Being Called - Scientific, Secular, and Sacred Perspectives (Hardcover)

This unique book is an essential resource for interdisciplinary research and scholarship on the phenomenon of feeling called to a life path or vocation at the interface of science and religion. According to Gallup polls, more than 40 percent of Americans report having had a profound religious experience or awakening that changed the direction of their life. What are the potential mental, spiritual, and even physical benefits of following the calling to take a particular path in life? This standout book addresses the full range of calling experiences, from the "A-ha!" moments of special insight, to pondering what one is meant to do in life, to intense spiritual experiences like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. Drawing upon the collective knowledge and insight of expert authors from Australia, China, Eastern Europe, Italy, the UK, and the United States, the work provides a comprehensive examination of the topic of callings suitable for collegiate students, professors, and professional scholars interested in topics at the interface of science and religion. It will also benefit general readers seeking the expertise of psychologists, neuroscientists, and theologians from various backgrounds and worldviews who explain why it is important to "do what you were meant to do." Offers religious, spiritual, scientific, and secular avenues of understanding experiences of calling Creates an opening for a new dialogue between psychology and spirituality Provides readers with sound, practical advice on how to find one's own calling or ideal direction in life in the modern world Includes contributions by well-known scholars and scientists such as Dr. Martin Seligman, who discovered learned helplessness and founded positive psychology; Dr. Andrew Newberg, who pioneered the neuroscience of spiritual experiences; and Dr. Ralph Hood, a renowned expert on mystical experiences