magazinelogo

The Educational Review, USA

ISSN Print: 2575-7938 Downloads: 445138 Total View: 4791746
Frequency: monthly ISSN Online: 2575-7946 CODEN: TERUBB
Email: edu@hillpublisher.com
Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2022.10.014

A Call for Spirituality in Academia

Dirk C. Gootjes Kasel

Woosong University, Woosong Gwan (W7) #316, 171 Dongdaejeon-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon-si, South Korea.

*Corresponding author: Dirk C. Gootjes Kasel

Published: November 21,2022

Abstract

This position paper provides a general overview of Spirituality in Academia by developing the following themes: a) outlining the distinctions between spirituality and religion, highlighting that these terms are different constructs, being neither synonymous nor coterminous, but not excluding a broad and strict definition of Spirituality (Griffin, 1988) that can mitigate their antipodal nature, allowing the individual the freedom to forge her own notion of spirituality; b) describing spirituality in academia based on Astin’s (2004) carefully worded definition; c) exploring the diametrically opposed relationship between spirituality and science that has relegated the spiritual side of teaching to an exiguous state; d) arguing why spirituality in academia is germane in the 21st century class or teaching environment thanks to popular pedagogical trends like student-centered learning, transformative learning, and online learning; e) looking at three educator perspectives toward the classroom (rentership, ownership, and stewardship) that have an effect on educator attitudes and roles in the classroom; and f) discussing what spirituality looks like in practice in the classroom. Finally, educators are called to action to embrace contemplative/mindfulness practices in their academic work in and out of the class-room for the benefit of all stakeholders in academia.

References

Abu-Febiri, F. (2011).  Inviting emotions, morals and spirit into our classrooms: A sociological perspective on the human factor model of education.  Review of Human Factor Studies, 17(1), 40-89. 

Ashmos, D. P., & Duchon, D. (2000).  Spirituality at work: A conceptualization and measure.  Journal of Management Inquiry, 9(2), 134-145. 

Astin, A. W. (2004).  Why spirituality deserves a central place in liberal education.  Spirituality Higher Education Newsletter, 1(1), 1-12. 

Beringer, A. (2000).  In search of the sacred: A conceptual analysis of spirituality.  The Journal of Experiential Education, 23(3), 157-165. 

Byrd, J. C. (2016).  Understanding the Online Learning Experience: Factors that Contribute to Students’ Sense of Community.  The Journal of Educators Online-JEO, 13(2), 102-135. 

Carrette, J., & King, R. (2005).  Selling spirituality: The silent takeover of religion.  New York: Routledge. 

Deane-Drummond, C. (2007).  Wisdom remembered;  recovering a theological vision for academe.  London Review of Education, 5(2), 173-184. 

Ecklund, E. H., & Long, E. (2011).  Scientists and spirituality.  Sociology of Religion, 72(3), 253-274. 

Eyre, R. M. (1990).  Stewardship of the heart.  Houston: Ink. 

Griffin, D. R. (1988).  Introduction: Postmodern spirituality and society.  In D. R. Griffin, (Ed.), Spirituality and society: postmodern visions (pp. 1-31).  Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. 

Hall, B. J. (2009).  Serendipity and stewardship: Teaching with spirit in the secular classroom.  New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 120, 27-45.  DOI: 10.1002/tl.375. 

Heidari, A., & Heidari M. (2020).  Spirituality in Medical Education: Formal or Hidden Curriculum?  Health Spiritual Med Ethics, 7(2), 1. 

Kvarfordt, C. L., Sheridan, M. J., & Taylor, O. (2018).  Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Curriculum: A Survey of Canadian Educators.  British Journal of Social Work, 48, 1469-1487.  DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcx069. 

Laabs, J. J. (1995).  Balancing spirituality and work.  Personnel Journal, 74(9), 60-76. 

Lindholm, J. A., Astin, H. S., & Astin, A. W. (2005).  Spirituality and the professoriate.  Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA. 

Malviya, V. (2011).  Spirituality in education for holistic development.  Review of Management, 1(1), 51-58. 

Marques, J. (2010).  Spirituality, meaning, inter-being, leadership, and empathy: SMILE.  Interbeing, 4(2), 7-17. 

Palmer, P. J. (1999).  Evoking the spirit in public education.  Educational Leadership, 56(4), 6-11. 

Robinson, K. (2010).  Changing paradigms in education.  [Webinar sponsored by the Renaissance Society of America].  Retrieved fromhttp://www.youtube .com/watch?v=brJNOKZGaLE. 

Shahjahan, R. A. (2010).  Toward a spiritual praxis: The role of spirituality among faculty of color teaching for social justice.  The Review of Higher Education, 33(4), 473-512. 

Tolliver, D. E., & Tisdell, E. J. (2006).  Engaging Spirituality in the Transformative Higher Education Classroom.  New Directions for Adult & Continuing Education, 2006(109), 37-47.  DOI: 10.1002/ace.206.

How to cite this paper

A Call for Spirituality in Academia

How to cite this paper: Dirk C. Gootjes Kasel. (2022). A Call for Spirituality in Academia. The Educational Review, USA6(10), 594-600.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2022.10.014