Religion and globalization. Can we speak of an evolution of spirituality in globalization?

• Authors: Varga K.
• Languages of publication: HU

Abstracts

EN

In our study we propound the apparently paradoxical hypothesis that religion/spirituality, commonly known to concern 'things eternal', can be expected to undergo some kind of evolution, i.e. temporal change. This raises two questions; first, as to the manner in which this could take place or, in other words, as to the specific process model (or more generally speaking theory) of evolution in accordance with which it could happen; secondly, as to what sort of more highly developed form of spirituality this process can be expected to bring about. We attempt to answer the first question, i.e. the question of 'how', by taking as our point of departure the thesis of systems theoretic evolutionary theory, according to which self-referential systems (Luhmann) produce the morphogenesis of self-transcendence (Rahner) in an interaction between each other's autopoietic powers (Ervin László). A (partial) answer to the second question, that of content, is attempted through a theory of salutogenesis (Antonovsky) and the concept of strategic and integrative psychotherapy (Béla Buda). Our discussion proceeds in partial correspondence with the procedure followed by Aquinas: we first pose the question (Questio: utrum sit), to which we propose a few sceptical answers and objections (Videtur quod non); this is followed by an exposition of our admittedly paradoxical conception (Sed contra dicendum); finally we attempt to answer the sceptical challenges (Responditur ad primum etc.). As, however, we empathically recognise the rational and progressive insights implicit in such sceptical challenges as are not only reasonable but positively progressive, we go one step beyond the medieval discussion pattern; we do not consider our hypothesis as established but merely as the foundation for a Delphi discussion to which we invite contributions in our Discussion section by proposing a set of new questions.

Keywords

EN

GLOBALISATION; INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF AUTOPOIESES; RELIGION; REVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS; SPIRITUALITY

Discipline

• THEOLOGY: THEOLOGY

• Publisher: Department of Economics and Law, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Tarsadalomkutatas (Social Science Research)
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 309-329
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Varga K.

• K. Varga, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07HUAAAA02976075