The Blackwell Companion to Christian Spirituality offers a comprehensive introduction to
Christian spirituality, which has in recent years emerged as a distinct academic discipline
in universities, colleges, and theological schools throughout the English-speaking
world. The Companion is intended to be thoroughly interdisciplinary, broadly ecumenical,
and representative of the most significant recent developments in the field. Without
attempting to impose a single definition of Christian spirituality upon the contributors,
as editor I have invited them to reflect on “the lived experience of Christian faith and
discipleship.” The six parts of the volume deal with approaches to the study of
Christian spirituality, biblical foundations, historical developments, theological perspectives,
interdisciplinary dialogue partners, and selected special topics in contemporary
Christian spirituality. My hope is that The Blackwell Companion to Christian
Spirituality will be of use to scholars in the field and in other related disciplines, to
undergraduate and graduate students in theology and religious studies who desire a
more accessible entry point to Christianity than might be provided by books dealing
solely with doctrinal issues or institutional developments, and to Christians of all
denominations and traditions who desire to learn more about the practice of their faith.