Paul Heelas

Who is Paul Heelas?

Paul Lauchlan Faux Heelas is a British sociologist and anthropologist. He is noted for work in the field of spirituality, religion and modernity, with special reference to 'New Age' spiritualities of life. Recent publications and current research explore 'the sacred' and 'the secular'; transgressions of the secular; 'life force', CAM, and 'spiritual humanism'.

Heelas was educated at St Catherine's College, Oxford and Exeter College, Oxford.

Heelas has served as Professor in Religion and Modernity, Department of Religious Studies, Lancaster University, and as Senior Research Professor in the Sociology of Contemporary Spirituality, Department of Sociology, CROCUS research group, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Heelas has spent over three years devoted to intensive field research: Nepal, London, Brazil, India, Pakistan. He has lived for over six years in Nepal, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Uganda,and Pakistan.