Abstract:
This article reflects on possibilities for religious contributions to and engagement with gerontology. First, the article outlines some of the factors leading to gerontology’s emergence as a distinct discipline. Second, it traces the increasing pursuit of ‘successful’ or ‘positive’ ageing in gerontology, focusing on the work of John W. Rowe and Robert Kahn. Third, the article suggests how this pursuit has influenced religious scholars and practitioners aiming to contribute to scholarship on ageing. In particular this section focuses on recent research in the area of ageing and spirituality, and on how scholars working in this area have sought to promote spirituality as supporting and enhancing possibilities for success in ageing. Finally, drawing on Charles Taylor, the article concludes by suggesting some limits of the successful ageing paradigm and ageing and spirituality research, thereby opening a space for more robustly religious engagements with gerontology.
