Aging and Spirituality: Spiritual Dimensions of Aging Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

Excelent for the investigation and understanding of the subject matter from the standpoint of the spiritual-religious realm as well as from the the scientific research. Sound theorical, scientific and practical approach to the themes of spirituality and the elderly people, with the sociological-political and caring implications, very relevant for the reality of an aging population with extended longevity (to be increased with the baby-boomers). Also relevant in a postmodern era of spiritual awakening.

Aging and Spirituality is an edited book and some chapters are stronger than others because there are various authors. The chapters can and do stand alone, so this book can easily be used as a reference by many different practitioners. As an editor Moberg does a good job making sure that each chapter is written coherently and the material has an internal integrity. As a pastor, I found the scholarship to be of high caliber and those scholars who quoted scripture did so with a level of knowledge that provided fuel to the discussion and maintained the integrity of the scriptural context. The Editor in Chief of Haworth Pastoral Press states in the Foreword that the text is written from an interfaith perspective. On one level this is true but on another level this statement is a gross understatement. The reason that this may be a gross understatement is twofold. 1) there is a very limited amount of work in the field of aging and spirituality that is not done from a Christian or Judeo-Christian perspective and 2) interfaith is more than just the mere mention of another religious tradition different than the dominant tradition of the author. Interfaith work is new in and of itself in the ecumenical movement so the addition of an interfaith perspective to an emerging field is not to be expected and is not present at the level that the series editor implies. There are some chapters and elements in this book that touch on interfaith issues, but not at the depth to call itself an interfaith text. This book provided this student with a good window into the research that has been conducted in the area of spirituality and aging. I found it especially helpful that this book was not exclusively focused on health care, which is where most of the work in the area of spirituality and aging has been conducted. The greatest contribution that this book makes to the field of gerontology is the breadth and depth of the material presented that should encourage and foster future inquiry. The stand alone chapters can be used by individual practitioners and taken together the book summarizes what has been done and points future scholars to what needs to be done in the future. It cannot be noted strongly enough that this book combines theory, research, practice issues, and even policy history and recommendations. This book offers professionals in aging a little bit of everything with regards to aging and spirituality and is a good basic resource for this reason. If think this book is an excellent primer or baseline text on the topic of Aging and Spirituality and plan to recommend it to others. A common theme throughout the books is the importance of spiritual well-being and the complexities involved with defining that, researching it, and providing good spiritual care to elders. The editor and authors of each chapter present their findings in easily accessible ways and provide the reader with places to go for more information. In this manner this book