Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil. (Religion Studies (New Testament))
The concept of personal growth and development is a rapid growing topic, with various
methodology and strategies, better known as self-help or self-improvement concepts, being
advocated, envisioning the self-improvement of the person. The market for self-improvement
products is one of the fastest growing fields. The concept of personal growth and development
is however also found within the Christian tradition; with religious authors embracing religious
themes publishing most of the self-help literature.
Spirituality regularly features as an integral aspect of personal growth and development and
spiritual and religious self-help books appear to be selling better than any other topic and are
increasing in popularity. Spiritual and religious self-help books are not limited to the Christian
tradition and the growing personal, economic and social challenges resulted in an increasing
interest in alternative non-Christian spirituality, especially eastern topics or so-called New Age
literature with an accompanied growing interest in spirituality in the secular sphere.
While spirituality is a common denomination in self-help literature pertaining to personal
growth and development, there are fundamental differences in the interpretation thereof. In
contemporary Western culture, there is a growing tendency to interpret spirituality as some
"individual self-realisation or some kind of inwardness." There is also a proclivity to define
spirituality in terms of lifestyle and an emphasis on fitness, healthy living and holistic wellbeing.
Spirituality nevertheless encounters a more defined content within Christianity and
Christianity can historically claim intellectual property to the word "spirituality." Spirituality
began its semantic journey in the New Testament itself, where the apostle Paul used
pneumatikoi (literally, spiritual person) to describe people who keep in step with the pneuma
(Spirit) of God.
Paul is considered to be the first and greatest Christian who articulated his faith in writing with
his letters, which comprises basically half of the New Testament, thus being eminent in
creating and defining Christian theology. In analysing Paul's theology in order to discourse
spirituality, it should however be noted that scholars generally agree that his theology did not
differ from the historical Jesus.