Issues in Spiritual Formation in Early Lifespan Contexts

Issues in Spiritual Formation in Early Lifespan Contexts PDF

Author: Martin Ubani

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-10-17

Total Pages: 139

ISBN-13: 1000969479

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This book focuses on the question of how different contexts are relevant in the shaping and expression of individual spirituality spanning from early childhood to young adulthood. Past decades have witnessed a strong expansion of research on spirituality and spiritual education. This expansion has proved to have many advantages in understanding the experiences, values, identities and behaviours of individuals and communities. Such research has benefitted from different research disciplines and methods, from its openness toward different faith traditions and non-religious belief systems, and from the agility in adapting to diverse and evolving contexts. These aspects are essential in producing robust and timely international knowledge on children’s spirituality and their education. This volume is one such ambitious endeavour. The chapters describe issues related to religious and spiritual development in different contexts of growth, such as school and church, and spanning from early childhood to young adulthood in Finland, UK, Turkey and Malta. In addition, the authors utilise diverse methods in their studies. Furthermore, the studies are based on conceptions of spirituality ranging from holistic spirituality and religiosity to world view based definitions. Finally, the chapters represent foundational research on spirituality, applied research on spirituality and contextualised research on spirituality – a typology suitable for assessing future studies on spirituality. Issues in Spiritual Formation in Early Lifespan Contexts will be a key resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of Religion, Religious Education, Education, Educational Research, Developmental Psychology, Research Methods, and Sociology. The chapters included in this book were originally published as a special issue of International Journal of Children's Spirituality.

Perspectives on Children’s Spirituality in Diverse and Changing Contexts

Perspectives on Children’s Spirituality in Diverse and Changing Contexts PDF

Author: John Chi-Kin Lee

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-07-19

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 104009483X

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This book offers multidisciplinary and inclusive perspectives on children and young people’s spirituality and its research in diverse socio-cultural contexts. It brings together a collection of select research articles that were published over a period of nearly two decades (2003-2021) in the International Journal of Children’s Spirituality (IJCS), to celebrate the journal’s 25th anniversary. Featuring contributions by leading international scholars from U.K., U.S., Canada, Finland, Australia, Hong Kong, and China, this edited volume focuses on different and complementary perspectives on children’s spirituality in diverse and changing contexts. Chapters cover topics such as: the study of children’s spirituality as a natural form of human awareness; a proposed pluricultural approach; the potential contributions of psychoanalytic tradition and cognitive psychology; possible influences of tradition(s), multidisciplinarity and perceptions on understanding children’s spiritual experiences; Christian perspectives on children’s spirituality in relation to living and dying in Quebec, Canada; Finnish pre‐adolescents’ perceptions of religion and spirituality; using technology, specifically tablets, as a component for understanding children’s spirituality; and cyber spirituality. This volume will be an invaluable resource for researchers and postgraduate students majoring in education studies, life, and moral and spiritual education and those majoring in psychology and religious studies.

Spiritual, Life and Values Education for Children

Spiritual, Life and Values Education for Children PDF

Author: John Chi-Kin Lee

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-07-19

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 1040095003

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This book offers various perspectives on children’s spirituality and its relation to life and values education from diverse socio-cultural and educational contexts. It brings together a collection of select research articles that were published over a period of two decades (1999–2020) in the International Journal of Children’s Spirituality (IJCS), to celebrate the journal’s 25th anniversary. Featuring contributions by leading international scholars from U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Hong Kong, China, and Australia, this volume offers a multidisciplinary snapshot of children’s spirituality and its relation to life and values education. It highlights the importance of socio-cultural and religious traditions, as well as perspectives on religious education and the spirituality of children shaped by religious, cultural and educational systems in specific societies and contexts. Chapters cover topics including the links between mirror neurons and human empathy and education; the relationship between spirituality and citizenship; the notion of inclusive spiritual education and the perspectives of spiritual education through the conceptual lens of transcendence, raised awareness and spiritualism; how outdoor play spaces can contribute to a child’s spiritual development through enriching activities; and approaches to help nurture students’ spiritual growth in their aspects of themselves (self), others, the environment, and with a Transcendent Other (transcendence). This volume will be a key resource for researchers and postgraduate students interested in understanding children’s spirituality and its implications for spiritual, life and values education.

Spirituality across Disciplines: Research and Practice:

Spirituality across Disciplines: Research and Practice: PDF

Author: Marian de Souza

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-07-06

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783319313788

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This book collects multiple disciplinary voices which explore current research and perspectives to discuss how spirituality is understood, interpreted and applied in a range of contexts. It addresses spirituality in combination with such topics as Christian mysticism, childhood and adolescent education, midwifery, and sustainability. It links spirituality to a variety of disciplines, including cognitive neuroscience, sociology, and psychology. Finally, it discusses the application of spirituality within the context of social work, teaching, health care, and occupational therapy. A final chapter provides an analytical discussion of the different voices that appear in the book and offers a holistic description of spirituality which has the potential to bring some unity to the meaning, expression and practice of spirituality across a variety of disciplines as well as across cultural, religious and secular worldviews. "A strength of the book is that each chapter is characterized by a fearless confronting of oppositional perspectives and use of the latest research in addressing them. The book takes the difficult topic of spirituality into almost every nook and cranny of personal and professional life. There is a persistent grasping of the contentiousness of the topic, together with addressing counter positions and utilizing updated research across a range of fields in doing this. The opening and closing chapters serve as book ends that keep the whole volume together."Terence Lovat, The University of Newcastle, Australia "The interdisciplinary nature of the work is by far the strongest aspect of this volume. It has the potential to contribute to a dialogue between different professions and disciplines. This prospective publication promises to promote a more holistic approach to the study of spirituality. This volume takes into consideration a wide variety of issues. The way the editors have structured the sequence of chapters contributes to facilitate any possible dialogue between the different areas."Adrian-Mario Gellel, University of Malta, Malta

Understanding Children's Spirituality

Understanding Children's Spirituality PDF

Author: Kevin E. Lawson

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2012-03-22

Total Pages: 454

ISBN-13: 1621893685

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How important is childhood in the spiritual formation of a person? How do children experience God in the context of their lives as they grow? What does God do in the lives of children to draw them to himself and help them grow into a vital relationship with him? How can adults who care about children better support their spiritual growth and direct it toward relationship with God through Jesus Christ? These are critical questions that church leaders face as they consider how best to nurture the faith of the children God brings into our lives. In this book, over two dozen Christian scholars and ministry leaders explore important issues about the spiritual life of children and ways parents, church leaders, and others who care about children can promote their spiritual formation.

The Science of Children's Religious and Spiritual Development

The Science of Children's Religious and Spiritual Development PDF

Author: Annette Mahoney

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2021-08-26

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13: 1108858023

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This Element provides a comprehensive yet concise account of scientific research on children's religious and spiritual (RS) development. After providing a historical sketch of definitional issues in the science of RS, the first section reviews basic descriptive information on children's RS development as well as wholistic theoretical models and measures of children's RS development. The second section covers evidence about links of child and parental RS to children's psychosocial adjustment, and highlights the need for more research that discriminates specific positive and negative manifestations of RS for children's development. The third section summarizes evidence about the robust influence of parents on their children's RS development and parents' perceptions of their role in this process. The fourth section focuses on cognitive-developmental research on children's cognitions about God/deities and prayer. The Element concludes with a synopsis of key themes and challenges that researchers face to advance the science of children's RS development.

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions PDF

Author: George Barna

Publisher: Gospel Light Publications

Published: 2003-11-21

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9780830732937

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No one can deny that our culture is opposed to Christian values, and the influences bombarding our children’s moral development can be deadly. But few parents and church leaders realize how critical it is to start developing a child’s biblical worldview from the very earliest years of life. The problem is complex: parents who themselves did not receive early spiritual training leave their children’s training to the church. Yet the church often focuses on older children—not realizing that a child’s moral development is set by the age of nine. The answer is for churches to recognize the need to come alongside parents to provide them biblical worldview training, parenting information, counseling, etc., that will equip them to help their children become the spiritually matuare Church of tomorrow. Profiles presented of churches who are effectively ministering to children and winning the war our enemy is waging against them\. Research orientated books on childhood spiritual development. Raising Heaven Bound Kids in a Hell Bent World by Eastman Curtis / What Your Kids Need to Know About God and When by John Trent / Introducing the Spiritual Side of Parenting by Ron Clarkson / Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson.

The Routledge International Handbook of Spirituality in Society and the Professions

The Routledge International Handbook of Spirituality in Society and the Professions PDF

Author: Laszlo Zsolnai

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-03-15

Total Pages: 734

ISBN-13: 1315445468

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Increasingly, it is being recognized that spirituality, defined here as "a multiform search for a transcendent meaning of life that connects them to all living beings and brings them in touch with God or ‘Ultimate Reality,’" is an aspect of almost every sphere and aspect of social life. It appears in humanity’s dealings with nature, home and community, healing, economics and business, knowledge, and education. The Routledge International Handbook of Spirituality in Society and the Professions is a stimulating collection that summarizes the most important issues, frameworks, discussions, and problems relating to spiritually inspired activities in different fields of social life. The contributors explore how spirituality is a part of existence and present approaches and models for professionals working in diverse areas. Presented in seven parts, the book provides a full overview of current research and practice. Part II, "Facets of spirituality," explores topics including philosophy, psychology, theology, and culture. Part III, "Nature," looks at ecology, agriculture, cities, and tourism. Part IV, "Home and community," presents chapters on various life stages, disability, gender, and culture. Part V, "Healing," examines medicine, mental and physical health, and ill-health. In Part VI, "Economy, politics, and law," contributors discuss business, leadership and the workplace, peace, and policing. Part VII, "Knowledge and education," includes chapters on science, design, fashion, literature, and the arts. In the final part, "Way forward," the editors look to the future with a chapter on inter-spirituality and the renewal of social practices. Driven by contemporary research and new developments, this Handbook is an innovative and interdisciplinary collection that provides an essential overview of contemporary spirituality and society from an international selection of contributors. The Routledge International Handbook of Spirituality in Society and the Professions offers accessible, diverse, and engaging international research, and its scope will appeal to academics and students of a wide range of subjects, including aging and addiction, psychology, theology, religious studies, sociology, business studies, and philosophy. It will also be an important work for professionals in medical and social services, the clergy, education, business, the arts, religious communities, and politics, and members of organizations looking at the links between spirituality, religion, and society.