The New SCM Dictionary of Christian Spirituality appears more than 20 years after the original SCM Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (Wakefield, 1983). This is in no sense a revision of that original, but rather a new work developed to reflect “the growth of spirituality as a major academic discipline with its own methodology”. It incorporates the current view of spirituality as embracing all aspects of life rather than being limited to the ascetic and mystical, and includes articles on aspects of material culture such as clothes and food, as well as entries for sexuality, business and sport. The contributors are numerous and include academics, staff of theological colleges and seminaries, clergy, and a number of specialists in other disciplines. They represent several nations (although the majority are American or British), and a broad range of Christian traditions from the Orthodox to the Protestant churches.
The work begins with a series of longer essays (about six or seven pages each) on the relationship between spirituality and other disciplines, such as culture, psychology, science, and history, as well as one about mysticism. These are extremely helpful in establishing the current position of spirituality, as well as providing an overview of the development of the discipline. Despite the fact that they have been contributed by several authors, the style is consistently clear and accessible, and the text is supported by excellent bibliographies.
Otherwise the dictionary is an A‐Z listing of entries averaging a page in length. The general layout and style is reminiscent of that of the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Livingstone, 1997), with a double column format. Each entry is supplemented by a good, up‐to‐date bibliography, some of which are substantial (that for Eucharistic Spirituality occupies two full columns). There has been a deliberate decision to focus on “themes, movements regions [and] periods”; consequently there are no biographical entries, nor entries for specific texts. (Material about individuals and texts can be retrieved by use of the names and titles index.) The Dictionary is, however, a very useful quick reference tool for historical aspects of spirituality, since entries dealing with regions and movements almost invariably deal with the relevant history.
I found it a little difficult to use the work with no other index or indication of content, as it is sometimes hard to predict what will be covered. There are some identifiable categories (spirituality in different countries, for example, or of particular movements), and major spiritual and theological concepts are also provided for. Other entries seem more surprising; Alcoholics Anonymous for example, and Cities and Spirituality were entries I came across serendipitously, and I doubt that otherwise I would have looked for them. The Song of Songs is the lone representative of spirituality in the Bible, although, particularly in the articles devoted to various themes (such as desire, holiness, penitence, reconciliation), reference is made to the New Testament teaching.
Overall this is a well‐produced and readable reference work for its field. The jacket description presents it as a “fundamental study tool for students and academic teachers”, and in that objective it succeeds admirably, but it should also find a place on the shelves of the general reader with an interest in Christianity. Like the great majority of SCM publications it manages to present substantial academic content in an accessible manner for the lay person.
