Spiritual Practices on College and University Campuses: Understanding the Concepts – Broadening the Context

Abstract

In examining the changing landscape of spirituality and spiritual practice on college and university campuses today, questions need to be considered about both the core concept of spirituality and the context in which spirituality relates to education. This article examines both the concept of and context for spirituality in higher education and seeks to describe the broad world of spiritual practices on today’s campuses both in terms of what people are practicing and where these practices are taking place. An example of a week of spiritual practices at Wellesley College during fall 2012 illustrates the dramatic changes that have taken place on many campuses across the country related to the diversity of spiritual practices in the lives of students, faculty, and staff. The concept of spirituality- defined as those humanistic, religious, and spiritual beliefs and practices through which a person seeks to find meaning and purpose as they deepen their understanding of self, other and world-is explored and a case made for the breadth of this definition. Issues of spirituality as a key identity-forming aspect of many students’ experiences are considered together with spiritual practice as an important factor affecting students’ social location and their communication with other students who are members of different groups. Spirituality and spiritual practice on our campuses are increasingly seen as educational issues, important to the lives and learning of our students. Spirituality broadly defined and the associated practices through which students seek meaning and purpose will continue to be woven into the fabric of an excellent, integrated educational experience in the coming decades.