Theoretical Reflections on the Primordial Ethos of Spirituality Research in Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: Spirituality in Inquiry and Education: Tensions and Reflections

Abstract

With the emergence of spirituality studies within education faculties over the past thirty years, there has also emerged a methodological conundrum. Can we speak of method(s) for doing spirituality research? If so, can we speak of paradigm(s) of spiritual inquiry? Alternatively, are posing such questions resisted by the character of spirituality. Following Lin et al. spiritual research is “multi-dimensional, interconnected, and interdependent” (Lin et al., 2016). While empirical inquiry bisects phenomenon in order to investigate it, spiritual inquiry does the opposite by engaging spiritual phenomenon in the fullness of its complexity. Yet, its complexity also defies discourse of methods and paradigms; and remains a conundrum. Reflections upon such methodological problem is the intent of the paper; and theoretical in spirit.

Author

• Giovanni Rossini, University of Toronto