Interrogating our practices of integrating spirituality into workplace education

Authors: Leona M English, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada; Tara J. Fenwick, University of Alberta, Canada; Jim Parsons, University of Alberta, Canada.

Edition: Volume 45, Number 1, April 2005

Summary: Workplace education’s interest in spirituality is examined, with an emphasis placed on why this interest might be increasing and what challenges it presents. This article interrogates commonplace strategies to integrate spirituality in workplace education, – providing holistic education, creating sacred spaces and mentoring – questions each approach and suggests ways that they might be integrated in an authentic manner into the workplace. The authors then examine how educators might interrogate their teaching practices by inquiring into their own motivations, ethics and values. An attempt is made to stem the flood of spirituality in workplace education by asking: For what purpose is spirituality being promoted in this workplace? And in whose interests?

Keywords: workplace education, spirituality, holistic, sacred, mentor

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