The Case for Animal Spirituality-Part 2. (20th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cunningham, Paul
• Is Part Of: Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture. Volume 16:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 18802
• Page End: 18802
• Publication Date: 2022-07-20
• Subjects: Human ecology -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; 201.7705
• DOI: 10.1558/jsrnc.18802
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-4907

Abstract

Abstract : This is the second part of a two-part article presenting the theoretical and empirical case for nonhuman animal (hereafter, 'animal') spirituality. Part 1 discussed the relevance of evolutionary theory and species differences for understanding animals' capacity to have spiritual experience, conceptual issues related to defining animal spirituality, and methodological considerations regarding analogical reasoning and animal-centered anthropomorphism as heuristic strategies in the study of animal spirituality. Issues related to the question of animal consciousness and the use of evolutionary panentheism as a philosophical/theological frame for theorizing about animal spirituality were discussed. Part 2 examines six biopsychosocial capabilities of animals that are building blocks of human spirituality—cognition, imagination, emotion, moral sense, personality, and value-life (Maslow's phrase)—and proposes an ontic pluralism of animal spiritualities. Part 2 concludes with a discussion of the wideranging implications for human society of consciously accepting the possibility of animal spirituality and capacity to have spiritual experience.