Spirituality in Education

The educational view emphasizes spiritual sensitivity as a universal human ability that needs to be educated. Empirical studies indicate that increasing number of people now prefer to call themselves “spiritual” rather than “religious” (Heelas & Woodhead 2005; Mikkola, Niemelä, & Petterson, 2007). Empirical studies on spirituality are reviewed and discussed. A special emphasis is given to the Finnish research findings related to spirituality of a new generation or young adults. It is argued that understanding spirituality as expression of post secular religiosity gives more room for young adults to participate in communicative action concerning religion. This would promote discursive religiousness in Haberman’s spirit in which plurality of religious beliefs and practices are acknowledged and dialogical and interreligious approach advocated.