Stewart-Sicking presents an innovative approach to spiritual friendship, addressing major challenges of modern life and significant challenges in the lives of individuals, as well as making accessible scholarship on the subject that is difficult for practitioners to access.

About this title

About the Author:

Joseph A. Stewart-Sicking is an Episcopal priest and Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Loyala University Maryland, where he directs the PhD program. His research explores the impact of modernity and postmodernity on spiritual formation, the emotional health and vocational satisfaction of clergy, and the relationship between spiritual direction and psychology. He was the associate project director for the Project of Congregations of Intentional Practice at Virginia Theological Seminary, directed by Diana Butler Bass. He coedited with her From Nomads to Pilgrims: Stories from Practicing Congregations and wrote the study guide for Christianity for the Rest of Us. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Diana Butler Bass, is the author of seven books, including "Christianity for the Rest of Us", "Strength for the Journey", and "The Practicing Congregation". She earned her Ph.D. in church history from Duke University; has taught at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Rhodes College, and Virginia Theological Seminary; and is currently senior fellow at the Cathedral College of the Washington National Cathedral. From 1995 to 2000 she wrote a weekly column on American religion for the "New York Times" syndicate and is a popular speaker at retreats and workshops across the country. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

About this edition

• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0819232491
• ISBN 13: 9780819232496
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144