Wellbeing (Society & Church) Book

We live in a world characterised by high-tech capitalism, wide-ranging and frightening inequalities, and challenging but enriching diversities. We have constructed ourselves a demanding performance culture where we are what we do and we are what we own. In this context, 'wellbeing' is a commonly used but rarely defined notion. The agenda it generates in contemporary politics embraces almost anything that is designed to 'make things better' for individuals and communities. Through a unique amalgam of story, personal reflection, and philosophical analysis, Alison Webster attempts to get 'under the skin' of wellbeing, and articulate the multi-faceted and variously textured nature of the concept as it is evolving in contemporary culture. She suggests that it embraces mental and physical health, but also questions of identity and belonging, and a sense of human connection, purpose, meaning and value. In other words, the agenda generated by wellbeing is akin to that which has traditionally been addressed by religion and spirituality. It is therefore unsurprising that 'meeting spiritual needs' is currently big business in health and social care. This provides the focus for the second half of the book, in which Webster explores the varying meanings of spirituality, and assesses the role and place of Christian specifically in this context. She argues that the Christian tradition still has much to offer in transforming our society into one which sickness, disability and death are put in their rightful place; and in whch mechanistic, commodified and individualistic notions of health are overcome. But she argues too that in order to contribute meaningfully to such change, Christianity needs to develop new ways of translating its key stories and values.Read More