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The Practices of Happiness: Political Economy, Religion and Wellbeing

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There is growing evidence that rising levels of prosperity in Western economies since 1945 have not been matched by greater incidences of reported well-being and happiness. Indeed, material affluence is often accompanied instead by greater social and individual distress. A growing literature within the humanities and social sciences is increasingly concerned to chart not only the underlying trends in recorded levels of happiness, but to consider what factors, if any, contribute to positive and sustainable experiences of well-being and quality of life. Increasingly, such research is focusing on the importance of values and beliefs in human satisfaction or quality of life; but the specific contribution of religion to these trends is relatively under-examined. This unique collection of essays seeks to rectify that omission, by identifying the nature and role of the religious contribution to wellbeing. A unique collection of nineteen leading scholars from the field of economics, psychology, public theology and social policy have been brought together in this volume to explore the religious contribution to the debate about happiness and well-being. These essays explore the religious dimensions to a number of key features of well-being, including marriage, crime and rehabilitation, work, inequality, mental health, environment, participation, institutional theory, business and trade. They engage particularly closely with current trends in economics in identifying alternative models of economic growth which focus on its qualitative as well as quantitative dimensions. This unique volume brings to public notice the nature and role of religion’s contribution to wellbeing, including new ways of measurement and evaluation. As such, it represents a valuable and unprecedented resource for the development of a broad-based religious contribution to the field. It will be of particular relevance for those who are concerned about the continuing debate about personal and societal well-being, as well as those who are interested in the continuing significance of religion for the future of public policy.

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

200.19 PRA p

Publisher

London : Routledge., 2010

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9780415550970

Classification

200.19

Content Type

text

Media Type

computer

Carrier Type

online resource

Edition

1st Edition

Subject(s)

Social Science / Sociology
Religion / Psychology of Religion

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

Ian Steedman, John R Atherton, Elaine Graham

Other Information

Cataloger

umi

Source

https://openresearchlibrary.org/content/da5a3018-dceb-47f4-94c6-da9c90260b57

Validator

Taufik

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203846902

Journal Volume

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Journal Issue

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Subtitle

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