Some of the big names in the field of spirituality have written articles for this reference book on Christian spirituality. The dictionary starts off with an introduction followed by essays from various scholars on Christian spirituality, contemporary spirituality, interpretation, mysticism, spirituality and psychology, spirituality and history, spirituality and liturgy and worship, spirituality and social science, spirituality and scripture, and spirituality and theology. There are 200 completely new entries slotted into the A-to-Z format. This dictionary replaces the 1983 edition.

The list of contributors is a “who’s who” in the field of Christian spirituality, scholars from various continents and denominations, including Bernard McGinn, Michael Casey, Luke Dysinger, Benedicta Ward, Andrew Louth, Dermot Lane, Terrence Kardong, Douglas Burton-Christie, and many others.

The entries vary in length; each includes a bibliography, and some have see-also references. There is an index of names and titles. The entries and essays are academic and well-written. The entries include Benedictine spirituality, Anglican spirituality, Black spirituality, Hesychasm, New Age, North American spirituality, Resurrection, Sports and spirituality, and many others.

This dictionary belongs in seminary, retreat house, academic, public libraries and in personal collections on spirituality. This book’s greatness reflects those who have written the entries and essays. The editor, Philip Sheldrake, is the William Leech Professor of Applied Theology at the University of Durham, his expertise includes besides Christian Spirituality Practical Theology and Medieval Church History. He has also written Spaces for the Sacred: Place, Memory, and Identity (2001), Befriending Our Desires (2001) and Love Took My Hand: the Spirituality of George Herbert (2000. He has also co-edited several books on different Christian spiritualities such as Byzantine spirituality.