Abstract
The role of spirituality in human life has continued to receive much attention as attested to by the number of disciplines represented in this book. However, more consideration needs to be given to the impact of the dark side of spirituality in the lives of individuals and communities especially in a world characterized by issues related to globalization, materialism and religious and cultural diversity. Nurturing spirituality may be one way of promoting individual and communal wellbeing and social cohesion through self-knowledge and awareness of others. This chapter, then, serves as the introduction to the topic upon which this book is based: spirituality across disciplines. It examines the notion of spirituality as it is being used in todays’ world across a variety of disciplines. It notes that, in general, researchers tend to avoid offering a definition of the term so that some levels of ambiguity surround the concept. This, in turn, has the potential to reduce the impact of research and application and creates problems of authenticity for the discipline. Therefore, this chapter offers a rationale for investigating the concept of spirituality as it is being understood and applied across a range of disciplines to bring some clarity to various understandings so that current research studies will be better able to inform future research and practice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
I have discussed this in more detail elsewhere, for instance, de Souza, M. (2012). Inside Out: Exploring an Interspiritual Approach to Learning about Different Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and Practices. In Pluralist Communities. In J. L. Hochheimer & J. Fernandes (Eds). Spirituality: Conversations for the 21st Century, 67-83. Oxfordshire, UK: Interdisciplinary Press; and in my recent book, de Souza 2016. Spirituality and education in a global, pluralized world. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
- 2.
Other is used to personify the collective Other in the human and non-human world.
References
de Souza, M. (2003). Contemporary influences on the spirituality of young people: Implications for education. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 18(3), 269–279.
de Souza, M. (2004). Teaching for effective learning in religious education: A discussion of the perceiving, thinking, feeling and intuiting elements in the learning process. Journal of Religious Education, 52(3), 22–30.
de Souza, M. (2005). Engaging the mind, heart and soul of the student in religious education: Teaching for meaning and connection. Journal of Religious Education, 53(4), 40–47.
de Souza, M. (2006). Rediscovering the spiritual dimension in education: Promoting a sense of self and place, meaning and purpose in learning. In M. de Souza, K. Engebretson, G. Durka, R. Jackson, & A. McGrady (Eds.), International handbook of the religious, moral and spiritual dimensions of education (pp. 1127–1140). Dordrecht: Springer Academic Publishers.
de Souza, M. (2009). Promoting wholeness and wellbeing in education: Exploring aspects of the spiritual dimension. In M. de Souza, L. Francis, J. O’Higgins-Norman, & D. Scott (Eds.), International handbook of education for spirituality, care and wellbeing (pp. 677–692). Dordrecht: Springer Academic Publishers.
de Souza, M. (2012). Connectedness and connectedness. The dark side of spirituality: Implications for education. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 17(3), 291–304.
de Souza, M. (2014a). Religious identity and plurality in Australia: Inclusions, exclusions and tensions. Journal for the Study of Religion, South Africa, 27(1), 210–233.
de Souza, M. (2014b). The empathetic mind: The essence of human spirituality. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 19(1), 45–54.
de Souza, M. (2016). Spirituality and education in a global, pluralized world. Abingdon: Routledge.
de Souza, M., Cartwright, P., & McGilp, E. J. (2004). The perceptions of young people who live in a regional city in Australia of their spiritual wellbeing: Implications for education. Journal of Youth Studies, 7(2), 155–172.
Helms, J. E. (1993). Cultural racism: Conceptualization. American Psychology Association Division 38. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://www.health-psych.org/Cultural.cfm
Roy, O. (2004). Globalised Islam. The search for a new ummah. London: Hurst & Company.
Wilson, T. (2002). Strangers to ourselves: Discovering the adaptive unconscious. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
de Souza, M. (2016). Contemporary Spirituality: An Introduction to Understandings in Research and Practice. In: de Souza, M., Bone, J., Watson, J. (eds) Spirituality across Disciplines: Research and Practice:. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31380-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31380-1_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31378-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31380-1
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)