On Capitalist Spirituality

The article by Carrette and King (2012) describes the elements of spirituality and religiosity which can be evident throughout otherwise secular components of existence. The extract makes mention of the enlightenment period, whereby the principles of liberalism were established in an effort to draw distinction between secular and spiritual aspects of life (Carrette & King 2012). The enlightenment establishes social and political framework which exists outside the grasps of religious authority, with the intent to define religious and social existence without overlap and interference of one upon the other. It is proposed that contemporary usage of the term “spirituality” may now extend to a degree of classification within certain practices and philosophies, which were otherwise deemed spiritually removed in the enlightenment (Carrette & King 2012). Four branches of “capitalist ideology” spiritualism are identified to prove such a transition. Anti-capitalist, capitalist, reformist and consumerist movements are described as being wholly spiritual or of having distinct aspects relating to a degree of spirituality within core belief principles (Carrette & King 2012. Such a finding is significant in that it identifies how components of spiritualistic belief can extend within an otherwise secular and profane realm ultimately showing the transitionary nature of human belief structure.

References:

Carrette J and R King. 2012. Spirituality and the Re-branding of Religion. In Lynch G. and J. Mitchell with A. Strhan. Eds., Religion, Media and Culture: A Reader. 59-70. London and New York: Routledge.