by Werner Lange

Spirituality is commonly neglected in contemporary sociology, and social reality is typically ignored in traditional theology. This book does just the opposite. It unites sociology and theology to lay the foundations for a sociotheology, an antidote to the failed paradigm of sociobiology so popular among modern social darwinists. It also exposes the limitations and flaws inherent in positivism and materialism, two philosophies which have dominated sociology for the past two centuries and, consequently, rendered social science largely inconsequential. Our conflicted times call for a new paradigm, one which restores the spiritual to its proper place in analysis of human behavior and social institutions. This book answers that call. Social Spirituality: A Sociology of The Spirit is only a beginning, a modest one, in exploring spirituality as a social force and restoring the inherent unity between sociology and theology. Though composed in a relatively short time span during the summer of 2005, this pioneering text represents the distillation of critical thought on society and religion gathered over many years of teaching sociology, preaching Christianity, and reaching for the truth in doing both. There is likely something in it to disturb, even offend, just about any political persuasion masquerading as religious conviction, for among its primary targets are hypocrisy and dogma. What the book aspires to reveal is truth about the human condition. And the truth, unlike academic departments and religious denominations seeking its revelation and transmission, is not compartmentalized and segmented into operational boxes convenient to bureaucracy. Nor is the truth monopolized by religion or science. Yet a combination of the two, one which transcends traditional conceptual limitations imposed upon both by their conventional custodians, opens up new and exciting avenues of inquiry and insight. Such is the spiritual journey of intellectual exploration offered by this pioneering text. That fact alone separates this analysis of society from standard ones which clutter countless bookshelves in academe and bookstores in malls. It starts from the simple and sublime premise that humans are triune - body, mind and soul; and that to try to understand human behavior and ignore the spiritual is to embark upon the impossible. Accordingly, each chapter devotes itself to an analysis of the conflict between The Spirit and antispirit in society and its institutions. The socialization process, which is analyzed in the chapter on 'The Divine Child', is envisioned as a lifelong unfolding of spirituality identified as 'the seven days of spiritualization (majesty, security, creativity, productivity, intimacy, magnanimity, and mystery). The chapter on 'The Spiritual Self' goes beyond symbolic interactionism to understand not only the emergence of the mind from a brain but also the awakening of the soul in an individual. The chapter focusing on the family offers the concept of 'the essential family' as an illuminating alternative to nuclear family or traditional family. A host of social problems endemic to modern society which range from political corruption to vulture culture are thoroughly analyzed as a spiritual crisis in the chapter entitled 'The Spirit in Struggle'. Particular attention is given to the current crisis in Christianity in American society. A chapter is devoted to a detailed and highly critical analysis of 'Christianity in Reverse' with its contemporary heresies of Christian Nationalism, Christian Zionism, Christian Narcissism, and Christian Fascism. A subsequent chapter focuses on 'The Social Gospel' and its foundational principles of liberation, solidarity, compassion, social conversion, social justice, world peace, universal truth and agape love. The text concludes with a call for child supremacy as the hallmark of the coming supreme society and as a much-needed antidote to the violent supremacy of race, sex or