10AR15-32

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Apologia Report 15:32 (1,037)

September 9, 2010

Subject: The growing influence of 'workplace spirituality'

In this issue:

AMERICAN RELIGION - brief review commentary, big implications

+ has "workplace spirituality" generated new ways to manipulate employees?

RELIGIOUS PLURALISM - a closer look at Gerald McDermott's views

UMBANDA - recent book includes a "sensitive portrayal" of present-day animal sacrifice

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AMERICAN RELIGION

Book reviews often fail to include all of the information that one would like to see. Rarely do the most abbreviated of reviews include something profound. An exception is this "pre-pub alert." In her brief remarks about American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, by Harvard professor Robert D. Putnam [1], Barbara Hoffert tells us that "Putnam studies two major surveys, plus numerous individual congregations, to bring us this overview of religion in America." She concludes with two observations that have big implications: "the truly politicized churches tend to be liberal, and faith matters less to most Americans than their communities of faith." Library Journal, May 15 '10, <www.tinyurl.com/2eenwt4>

Spirituality, Inc.: Religion in the American Workplace, by Lake Lambert III [2] -- "Lambert analyzes workplace spirituality and links between religion and work in the postmodern US. He ... examines contemporary companies that self-identify as religiously based (most of them evangelical Christian). He then appraises efforts to transform the Bible and the figure of Jesus into models for business methods and leadership. Two key chapters look at shifts in curricula used to educate business managers, particularly those including a spiritual component; and at the increasing use of workplace chaplains and life coaches to serve employees, along with inclusion of religious practices like meditation in professional development programs. Lambert notes that problems follow. Religion may become a way to manipulate workers, and new forms of harassment may accompany religion's becoming central to the workplace. The final chapter explores what might emerge as the millennial generation brings new expectations to its work." Choice, Jul '10, n.p. [6]

The August 13 edition of the Hindu Press International news wire contains the story, "Spirituality in the Corporate Work Arena" (no byline), which begins: "Across the country, major-league executives are meeting for prayer breakfasts and spiritual conferences.

"If America’s chief executives had tried any of this 10 years ago, they probably would have inspired ridicule and maybe even ostracism. But today, a spiritual revival is sweeping across Corporate America as executives of all stripes are mixing mysticism into their management, importing into office corridors the lessons usually doled out in churches, temples, and mosques. Gone is the old taboo against talking about God at work. In its place is a new spirituality...." The brief item refers to some who "draw business solutions from the Bible" and the practice of "high-tech Hindus," as well as ecumenical prayer breakfasts, the benefits of meditation, and "a movement to connect technology to spirituality."

RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church, by Gerald R. McDermott [3] -- reviewer Michael S. Jones refers to McDermott's earlier book, Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? [4], and acknowledges that "One might conclude that, if McDermott believes that the truths contained in the world religions come from God, then he also believes (or he should believe) that the world religions themselves come from God. But that conclusion would probably be a non sequitur resulting from a simplistic view of the origins of the world's religions. It is easy to make the mistake of thinking that a religion must be either completely from God or not at all from God. But this view forgets that religions are complex human creations, developed in response to the diverse array of factors that make up the human environment. The theist acknowledges that one of those factors is God. Therefore it should be no surprise to the theist if non-Christian religions contain theological truth. But this stops well short of saying that the entire religion comes, directly or indirectly, from God.

"In God's Rivals, McDermott argues that there are two extremes to be avoided: the 'fundamentalist extreme' that views non-Christian religions as completely the work of demons, and the extreme of 'religious relativism' that views all religions as equally true or at least equally valid attempts at responding to the same supernatural reality. He attempts to avoid these erroneous extremes by taking what he considers to be a middle path laid out by the biblical authors and other early Christians. He argues that early Christian intellectuals were aware of the difficult issues related to religious plurality and formulated sophisticated answers to them. ...

"McDermott disavows that the religions provide an alternative path to salvation. They provide theological truths, but only Christ provides salvation. ... Thus on the problem of religious plurality McDermott seems to be a very conservative inclusivist. ... "God's Rivals is a well written, easily followed yet extremely thought provoking look at an issue of great significance. ... Nonetheless, some of [McDermott's] arguments and conclusions will come as a surprise to many Christian readers. But McDermott is not coy or obscure in his argumentation: he states his case clearly, and lays out his arguments for all to see and evaluate." Philosophia Christi, 12:1 - 2010, pp239-242.

UMBANDA

Given that this belief system is growing more common in the US, we call your attention to the following recent book: Hearing the Mermaid's Song: The Umbanda Religion in Rio de Janeiro, by Hale Lindsay [5] -- "The Afro-Brazilian religion of Umbanda began in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Anthropologist Hale [University of Texas at Austin] reports on nearly a decade of research on the religion beginning in 1986. Umbanda is highly syncretic and encompasses religious traditions originating in Africa (Orisa spirits), Asia (reincarnation and karma), and Europe (French spiritualism). Hale skillfully explores the 'imagined worlds' created by Umbanda leaders and their followers and situates the religion within the broader context of Brazilian history and culture. The author's focus is local, ethnographic, experiential, and personal. Hale does not attempt to speak for all Umbandists in Rio, addressing instead personal experiences with individual mediums in three unique centers [terreiros] - one European based, one mixed, and one African based. Chapter 7, which contains a sensitive portrayal of animal sacrifice, is outstanding. Hale's artful prose evokes the bodily sensations of Umbanda: its sights, sounds, and smells. A shortcoming is that the author refuses to offer conclusions or a summary of major findings. Nevertheless, in less than 200 pages, Hale provides what is perhaps the most accessible and beautifully crafted introduction to an Afro-Brazilian religion ever published." Choice, Jul '10, n.p.

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SOURCES: Monographs

1 - American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, by Robert D. Putnam and David E Campbel (Simon & Schuster, 2010, hardcover, 688 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/2efogmp>

2 - Spirituality, Inc.: Religion in the American Workplace, by Lake Lambert III (NYU Prs, 2009, hardcover, 240 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/2cal4u7>

3 - God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church, by Gerald R. McDermott (IVP, 2007, paperback, 181 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/28b6wro>

4 - Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? Jesus, Revelation & Religious Traditions, by Gerald R. McDermott (IVP, 2000, paperback, 233 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/2amozbn>

5 - Hearing the Mermaid's Song: The Umbanda Religion in Rio de Janeiro, by Hale Lindsay (Univ of New Mexico Prs, 2009, paperback, 208 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/2bbtbou>

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