Spirituality and Well-Being

This book makes a comprehensive study of three interrelated ill-defined ideas of spirituality, well-being and health in the context of Western societies and by Western researchers. It distinguishes between the western religions of the book- Christianity, Islam and Judaism-with their linear conceptions of divine authority and carefully prepared definitions with the Eastern religions with their diffuse origins, understandings and their disinterest in definitions. Analysing the nature of spirituality, wellbeing and health, it discusses at length the quantitative approach to spirituality and well-being, qualitative approaches towards understanding human behaviour, the methods of examining religious behaviour, spirituality and positive health, spirituality and the risk to health, the importance of prayer, and the basic problems of assessing spirituality.