Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the evolution of a variety of intelligences, from IQ to emotional and social intelligences, with an emphasis on the emergence of awareness of spiritual intelligence. While a definition of spiritual intelligence is offered, it is found to be close in description to children’s inner worlds. The author details the cost of oppressing spiritual intelligence in children and the aftereffects on adults. She also emphasizes the need for adults to be spiritual partners for the children in their lives. The illustrative stories of the Seven Branches of the Spiritual Tree of Life are taken from the author’s clinical study of children in play therapy over a period of approximately 20 years. Much of the content is cited from the author Mollie Painton’s book Encouraging Your Child’s Spiritual Intelligence.
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Painton, M. (2009). Children’s Spiritual Intelligence. In: de Souza, M., Francis, L.J., O’Higgins-Norman, J., Scott, D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_20
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