Spiritual Dimensions of Ageing

Description

Our understandings of both ageing and spirituality are changing rapidly in the twenty-first century, and grasping the significance of later life spirituality is now crucial in the context of extended longevity. Spiritual Dimensions of Ageing will inform and engage those who study or practise in all fields that relate to the lives of older people, especially in social, psychological and health-related domains, but also wherever the maintenance and development of spiritual meaning and purpose are recognised as important for human flourishing. Bringing together an international group of leading scholars across the fields of psychology, theology, history, philosophy, sociology and gerontology, the volume distils the latest advances in research on spirituality and ageing, and engages in vigorous discussion about how we can interpret this learning for the benefit of older people and those who seek to serve and support them. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Table of contents List of Contributors Preface Acknowledgements 1 Spirited Ageing Introduction Aims of ‘Spiritual Dimensions of Ageing’ Themes Personal Encounters with the Meanings of Old Age Spirituality in a Changing Landscape: Believers, Doubters and Re-constructors Grappling with the Inner Self: The Universal Quest for Meaning and Purpose Enabling Older People to Address Their Spirituality The Book Reinventing Spirituality References Part I The Spiritual Journey of Ageing 2 Spirituality and Ageing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Introduction How Are Spiritual Development and the Spiritual Journey Related to Ageing? Why Do So Few People Know about the Link between Ageing and Spirituality? Yesterday The Nature of Spirituality Spirituality and Ageing Imbedded in Historical Time Next Steps Spirituality and Ageing for Practitioners References 3 Ageing and Spirituality across Faiths and Cultures Introduction A Secular Model of Spirituality in Ageing The Importance of Story as a Way of Understanding the Spiritual Journey of Life A Model of Spiritual Tasks and Process of Ageing The Spiritual Tasks of Ageing Described The Association between Culture and Religion The Importance of Culture in Later Life The Ways Cultures Influence How the Model of Spiritual Tasks and Process of Ageing Is Worked Out Interactions between Religion and Culture What Shape Does Self-transcendence Take in Different Religions? Ways of Responding to Meaning The Importance of Relationship, Spirituality, Culture and a Note of Caution Conclusion References 4 Stages of the Soul and Spirituality in Later Life Call The Voice Cube Descending Search Seeing Clearly Guiding Light The Deserted Church Struggle The Unclean Saint The Diamond Dentist False Teeth Breakthrough In the Eye of the Storm Center of the Cross The Pattern in the Room Simplicity Return The School of Healing Interfaith Action A Difficult Task References 5 Aesop’s Fables as Spiritual Touchstones for Ageing Perceiving Legacy Work Reflecting on Memories in Reviewing a Life Gazing Death in the Face References Part II Cultures of the Spirit in Modernity 6 Religion, Belief and Spirituality in Old Age: How They Change Age Differences in Religiosity Research Findings from a 35-Year Longitudinal Study Changes in Religiousness Associated with Ageing Generations: Age Differences Associated with Cohort Membership Narrative Accounts of Ageing and Cohort Trends The ‘‘Retirement Surge’’ in Religiosity The Ways Religious Expression May Differ Between Age Cohorts Dying, Death, and Spirituality Conclusions References 7 Ritual and Memories of Ritual in Older People’s Lives: Contrasts between Eastern and Western Europe The Oldest Participants in Bulgaria and Romania The Oldest Participants in England Reflection on Differences in Religious Attitudes between the Oldest Participants in Eastern and Western Europe References 8 Religious Ritual and Practice in Old Age Introduction My Father’s Story Rituals and Religious Practices The Timing and Cycles of Religious Rituals over the Life Course Rituals and Ageing One-Time-Only Rituals Annual Rituals Weekly Rituals Daily or Multiple Daily Rituals Why Ritual Got a Bad Name Why the Study of Ritual Is Now the Cutting Edge of the Cognitive Science of Religion Why the New Research Needs to Consider the Importance of the Repetition of Ritual over the Life Span References 9 New Cultures of Ageing: The Impact of the Third Age on Issues of Spirituality and Religion The Third Age Religion and Spirituality in Later Life Conclusion References Part III Searching for Meaning in Later Life 10 Religion, Faith, Belief and Disbelief in Old Age: ‘‘A full-hearted evensong’’ Introduction Religion and Faith The Dynamic of Reflection and Action: Belief and Disbelief Disbelief or Atheism Interiority and Development of ‘‘Inner Resources’’ in Later Life Gerotranscendence Thoughts about Nature, Gardening, and Faith Gardeners and Gardens of Kahehtiyo Conclusion References 11 Finding Meaning and Sustaining Purpose in Later Life Introduction The Contribution of Viktor Frankl Relevance for Older People Persons with Dementia My Research Measuring Purpose in Life The Interviews Relevant Correlations Discussion References 12 Spirituality, Biographical Review and Biographical Pain at the End of Life in Old Age Experiencing the Fourth Age Does Psychological Functioning Predict Mortality? Death in the Province of Old Age Remembering in Pain Biographical Pain Late Life Spirituality Life Hurts: Beyond Successful Ageing The Spiritual and the Biographical References 13 Embracing Contraries: The Spiritual Quest as a Lifelong Process References Part IV Meeting Spiritual Needs in Older Age 14 Conversation Matters Introduction PSALM and Conversation PSALM and Spirituality Resilience References 15 Spiritual Development in Later Life: A Learning Experience? Introduction What Can We Know about Later Life Spiritual Learning and Development? Making a Case for Learning about Spirituality Ways in Which Spiritual Learning Can Be Enabled in Later Life Developing Spiritual Capacities and Resources for Ageing Learning as Part of Developmental Life Stages and Tasks Self-development, Building the Self-system and Mature Identity Spiritual Practices, Growing the Inner Life and Practice-Oriented Spirituality Conclusion Acknowledgement Notes References 16 Reimagining the Theology of Old Age Introduction Who Is That in My Mirror? What Do Older People Need in Order to Live Properly? Putting Theology to Work What Is the Relationship between Being and Doing? Our Need for Redemption? Made in Whose Image? The Power of Metaphor and Story Nurturing the Possibilities of Wonder Holding Fragility and Diminishment Modernity: Friend or Foe? What Are Older People For? Conclusion References 17 Pressing towards the Finishing Line: Supporting Older People on Their Final Lap Introduction Older People and Dying in a Communal Setting Tasks for the Final Lap A Good Death? The Final Lap: Training the End of Life Accompanists The Needs of Those Left Behind The Finishing Line and MHA’s Five Values Conclusions References Index