The Practices of Happiness : : Political Economy, Religion and Wellbeing / / Ian Steedman, John R. Atherton and Elaine Graham.

• VerfasserIn: Steedman, Ian,; Graham, Elaine,; Atherton, John R.,
• TeilnehmendeR: Graham, Elaine,; Atherton, John R.,
• Place / Publishing House: Milton, United Kingdom : : Taylor & Francis,, 2010.
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (297 pages)

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.

Table of Contents

Book Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Contributors; Acknowledgement; Introductory essay: Developing an overview as context and future; Part I: Political economy; 1 Economic theory and happiness; 2 Happiness, welfare and capabilities; 3 Happiness through thrift: The contribution of business to human wellbeing; 4 Happiness, work and Christian theology; 5 Happiness isn't working, but it should be; 6 Challenging inequality in a post-scarcity era: Christian contributions to egalitarian trends; 7 Fair Trade and human wellbeing; Part II: Contributions to other social sciences. 8 Religion and happiness: Perspectives from the psychology of religion, positive psychology and empirical theology9 Ethnographic insights into happiness; 10 Institutions, organizations and wellbeing; 11 Religion, family form and the question of happiness; 12 Mental health, spirituality and religion; 13 The 'one in the morning' knock: Exploring the connections between faith, participation and wellbeing; 14 Crime, wellbeing and society: R.