THE EVOLUTION OF WESTERN SPIRITUALITY: FROM ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME TO CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES

Year 2023, Volume: 24 Issue: 45, 841 - 855, 31.07.2023

Takyettin Karakaya

https://doi.org/10.21550/sosbilder.1256854

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the history of spirituality in the Western world, examining its evolution from ancient Greece and Rome to contemporary practices. The article explores the development of key religious and philosophical traditions, including early Christianity, the Protestant Reformation, and the Enlightenment, and analyzes their contributions to the evolution of Western spirituality. The article also investigates the emergence of contemporary spirituality, highlighting its emphasis on personal experience and individual growth, and its rejection of traditional religious institutions and dogma. While contemporary spirituality has been criticized for its lack of structure and its tendency to promote subjective experiences over objective truth, it has also had a significant impact on Western culture, particularly in the areas of health and wellness. The article discusses the challenges that contemporary spirituality poses, including the potential for spiritual bypassing, the need for authenticity in spiritual practices, and the importance of recognizing spirituality as a deeply personal and individual experience. Additionally, the article explores the future of Western spirituality, considering the impact of changing cultural and social trends and the ongoing evolution of spiritual practices. The article also examines important works and figures that have contributed to the development of Western spirituality from Ancient Greece and Rome to contemporary times, showing the diversity and richness of spiritual perspectives and practices over time. Ultimately, this article offers a comprehensive overview of the history of Western spirituality and highlights its enduring influence on Western culture and society, while also providing insights into the challenges and opportunities that contemporary spirituality presents.

Keywords

spirituality, West, Reformation, Enlightenment, contemporary spirituality

Batı Maneviyatının Gelişimi: Antik Yunan ve Roma’dan Çağdaş Uygulamalara

Abstract

Bu makale, Batı dünyasında maneviyatın tarihine kapsamlı bir genel bakış sunarak antik Yunan ve Roma’dan günümüz uygulamalarına kadar olan evrimini inceler. Makale, erken Hristiyanlık, Protestan Reformu ve Aydınlanma gibi önemli dini ve felsefi geleneklerin gelişimini araştırır ve Batı maneviyatının evrimine katkılarını analiz eder. Makale, çağdaş maneviyatın olası zorluklarını, manevi kaçınmayı engelleme ihtiyacını, manevi uygulamalarda otantikliğin önemini ve maneviyatı derinlemesine kişisel ve bireysel bir deneyim olarak tanımanın önemini ele alır. Ayrıca, makale, kültürel ve sosyal trendlerin değişimlerinin etkisini ve manevi uygulamaların sürekli evrimini göz önünde bulundurarak Batı maneviyatının geleceğini de tartışır. Son olarak makale, zaman içinde manevi bakış açılarının ve uygulamaların çeşitliliğini ve zenginliğini göstermesi açısından Antik Yunanistan ve Roma’dan çağdaş zamanlara Batı maneviyatının gelişimine katkıda bulunan önemli eser ve kişileri inceler. Sonuç olarak makale, Batı maneviyatının tarihine kapsamlı bir genel bakış sunar ve çağdaş maneviyatın Batı kültürü ve toplumu üzerindeki kalıcı etkisini vurgularken sunduğu zorluklar ve fırsatlar hakkında bilgi sağlar.

Keywords

maneviyat, Batı, Reform, Aydınlanma, çağdaş maneviyat

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