Date of Award

1-10-2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

English

First Advisor

Sheryl O'Donnell

Abstract

“Spiritual Economies” asserts that the emancipatory drive in international social care to integrate spirituality and religion in culturally sensitive practice, is much needed given the demographic and social changes engendered by globalization. Ethical codes guiding the practice of international social care, furthermore, have mandated that spiritual and religious beliefs are an important part of cultural diversity. An extensive examination and analysis of the discourse on the integration of religion and spirituality in the predominantly secular social services, however, yielded a number of concerns among international social care scholars and practitioners regarding the inclusion of religion due to the potential for religiously-motivated abuse and violence. The status of religion was examined as the less favored term in relation to spirituality, which does not differentiate religion, positioning it as just one of many modalities that a subject can pursue in the quest for spiritual self-realization. The spirituality discourse, furthermore, encourages the interpellation of subjects who are compatible with the individualism favored by reflexive modernity and consumer society. “Spiritual Economies” asserts, instead, that approaching subjectivity via the discourse on narcissism would be productive in addressing clients' narcissistic needs and entitlement issues as the middle classes and para-proletariat continue to decline in the face of diminishing economic opportunities. These discussions then led to the investigation of the absence of theoretical constructs on the body in the spiritual diversity literature, and also the ubiquitous influence of redemptive violence on the use of the body in exchangist practices, in symbolic deployments of violence, and in the coercive tactics of systemic torture. “Spiritual Economies” concludes that it is disingenuous to target religious violence in order to obscure the violent activities of political, governmental, and capitalist entities. Certainly, with a violent history and a vast system of knowledge, human beings have the tools and resources to shape a society that frees its citizens from necessity, yet allows for and honors differences, and rewards those who seek to realize their talents and creativity. Cooperation between secular and religious entities, and their host societies, Will be crucial as human rights and opportunities, previously taken for granted, continue to erode.

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