By Roland Howard
HarperCollins (hb). 277 pages. £14.99
ISBN 0 00 628173 7
A spiritual remedy for shopaholics? No. This is journalist Roland Howard's sceptical search for value in Britain's spiritual marketplace.
In search of integrity and meaning, the author has visited cults, covens, communities and congregations. He has spoken to spiritual leaders, attended conferences and danced with Hare Krishnas. He has discovered the spiritual preferences of men (UFOs and science) and of women, experiences of the 'touchy, feely' variety. This is a hard-hitting, disturbing book. A challenge to the anthropology, sociology, psychology or theology student. A provoking read for the person in the pew - as long as it's not at bedtime! We would all benefit from an honest perusal of the last chapter, Spirituality For Cynics? And the outcome? Well, the author is still waiting to be convinced of what he can believe. Was there anything out there?
