Marx, Marxism and the Spiritual

This book explores the relationship between a rethought Marxism and a rethought spirituality, arguing that spirituality is not just a displaced form of religion but also a displaced form of the political. It suggests that a resetting of their lost relationship is the only hope for a non-violent future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 388 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Marxian theory has provided a robust and rigorous critique of capitalism, but has it struggled to translate its ideas into practical social transformation? Some argue that the Marxian emphasis on the hyper-secularization of political cultures has hindered its ability to effectively address the complex social and economic issues of our time. The history of religions, with the exception of certain spiritual traditions, has often been characterized by cruelty and a lack of soul. This book seeks to initiate a crucial dialogue between a reimagined Marxian praxis of politics and a reimagined experience of spirituality.

A rethinking within Marxism and spirituality, accompanied by a rekindling of their lost relationship, holds the potential for a non-violent future for both the Marxian reconstruction of the self and the social, as well as faith-based life practices. This book builds upon previous work in critical theory and offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between a rethought Marxism and a rethought spirituality. Contrary to common misconceptions, this book does not view spirituality as a mere derivative of religion. Instead, it recognizes spirituality as the cry of the oppressed against both social and religious orthodoxy. In this sense, spirituality transcends the boundaries of religion and encompasses the political realm as well.

The chapters in this book were originally published in Rethinking Marxism – A Journal of Economics, Culture, and Society.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367504496