Dying to Self and Detachment

Exploring the religious category of dying to self, this book aims to resolve contemporary issues that relate to detachment. Beginning with an examination of humility in its general notion and as a religious virtue that detachment presupposes, Kellenberger draws on a range of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary sources that address the main characteristics of detachment, including the work of Meister Eckhart, St. Teresa, and Simone Weil, as well as writers as varied as Gregory of Nyssa, Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, Søren Kierkegaard, Andrew Newberg, John Hick and Keiji Nishitani. Kellenberger explores the key issues that arise for detachment, including the place of the individual's will in detachment, the relationship of detachment to desire, to attachment to persons, and to self-love and self-respect, and issues of contemporary secular detachment such as inducement via chemicals. This book heeds the relevance of the religious virtue of detachment for those living in the twenty-first century.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface; Introduction; Humility; Religious humility; Detachment; Will and self-will; Stress and various attachments; Desire; Stimuli; Simulacra; Peace and joy; Morality, religion, and spirituality; Self-respect and self-love; Contemporary detachment; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
James Kellenberger has published several books in Religion/Philosophy of Religion addressing concerns with religious knowledge and religious plurality, as well as many articles on these and related religious subjects. From 1967 to 2008 he taught Philosophy at California State University, Northridge. In 2008 he became emeritus. His current concern with religious detachment goes beyond but also grows out of these previous concerns.

Review :
It is easy to forget the "people" element in challenging times with sights focused solely on hitting targets. Yet a sound employee engagement strategy enables an organisation to retain its top talent and reap the benefits of a loyal workforce committed to the future success of the business. The Culture Builders is a practical guide to support you to achieve these aims, and is written with clear passion, sharing many inspiring examples of best practice.'David Williams, CEO Impact International, (A Sunday Times Best Small Company to Work For since 2005) 'Jane brings her considerable knowledge of what motivates and engages people into this book. It just oozes with story after story of her and others' practical experiences to be a "must read" for any manager serious about this topic.'Russell Grossman, Director of Communications, Department of Business, Skills and Innovation, UK'A great insight into experiential leadership rather than management theory. One to share.'Sue O'Brien, CEO, Norman Broadbent'The Culture Builders is packed with inspirational stories and practical, hands-on advice to help business leaders and managers deliver performance through people. No high-performing leader can afford to miss it.;Sherri Nadeau, SVP, Human Resources & Administration UberMedia'The Culture Builders is a great place to go whenever you face a challenge getting partners, clients or employees engaged in supporting strategic objectives. This book offers a wealth of ideas about the communication styles, and associated practical steps, that can help you bring about positive change in individuals, teams and whole organisations.'Ezri Carlebach FRSA, Deputy Director of Communication and External Affairs, University of the Arts London, UK'Jane Sparrow has been lucky enough to work with and for some outstanding leaders. She brings this experience, together with her wider research, in to a readable and compelling narrative that simply expands the theory and case for employee engagement into how managers and leaders need to show up in their organisations and engage their people as "investors" rather "savers". Contemporary examples and stories, and the all-important how-to guides, provide the reader with samples of best practice along with advice about how to implement what she characterises as the five roles of manager as engager.This should be essential reading for anyone embarking on their first supervisory role right through to organisational leadership.'Simon Hardaker, Director Group Employee Communications, GKN plc.'This is a fresh new voice in leadership strategy, and one that takes a deeper dive into the world of empowering people than most. Jane delivers this through an engaging combination of practical examples gained from her wide corporate career and meaningful insights that immediately resonate with the reader. The result is a wise, impactful and passionate analysis of how best to achieve shared ownership and growth within your teams.'Lesley Morgan, Group IT Director, Hachette UK'First: I am biased. Having worked with Jane and seen her skills, talents and extraordinary energy as consultant and client I can't but help say what you get from her is an unbeatable mix. You get deep insight mixed with simplicity of action which we need in a complex world; you get energy mixed with humility that is so critical today in business where "top down" doesn't work; and you get skills and tools you can use for life - inside and outside of work. She has poured all of this into this book. In short. If you get just one thing from this book which you can use for the rest of your life then the ROI will be 1000%. I guarantee you will double or treble that return.'Kevin Thomson: Author of Emotional Capital, The Company Culture Cookbook, The Employee Revolution'...A fascinating mix of powerful stories, compelling data and practical guidance.'Amanda Davies, HR Director - Mars Chocolate UK'As managers we often place the softer sk 'I welcomed the serious consideration given to the reality that some people negate or have an undeveloped self… I found Kellenberger’s study inspiring… offer[s] plenty to think through as we grapple with both the ideal and everyday reality.' Church Times `This is an elegant and sophisticated exploration of what is involved in the religious demand that we die to self and what might be implied by the related virtue of detachment.’ Journal of Theological Studies