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If we don’t know what our
purpose is in spiritual education, how do we know if we are doing it
and better, doing it effectively. After some preliminary reading about
Spiritual Education, I’m a little frustrated. Maybe I’m not as bright
as I thought I was, but in many cases I didn’t understand what people
were writing about. I only have a vague clue about what spiritual
education is but none on how it is to be carried out in a school
classroom, for example.
In this article I’ll simply
offer some questions. Perhaps colleagues more experienced in spiritual
education can ask better questions and help by answering some of them.
This article is not an academic paper so I won’t be offering analysis
or references. However, perhaps the list of questions will provide
points of departure for fellow- educationists.
What is spiritual
education?
Like many other educations,
spiritual education implies that we are aiming to change people’s
behaviour. So, what do we want a person to be like after he has
completed some classes in spiritual education? Some say that spiritual
education is about helping people adopt an all-inclusive view of
religion and spirituality. However, why do we want this? What is
spirituality? Some writers give us clues as to the aims of spiritual
education: to offset the rampant brutality and devastation caused by
sectarian and religious prejudice, recognize fundamental human rights,
promote the harmony of all the world's religions, promoting mutual
trust and promoting community building.
Other purposes appear to be
nothing more that religious mumbo jumbo: “guiding mankind to the
straight Path of Truth so that they may, at the hour of death, ascend,
in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the
throne of the Most High”. And, “…ensuring human progress, and
preparing each soul for its entry into the next level of existence”. I
found one reference to spiritual education as metaphysical education –
whatever that is.
What is the difference
between spiritual education, religious education and moral education?
Much of what I’ve read
about spiritual education books to could apply titles equally to religious
education and moral education. Many book and guidance paper title run
the words together “spiritual, religious and moral education” as if
they are one and the same. However, many of those writing about or
teaching spiritual education come from a religious education
background. One could also ask what is the difference between
spirituality and religiosity? There is such an overlap that there
appears to be no need for both educations. In short do we need
spiritual education if we already have religious education and moral
education?
Spiritual
education – better than religious education?
Despite the considerable overlap between the
educations there is one significant difference some writers make for
spiritual education. They indicate that it encapsulates the good of
all religions and rejects the bad. One writer put it this way: “A
person is not spiritual because he adheres to a particular form of
worship. A pious or religious person can be ruthless, greedy,
unethical and immoral. Religious people may be self-centred pious
bigots. Being spiritual is defined as the opposite of such
characteristics: one cannot be spiritual and callous; one must be
virtuous to be spiritual. In other words, spiritual education would be
more effective a helping people behave responsibly in all instances.
However, to help people become virtuous we have to know what it is and
that leads to my last question.
How would we do spiritual
education?
What would one discuss in a
spiritual education class – the spirit, the soul, becoming one with
the earth and all living things? Would there even be any discussion
because a few writers claim that the spirit is beyond words and can’t
be expressed in words. Does this mean educands would be taught to
meditate, chant in a circle or even take certain natural plant
extracts to get in touch with the spiritual realm? Please forgive me
if I seem sarcastic – that is not the intention. I just want to
illustrate that unless those who promote spiritual education can
define clearly what they are trying to achieve and offer practical
methods for doing so, any good they hope to achieve will not
materialise.
Do we need spiritual
education?
Bearing in mind its apparent
duplication with religious and moral education, taking into account
the considerable difficulty with expressing its aims and
recognising that values education does the job of transcending
religions and cultures, it seems there is no need for spiritual
education. However, perhaps I am missing something. Have a read of the
special e-report: What is Values Education and so What? With a
deeper understanding of values education, those involved in
spiritual education will be able to compare and contrast.
Dr Bill would be delighted to talk at your next conference or event
and facilitate more discussion on what spiritual education is and its
aims. Contact him on
bill@valueseducation.co.uk
Copyright © 2008 Values Education Ltd
Note to editors. Feel free to use this article as long as the
following details are retained. “A values education article from CAVE
www.valueseducation.co.uk
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