Spirituality Ethic and the Spirit of Global Capitalism? : An American Self-Help Discourse(<Special Issue>Religion and Happiness)

Abstract

According to some international scholars, spirituality has become popular in a global business context. A self-help bestseller "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is referred to as a typical example of such "workplace spirituality." This paper explores the "7 Habits" phenomena in Japan through field research, analyzing affinities between spirituality discourse and global capitalism. As a result, despite the claim of prior studies, common-sense human relationships are presented in actual business training, and spirituality discourse takes place in a very restrained manner. Communication is usually advanced in a therapeutic language rather than in a spiritual one. Today's work ethics in a global context are realized in a very delicate balance between spirituality and secularity. Harmonious relationships in "7 Habits" might partly derive from a new religious movement, but it is suggested that these are also taught in a religiously anesthesized way.