Spirituality and learning: An exploration into the understanding of spirituality in adult education

Abstract

The purpose of this basic qualitative research was to gain a deeper understanding of how spirituality informs adult learning. Using transformative and holistic learning as major theoretical frameworks, qualitative interviewing was used to identify the viewpoints of eight spiritually focused adult educators associated with the Center for Spirituality. Transcriptions of the interviews were analyzed using inductive and comparative methods to develop a series of codes and themes related to participants’ understandings of spirituality, adult learning, and how spirituality may inform or affect learning as an adult. Results of the study suggest that spirituality informs transformative learning by providing: (a) a context through which adults may understand the meaning of their learning experience, and (b) a context for the justification of deeply held understandings and beliefs—both of which inform the foundation of transformative learning: habits of mind and points of view.