Abstract
The growing interest in workplace spirituality (WS hereafter) is both beneficial and disquieting from a Christian perspective. It is beneficial because it counters the naturalistic self-interested worldview that often governs organizations. Additionally, it provides a bulwark against much of the meaninglessness that is prevalent in modern workplaces. It is also troubling because “spirituality” has become such an amorphous word that practically anything goes. Unfortunately, much of what is written and practiced in this area may have limited association with Christian truth. Accordingly, this chapter provides a critical review of contemporary understandings of WS, both secular and Christian, and offers a constructive advancement from a Christian pneumatikos (i.e., “spiritual”) perspective.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References
Ashar H, Lane-Mahar M (2004) Success and spirituality in the new business paradigm. J Manag Inq 13(3):249–260
Ashmos DP, Duchon D (2000) Spirituality at work: a conceptualization and measure. J Manag Inq 9(2):134–145
Beekun RI, Badawi JA (2005) Balancing ethical responsibility among multiple organizational stakeholders: the Islamic perspective. J Bus Ethics 60(2):131–145
Bell E, Taylor S (2003) The elevation of work: pastoral power and the new age work ethic. Organization 10(2):329–349
Brown RB (2003) Organizational spirituality: the sceptic’s version. Organization 10(2):393–400
Carson DA (1994) When is spirituality spiritual? Reflections on some problems of defintions. J Evangelical Theological Society 37(3):381–394
Cash KC, Gray GR (2000) A framework for accommodating religion and spirituality in the workplace. Acad Manag Exec 14(3):124–134
Claeson BS (2015) Our voices, our safety: Bangladeshi garment workers speak out. International Labor Rights Forum, Washington, DC
Collins KJ (1996) What is spirituality? Historical and methodological considerations. Wesley Theol J 31(1):1–18
Collins D (2010) Designing ethical organizations for spiritual growth and superior performance: an organization systems approach. J Manag Spiritual Relig 7(2):95–117
Colwell RK, Kiesling C, Montgomery MJ, Sorell GT (2006) Identity & spirituality: a psychosocial exploration of the sense of spiritual self. Dev Psychol 42(6):1269–1277
Cosden D (2005) Theology of work: work & the new creation. Eugene, Wipf & Stock
Duchon D, Plowman DA (2005) Nurturing the spirit at work: impact on work unit performance. Leadersh Q 16(5):807–833
Dyck B, Wong K (2010) Corporate spiritual disciplines and the quest for organizational virtue. J Manag Spiritual Relig 7(1):7–29
Dyson J, Cobb M, Forman D (1997) The meaning of spirituality: a literature review. J Adv Nurs 26(6):1183–1188
Emmons RA (1999) The psychology of ultimate concerns: motivation & spirituality in personality. The Guilford Press, New York
Fee GD (1994) God’s empowering presence. Hendrickson, Peabody
Flett EG (2005) Priests of creation, mediators of order: the human person as a cultural being in Thomas F. Torrance’s theological anthropology. Scott J Theol 58(2):161–183
Giacalone RA, Jurkiewicz CL (2003) Toward a science of workplace spirituality. In: Giacalone RA, Jurkiewicz CL (eds) Handbook of workplace spirituality. M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, pp 3–28
Gladwin TN, Kennelly JJ, Krause T-S (1995) Shifting paradigms for sustainable development: implications for management theory and research. Acad Manag Rev 20(4):874–907
Gould SJ (2006) Cooptation through conflation: spiritual materialism is not the same as spirituality. Consum Mark Cult 9(1):63–78
Houghton JD, Neck CP, Krishnakumar S (2016) The what, why, and how of spirituality in the workplace revisited: A 14-year update and extension. J Manag Spiritual Relig 13(3):177–205
Howell A (2005) Value authenticity: unfolding Spirit in the workplace. J Manag Spiritual Relig 2(2):275–289
Jensen DH (2006) Responsive labor. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville
Karakas F (2010) Spirituality and performance in organizations: a literature review. J Bus Ethics 94(1):89–106
Kolodinsky RW, Giacalone RA, Jurkiewicz CL (2008) Workplace values and outcomes: exploring personal, organizational and interactive workplace spirituality. J Bus Ethics 81(2):465–480
Krishnakumar S, Neck CP (2002) The “what”, “why” and “how” of spirituality in the workplace. J Manag Psychol 17(3):153–164
Larive A (2004) After Sunday: a theology of work. Continuum, New York
Lips-Wiersma M (2002) Analysing the career concerns of spiritually oriented people: lessons for contemporary organizations. Career Dev Int 7(7):385–397
Lips-Wiersma M, Morris L (2009) Discrimination between ‘meaningful work’ and the ‘management of meaning’. J Bus Ethics 88(3):491–511
Marschke E, Preziosi R, Harrington WJ (2011) How sales personnel view the relationship between job satisfaction and spirituality in the workplace. J Org Cult Commun Confl 15(2):71–110
May DR, Gilson RL, Harter L (2004) The psychological conditions of meaningfulness: safety and availability and the engagement of the human spirit at work. J Occup Organ Psychol 77:11–37
Milliman JF, Ferguson J, Trickett D, Condemi B (1999) Spirit and community at Southwest Airlines: an investigation of a spiritual values approach. J Organ Chang Manag 12(3):221–233
Moltmann J (1984) On human dignity. Fortress Press, Philadelphia
Moltmann J (1997) The source of life. Augsburg Press, Minneapolis
Moltmann J (2001) The Spirit of life: a universal affirmation. Fortress Press, Minneapolis
Myers VL (ed) (2014) Conversations about calling. Advancing management perspectives. Routledge, New York
Neck CP, Milliman JF (1994) Thought self-leadership: finding spiritual fulfillment in organizational life. J Manag Psychol 9(6):9–17
Nur YA, Organ DW (2006) Selected organizational outcome correlates of spirituality in the workplace. Psychol Rep 98(1):111–120
Paul J, Pope II (1981) Laborem exercens. Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paulii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens.html
Pawar BS (2009) Workplace spirituality facilitation: a comprehensive model. J Bus Ethics 90(3):375–386
Petchsawang P, McLean GN (2017) Workplace spirituality, mindfulness meditation, and work engagement. J Manag Spiritual Relig 14(3):216–244
Possumah BT, Ismail AG, Shahimi S (2013) Bringing work back in Islamic ethics. J Bus Ethics 112(2):257–270
Richardson C, Sinha L, Yaapar MS (2014) Work ethics from the Islamic and Hindu traditions: in quest of common ground. J Manag Spiritual Relig 11(1):65–90
Roof RA (2015) The association of individual spirituality on employee engagement: the spirit at work. J Bus Ethics 130(3):585–599
Schmemann A (1973) For the life of the world: sacraments and orthodoxy. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood
Schmidt-Wilk J, Heaton DP, Steingard D (2016) Higher education for higher consciousness: Maharishi University of Management as a model for spirituality in management education. J Manag Education 24(5):580–611
Sheep ML (2006) Nurturing the whole person: the ethics of workplace spirituality in a society of organizations. J Bus Ethics 66(4):357–375
Stevens RP (1999) The other six days: vocation, work, and ministry in biblical perspective. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids
Torrance TF (1984) Transformation & convergence in the frame of knowledge: explorations in the interrealations of scientific and theological enterprise. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids
Veith G (2002) God at work: your Christian vocation in all of life. Crossway, Wheaton
Volf M (2001) Work in the Spirit: toward a theology of work. Oxford University Press, London
Weber M (1905/1976) The protestant ethic & the spirit of capitalism. George Allen & Unwin, London
Witherington B (2011) Work: a kingdom perspective on labor. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
McGhee, P. (2018). What Can the Spirit Teach Us About Workplace Spirituality. In: Dhiman, S., Roberts, G., Crossman, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Fulfillment. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61929-3_39-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61929-3_39-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61929-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61929-3
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities