Contemporary Christian Spirituality: An "encompassing field"

 

 

C. Kourie^I; T. Ruthenberg^II

^IProf, Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, Unisa, Pretoria, South Africa
^IID.Th., obtained in Christian Spirituality from the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, Unisa, Pretoria, South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Contemporary Christian spirituality, understood as both an experiential, lived-life phenomenon and an academic discipline gives a new-found universal perspective to the reflective Christian. It constitutes an encompassing, incorporative "field" through occupying a "give-and-take" inter-disciplinary place in a general academy of Spirituality and through repossession of its own traditions, insights and ecumenical spiritual landscape. These discoveries are further enhanced through contemporary Christian spirituality's own critical appreciation of globalisation and postmodernism. Contemporary Christian spirituality, at its best, constitutes a world-appreciative openness that nevertheless sustains its own unique identity. In short, contemporary Christian spirituality offers a lived-faith and academic discipline that is globally conscious and universally aligned. It operates out of a credible contextual rationale for our times.

Keywords: Spirituality, Ecumenism, Globalisation, "Lived-life", Postmodernism

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Trefwoorde: Spiritualiteit, Ekumene, Globalisering, Geleefde lewe, Postmodernisme

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