From the Trees to the Wood: Alternative Spirituality as an Emergent ‘Official Religion’?

Abstract In this introductory study, we place the articles collected in special issue on ‘spirituality’ a more general context. so doing, contest idea that alternative spirituality is best studied within conceptual framework of ‘vernacular.’ We argue such an approach tends to unintentionally overstate empirical particularities and overlook broader aspects subject question, which results unreflexively accepting spirituality’s own claim it ‘doctrine-free’ ‘non-institutional’ by nature. Contrary claim, show (a) pregnant with distinguishable doctrine despite being glocal inventive; (b) profoundly social effectively socialized; (c) about be visibly socially organized institutionalized; (d) way addressing redressing key existential issues human life, just as any other religion.