The Delight Makers

Name: The Delight Makers
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SKU: 9780226823546
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Anglo-American Metaphysical Religion and the Pursuit of Happiness

By Catherine L. Albanese

Summary

The Delight Makers by Catherine L. Albanese offers an ambitious history of desire within American religion spanning over three centuries. The book explores a theology of desire linking figures from Jonathan Edwards to Ralph Waldo Emerson and contemporary spiritual seekers. Unlike traditions focusing on redemptive suffering, this perspective emphasises a metaphysical connection between natural beauty and spiritual fulfilment, portraying an expansive God dedicated to human prosperity, health, and freedom. Albanese examines diverse thinkers such as Cotton Mather, Andrew Jackson Davis, William James, and Esther Hicks to reveal how this theology of delight developed alongside American ideals of natural law and individual liberty.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$56⁹⁹

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The Delight Makers

$56⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is suited for readers interested in American religion, spirituality, theology, and cultural history, as well as those curious about the intersections of desire, happiness, and faith traditions.

Description

An ambitious history of desire in American religion across over three centuries.

The pursuit of happiness weaves disparate strands of American religious history together. In The Delight Makers, Catherine L. Albanese unravels a theology of desire tying Jonathan Edwards to Ralph Waldo Emerson to the religiously unaffiliated today.

As others emphasize redemptive suffering, this tradition stresses the “metaphysical” connection between natural beauty and spiritual fulfilment. In the earth’s abundance, these thinkers see an expansive God intent on fulfilling human desire through prosperity, health, and sexual freedom.

Through careful readings of Cotton Mather, Andrew Jackson Davis, William James, Esther Hicks, and more, Albanese reveals how a theology of delight evolved alongside political overtures to natural law and individual liberty in the United States.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Choice praises Albanese's scholarly precision and respect, noting the book's timeliness and appeal beyond academia in an era of renewed interest in pleasure. Nova Religio finds the engaging chapter arrangement, graceful writing, and solid research stimulating for reflective discussion and debate. Readers both supportive and sceptical of her thesis will find the work thought-provoking.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226823546

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 January 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Edition: 1

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 513g

Pages: 384

Collections

Catherine L. Albanese Non-Fiction Religion & Spirituality

About the Author

Catherine L. Albanese is J. F. Rowny Distinguished Professor Emerita in Comparative Religions at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of numerous books, including A Republic of Mind and Spirit: A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion.