Perceptions of the Divine in Secular Spaces: A Study of U.S. Public-School Teachers

• In Event: Spirituality and transcendence

Abstract

In a sample of 267 self-identified Christian educators working in elementary and secondary public schools, participants shared how they believe God has influenced their daily teaching and overall careers. As part of this study, participants completed questionnaires which included several open-ended prompts, distributed through a national association of religious educators. A thematic analysis of their responses revealed seven key themes, the most common of which was the perceived impact educators have on students’ academic growth and life choices. By highlighting how many educators with religious backgrounds integrate a sense of divine presence into their professional lives, this study extended previous research into educators’ spiritual practices, faith-informed identities, and understandings of how they live out their faith in multifaceted ways.

Authors

• Nicholas C. Block, Biola University

• Dennis Eastman, Biola University