In Mystical Society Philip Wexler, a well-known critical theorist with a background in social psychology and a special interest in spirituality, examines the revitalization of spirituality manifesting itself in society and in education. Describing what he calls "cultural changes toward the sacred," he documents a cultural shift, brought about by technological and societal changes, toward a new mysticism. Wexler explores the meaning for this new spirituality for our daily lives, for social theory, and for education. From the pervasiveness of a spiritual vernacular to the integration of...

At the end of the twentieth century the United States, is left with a school system widely believed to be in decline. In Holy Sparks, Philip Wexler likens American schools to the broken vessels of the Old Testament, but sees in this decline sparks of divine inspiration. Drawing broadly on cultural criticism, social theory and religious tradition, Wexler discerns a spiritual reawakening that pervades all of late twentieth-century culture. He insists that only by paying attention to the 'holy sparks' that still exist in our children and in our schools will we ever be able to revive our...