Divine Hunger

Book Review

Emberly, Peter C.  Divine Hunger.  Canadians on spiritual walkabout.  Harper Collins Pub.  2002.

P.E.- professor of political science and philosophy at Carlton University.

Comment. Henry.

Peter has focused on the ‘boomer generation’ of Canadians and done an evaluation of their spiritual interests based on 350 interviews and many exposures to experiences related to specific spiritual interest groups.  Based on this research he maintains that there is indeed a “Divine Hunger” demonstrated by the boomer generation.  This resource would be relevant for leaders of any religious (spiritual) groups.  Peter includes many different religious ‘persuasions’ in his research.  The validity of his conclusions must be tempered by the extent of his research (only 350 interviews).  

Note:  A good compendium to this resource would be a more recent book (E-book) by Reginald Bibby, “A New Day”, Project Books .com.  2012.

Peter begins with a comparison of faith and modernity as he seeks to answer the question, “Why is there a renewed interest in the sacred?” (15)  He focuses on baby boomers.  They “may be leading the rush for overcoming modernity”. (16)

There are elements of traditionalism that some boomers are attracted to.  Specifically, Peter gives ‘Promise Keepers, Billy Graham crusade, and Airport Vineyard’ as examples.  From this group he goes on to First Nation spirituality, Mormonism, traditional Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy and their attractions for boomers.  “Traditionalism is guilty of taking us nowhere.” (95)  Peter gets into all the ‘faiths’ that he is aware of in Canada and explains how they are attracting boomers. 

Peter gets into something he calls “Fusion Faith”.  “Fusion faith is a medley of traditions, forms of worship, devotional practices, spiritual experiences, and religious beliefs.  It takes the best from each tradition and blends all these prime ingredients into a new concoction.” (195)  (Sounds like New Age.)  Almost as an afterthought or perhaps his own preference, Peter spends some time talking about the attraction of Eastern religion.

By way of conclusions, Peter is optimistic about “divine hunger” in Canadian baby boomers and their new experiences.  They give pause to a ringing endorsement of modernity.  “The spiritual searches of baby boomers restore an insight previously submerged under modernity’s indefatigable optimism”.

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