Spiritual Development Research Articles

English-Language Education at the Faculty of Theology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University

Abstract: In the age of globalization, English-language education at theological faculties in Poland is playing an increasingly important role, especially in the context of international academic cooperation and the integration of foreign stu¬dents. This paper presents an analysis of English-language education at the Faculty of Theology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW), taking into account the importance of English-language programs for the development of theology in an intercultural and interreligious context. The impact of these programs on the spiritual and academic training of students and on the promotion of intercultural dialogue is discussed. Special attention is paid to good teaching and organizational practices that facilitate the adaptation of international students and support their academic and spiritual development. The methodology encompasses descriptive methods, along with participant observation and external observation techniques. The article is both practical and methodological in nature, highlighting best practices within academic communities in Poland, particularly in the context of university education in English-language theology, and addressing the nuances of intercultural communication. Keywords: English-language education, theology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, UKSW, education in Poland, foreign students, interculturalism, inter¬religious dialogue, English-language programs.

Spiritual tourism development: a comprehensive synthesis for sustainable destination planning and growth

Purpose This paper aims to explore the dimensions of spiritual tourism development, examine its current status, effectiveness and scope and analyze the knowledge landscape in terms of theories, contexts and research methodologies. The study also seeks to guide future research on spiritual tourism development. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis were used using a framework-based approach. The theories, constructs, characteristics and methods (TCCM) framework guided the SLR, whereas VOS-Viewer facilitated comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Findings The study conducted a quantitative SLR, analyzing 80 research articles published between 2003 and 2023. Using the TCCM framework, the research identified crucial factors influencing the growth of spiritual tourist destinations, such as intrinsic motivation, destination physicality, tourist experience, spiritual activities and host community support. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to theoretical advancement in spiritual tourism, provides insights into the current research landscape, offers practical guidance for stakeholders and serves as a roadmap for future research endeavors. Originality/value This research enhances knowledge by thoroughly assessing prior research, addressing gaps and offering practical managerial insights for spiritual tourism development. The managerial implications outlined in the study offer practical insights for destination planning and promotion in the context of spiritual tourism.

The Inner Leader in Transformative Leadership

This article analyzes the role of personal transformation in the context of transformative leadership, focusing on the processes of trauma integration and spiritual development. Trauma integration facilitates access to the inner leader through a gradual process of increasing awareness of unconscious patterns. Spiritual development expands consciousness developing the capacity to hold in awareness both the inner and the outer world, contributing to the self-transforming mind, an open and adaptive engagement with the world. These two aspects of personal development support leaders to de-construct oppressive structures in their own consciousness and engage in awareness-based social transformation. Trauma integration and spiritual development contribute to the Being dimension of the Inner Development Goals framework, creating access to the inner compass and increasing self-awareness, authenticity, openness and presence.

Implementasi Kegiatan Ekstrakurikuler Seni Kaligrafi dalam Mengembangkan Spatial Intellegence

The purpose of this research is to examine the implementation of the calligraphy extracurricular activity at MI Khurriyatul Fikri Pasuruhan Lor Kudus. This study employs a descriptive qualitative research approach, and, in line with the object of study, it is a field research. The focus is on the application of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the learning process. The subjects of the research are the students participating in the calligraphy extracurricular activity and the guiding teachers involved in the program. The first step in this research is to identify the role of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the calligraphy learning process. Subsequently, field observations are conducted to directly observe the implementation of these methods, along with interviews with teachers and students to explore their perceptions of the impact of the spiritual and tafakkur methods on the creative process and character development of the students. The data collected is analyzed descriptively, focusing on the impact of both methods on students' visual-spatial intelligence, emotional intelligence, and religious character development. The research results indicate that the spiritual method applied in the calligraphy extracurricular activity helps students to perceive each artwork as a form of worship and an expression of love for Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, the tafakkur method encourages students to think deeply and reflectively, so they not only focus on the aesthetics of the artwork but also understand the religious and philosophical values embedded within. The conclusion of this research is that the implementation of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the calligraphy extracurricular activity has a positive impact on the development of students' religious character, emotional intelligence, and reflective abilities. Furthermore, this method also proves to enhance students' visual-spatial intelligence, in line with the basic principles of calligraphy art, which demand precision and deep contemplation. This study recommends that similar approaches be more widely implemented in other Islamic educational institutions to integrate art education with the spiritual development of students.

The Concept of Islamic Education in the Perspective of Imam Al Ghazali and Its Relevance in the Contemporary Era

The purpose of this research in general is to find out the concept of Islamic education from the perspective of Imam Al-Ghazali and its relevance to contemporary Islamic education (today). Islamic education today is faced with various developments and challenges that certainly need to make changes and improvements to be able to make adjustments to these changes. The research that the author uses in terms of sources is library research which aims to reveal educational thoughts, especially regarding the concept of Islamic education from the perspective of Imam Al-Ghazali by using a content analysis approach. The results of this study indicate that the concept of Islamic education from the perspective of Imam Al-Ghazali is relevant to contemporary education (today). This can be seen in terms of educational goals, the concept of educators and students, learning methods, and learning curriculum which in its application prioritizes aspects of intellectual, moral, and spiritual development and educational evaluation. With this, educational institutions are expected to be able to adopt Al-Ghazali's concept of education to develop the potential of students to become human beings who believe and fear God Almighty, have a noble character, are healthy, knowledgeable, capable, creative, independent, and become democratic and responsible citizens

Makna Pendidikan dalam tradisi pembacaan Al-Qur’an tujuh surah pilihan di Pondok Pesantren Al-Munawwir Komplek Al-Fatimiyah Putri Krapyak Yogyakarta

This study aims to explore the meaning of education in the tradition of reading seven selected surahs of the Al-Qur'an at the Al-Munawwir Islamic Boarding School, Al-Fatimiyah Putri Krapyak Complex, Yogyakarta, which serves as a medium for learning to read and memorize the Al-Qur'an. This tradition functions not only as a spiritual avenue but also as an effective teaching method for students to master reading and memorizing the Al-Qur'an correctly. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method with an ethnographic approach. Data collection was conducted using three techniques: observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis utilized a descriptive-explanatory approach, where the researcher provides an in-depth description of an object, phenomenon, or concept while explaining how it works and the reasons behind it. The findings indicate that this activity significantly enhances students' abilities to read and memorize the Al-Qur'an, particularly the seven selected surahs, while teaching the correct reading rules, including makharijul huruf and tajwid. Additionally, this tradition plays a role in shaping the character and discipline of the students, despite challenges in understanding the meaning and purpose of the activities. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the tradition of reading the seven selected surahs of the Al-Qur'an at the Al-Munawwir Islamic Boarding School, Al-Fatimiyah Krapyak Yogyakarta, is a highly effective educational medium, supporting the spiritual and academic development of the students and imparting beneficial moral values in their daily lives.

Indigenous Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being in the Young: Yarns With the Victorian Aboriginal Community.

The extant literature has scant detail about everyday spiritual practices that aid Indigenous young people. This paper systematically explores Indigenous Spirituality, health, and well-being through Elder-governed yarns conducted via Zoom with 44 Aboriginal Elders, Healers, and Senior and Junior people involved in health and well-being of the Victorian Aboriginal community. These yarns were analyzed through an innovative, constructivist, multi-perspectival discursive grounded theory method. Key findings are that Spirituality is crucial for health and well-being, leading to a clear mind and at-peace "center" in a person. Aboriginal spiritual practices reflect the unique characteristics and essential rhythms of Country. Spiritual development is incremental and increases the obligations and responsibilities a person has to community and Country and leads to increased caring for Country. This paper provides rich detail about practical spiritual techniques to aid Indigenous young people and their kinship networks. It has the potential to shape future policy.

INTEGRATING ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY IN TEACHER TRAINING: ANALYSIS OF FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON TEACHING PRACTICES

he significance of integrating Islamic spirituality-based pedagogy into teacher training programs for the enhancement of both academic and moral teaching is now widely recognized.This paperattempts to analyzethe role of Islamic spirituality as a component in teacher training programs by looking at several faculty developmentsmodels. Additionally, this paper explores the types of teacher training programs in integrate spirituality at the respective faculty. Rather than providing instruction in institutional policy and regulations, as is the case in professional programs, these programs focus on spiritual leadership, ethical teaching, and reflective practice to educate educators who are academically proficient as well as capable of moral and spiritual development of their students. This paper explains that integrating Islamic spirituality within educator training improves teaching methodology, fostering student engagement, and enables holistic education. Although the benefits are clear, there are significant challenges, particularly in secular educational settings where balancing religious teachings with secular rules requires careful negotiation. This paper examines these challenges, including the shortage of trained Islamic educators and the difficulties of integrating religious values within secular systems.Nevertheless, positive ways of providing an opportunity are via inter-religious dialogue and can build a mutual understanding among the different nationalities in multiculturalclassrooms.Moreover,it is imperative to fill these gaps and complete training programs that involve tackling both religious and secular goals with a view to makingIslamic spirituality successfully embedded in education.Keywords:Islamic Spirituality, Faculty Development, Teacher Training

INTEGRATING ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY IN TEACHER TRAINING: ANALYSIS OF FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON TEACHING PRACTICES

The significance of integrating Islamic spirituality-based pedagogy into teacher training programs for the enhancement of both academic and moral teaching is now widely recognized.This paperattempts to analyzethe role of Islamic spirituality as a component in teacher training programs by looking at several faculty developmentsmodels. Additionally, this paper explores the types of teacher training programs in integrate spirituality at the respective faculty. Rather than providing instruction in institutional policy and regulations, as is the case in professional programs, these programs focus on spiritual leadership, ethical teaching, and reflective practice to educate educators who are academically proficient as well as capable of moral and spiritual development of their students. This paper explains that integrating Islamic spirituality within educator training improves teaching methodology, fostering student engagement, and enables holistic education. Although the benefits are clear, there are significant challenges, particularly in secular educational settings where balancing religious teachings with secular rules requires careful negotiation. This paper examines these challenges, including the shortage of trained Islamic educators and the difficulties of integrating religious values within secular systems.Nevertheless, positive ways of providing an opportunity are via inter-religious dialogue and can build a mutual understanding among the different nationalities in multiculturalclassrooms.Moreover,it is imperative to fill these gaps and complete training programs that involve tackling both religious and secular goals with a view to makingIslamic spirituality successfully embedded in education.Keywords:Islamic Spirituality, Faculty Development, Teacher Training

INTEGRATING ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY IN TEACHER TRAINING: ANALYSIS OF FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON TEACHING PRACTICES

he significance of integrating Islamic spirituality-based pedagogy into teacher training programs for the enhancement of both academic and moral teaching is now widely recognized.This paperattempts to analyzethe role of Islamic spirituality as a component in teacher training programs by looking at several faculty developmentsmodels. Additionally, this paper explores the types of teacher training programs in integrate spirituality at the respective faculty. Rather than providing instruction in institutional policy and regulations, as is the case in professional programs, these programs focus on spiritual leadership, ethical teaching, and reflective practice to educate educators who are academically proficient as well as capable of moral and spiritual development of their students. This paper explains that integrating Islamic spirituality within educator training improves teaching methodology, fostering student engagement, and enables holistic education. Although the benefits are clear, there are significant challenges, particularly in secular educational settings where balancing religious teachings with secular rules requires careful negotiation. This paper examines these challenges, including the shortage of trained Islamic educators and the difficulties of integrating religious values within secular systems.Nevertheless, positive ways of providing an opportunity are via inter-religious dialogue and can build a mutual understanding among the different nationalities in multiculturalclassrooms.Moreover,it is imperative to fill these gaps and complete training programs that involve tackling both religious and secular goals with a view to makingIslamic spirituality successfully embedded in education.Keywords:Islamic Spirituality, Faculty Development, Teacher Training

Проблемы традиционной культуры коренных малочисленных народов юга Дальнего Востока России и роли государства в этих процессах (XX–начало XXI века)

During the XX-XXI centuries, aboriginal ethnic groups turned from independent ethnic formations into constituent parts of a large multinational state, with a fundamentally different spiritual dominant, a different social structure and type of economy. The changes affected both traditional material and spiritual culture. In the process of these changes, the concepts themselves were transformed, the lines between tradition and reality began to blur, since the latter is in constant dynamics. We made an attempt to assess the role of the state in the ongoing processes, as well as to compare the situation with the indigenous minorities in neighboring China, and note general trends. The study identifies the role of the main factors that influenced global transformations in the field of spiritual and material development of the Primorye Territrory, as well as outlines a somewhat new understanding of the problem of preserving ethnic identity.

Religiosity as a factor of emotional well-being of the Russian youth (on the example of Orthodox and Muslims)

Currently, the studies on religiosity are becoming more and more popular and relevant, and the terminology “spirituality” is acquiring its original etymological meaning. There is a tendency of interest in spiritual development on the part of young people who choose the concept of spirituality as the basis of their personal development. The article presents the results of an analysis of the relationship between coping strategies, stress levels and religious orientation among young people living in Russia. 104 respondents took part in the study: 52 men and 52 women between the ages from 18 to 35 years. To determine coping strategies, the author uses the Russian-language adaptation of the COPE questionnaire developed by K. Carver, M. Scheyer and J. Weintraub and adapted by T.O. Gordeeva, E.N. Osin and E.A. Rasskazova. To measure religious orientation, the G. Allport and D. Ross Scale of Religious Orientation was used, the type of religious coping was assessed using the B-RCOPE short questionnaire of religious coping. The analysis of the study results confirmed our hypothesis that coping strategies are closely related to stress levels: Active coping strategies help reduce stress levels, while avoidant coping behavior correlates with high stress levels. In addition, the study showed that religious orientation and the type of religious coping influence the choice of coping strategies. Participants with an internal religious orientation and positive religious coping were more likely to have active coping strategies, while external religiosity and negative coping were associated with avoidance and passive behavior. This indicates that religiosity can play an important role in choosing ways to cope with stress among young people living in Russia. It has been revealed that it is religious coping that they use most often.Hypothesis: The present study serves to confirm the assumption that religiosity is one of the significant factors of the emotional well-being of the Russian youth.

Student Pharmacists’ Reflections on Personal and Professional Development Following a Series of Longitudinal Faith-Based Courses

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore how integrating Judeo-Christian religious education into the pharmacy curriculum influences students’ spiritual and moral development, professional values, and mindset, preparing them for future holistic health care practice. MethodsA series of Judeo-Christian faith-based courses were integrated into the required Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum with the aim of developing student pharmacists’ moral foundation for future health care roles. Student reflections from these courses were compiled and analyzed using WordStat, combining natural language processing and statistical analysis. Content analysis included word cloud visualization, word co-occurrence, phrase extraction, and topic modeling. Thematic analysis with a deductive coding approach was applied. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze coding frequencies. ResultsWord cluster analysis revealed frequently cited and co-occurring words, including God, patient, care, life, love, ethics, personal, professional, health, and people. The frequently occurring phrases included patient care, professional ethics, personal ethics, and professional developments. The topics with high coherence values included love and compassion, empathetic care, caring health professionals, patient care, and leadership based on biblical principles. The major themes that emerged included spiritual growth and connection with God, the cultivation of virtues and ethical principles in personal development, and integration of faith into professional commitments for these aspiring professionals. ConclusionThe findings suggest that integrating spiritual and religious education into the pharmacy curriculum helps students develop a strong moral foundation, guiding their future practice with compassion and integrity.

Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s al-Tajrīd fī Kalimat al-Tawḥīd: “A Primer on the Statement of Tawḥīd”

Abstract This article presents an introduction to and the first complete English translation of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s (d. 517/1123 or 520/1126), al-Tajrīd fī kalimat al-tawḥīd, his most widely received Arabic text. The title has a double entendre, meaning both “A Primer on the Statement of Tawḥīd,” and “Disengaging Through the Statement of Tawḥīd.” It is designed to serve both purposes. The first half provides a spiritual typography, juxtaposing “the people of grace” (ahl al-faḍl) to “the people of justice” (ahl al-ʿadl). The former are those who maintain their covenant with God and follow the Prophet Muhammad. The latter are those who break the covenant and follow Iblīs. The second half guides aspirants through the levels of spiritual development and the corresponding modes of remembrance (dhikr), detailing three modes of dhikr – lā ilāha illa Llāh (No god, but God), Allāh, and huwa huwa (He, He). These correspond to three levels within the human being, the heart (al-qalb), the spirit (al-rūḥ), and the secret (al-sirr). The goal is to provide an overview of the means whereby one can disengage from the blameworthy inclinations of their soul through the progressive levels of dhikr until the secret predominates over the spirit and the spirit predominates over the heart, such that one is able to focus solely upon God.

Membangun Karakter Murid Melalui Pendidikan Agama

Religious Education is an education process that has a purpose to form religious character of the religious tradition to individuals. This formation process includes an understanding of the Holy Book, religious traditions, and moral and spiritual development in accordance with religion culture and tradition. This religious education is the basis for students meditative thinking because it plays an important role in shaping human spiritual and moral development. As writers, we are using the literature review approach in writing this article in order to compile a deep understanding to improve the character education of the people based on the principles of religion culture and tradition. The results of this study confirm that Religious Education can form the students personality and character responsible individuals.

Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Peserta Didik Materi Gereja Sebagai Umat Allah Dengan Metode PBL Berbantuan Audio Visual Fase F Kelas XI SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak

Education in Indonesia faces complex challenges, so the government, educational institutions, and society continue to strive to improve access, quality, and relevance of education to form a young generation that is skilled, competitive, and ready to face the challenges of the 21st century. In the context of the Independent Curriculum, Catholic religious education in Indonesia emphasizes the development of religious understanding, moral values, and Catholic spirituality for students, while paying special attention to strengthening the Pancasila Student Profile. This research focuses on the dimension of knowledge and motivation of students to form strong character and mentality for the younger generation in facing various global challenges. Based on the data from the learning evaluation results at SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak, it shows that students' understanding of the Church's material as God's People is still not optimal. One of the reasons is the use of learning methods that are less varied and do not involve students actively in the learning process. Conventional learning models often make students passive and less motivated to dig deeper into the material being studied. So to face this condition, educators need to design a relevant and interesting learning process. One approach that can be applied is Problem Based Learning or problem-based learning. The objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the effectiveness of the Problem Based Learning method in increasing students' understanding of the material of the Church as God's People in grade XI of SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak; (2) seeing an increase in the active participation of students during learning on the material of the Church as God's people in class XI of SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak; (3) measuring the improvement of learning outcomes after the application of the Problem Based Learning method on the material of the Church as God's people in class XI of SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, written tests, and documentation. Data is analyzed through data reduction, presentation in the form of descriptions, graphs, or tables, and drawing conclusions in accordance with the formulation of the problem. The use of the Problem Based Learning model that follows its syntactic steps, such as orientation to the problem, organizing students to learn, guiding individual and group investigations, developing and presenting results, and evaluating the problem-solving process, has proven to be effective in improving students' learning outcomes on the material of the Church as a people of God Phase F class XI SMA Negeri 6 Pontianak.

Exploring The Connection of Spirituality at Work in Enhancing Nurses’ Job Performance: Insight from Malaysian Hospitals

The performance of nurses can be seen as a reflection of healthcare organizations, as they constitute the most critical human resources within hospitals. However, challenges arise when issues such as staff shortages, high turnover rates, and burdensome workloads contribute to poor nurse performance. Conversely, the incorporation of spirituality in the workplace provides nurses with an opportunity to align their inner selves within a supportive community environment, fostering a deeper sense of purpose in their professional responsibilities. This study sought to determine the connection between spirituality at work and nurses’ job performance, surveying 350 nurses employed in public hospitals across Malaysia. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 27, revealing that all three aspects of spirituality at work, namely inner life, meaningful work, and sense of community, had a positive and significant influence on nurses’ job performance. This study provides potential aid to decision-makers in Malaysian healthcare organizations by offering significant insights for the development of strong spirituality at work values within their organizational setting. Additionally, this study presents recommendations for future research and proposes methods for the authorities to incorporate spirituality at work values into nurses’ jobs, ultimately enhancing the overall performance of healthcare services.

Genes or nurture? Discussion of the wrong question

The paper presents a polemics with a thesis formulated by J. Harris that group socialization theory is an alternative to family nurture. The thesis, indeed, “annihilates” the nurture category and the existing achievements of education sciences off the scientific discourse. The text focuses on an analysis of consistency of arguments regarding the main aspects of the theory in question, identified at four levels of tensions between: genes and environment, child and adult, family and peer group, and being raised in the family and socialization in peer group. The inconsistencies and overinterpretations, expressed by J. Harris in her “systemic” depreciation of child-rearing, inspired some reflections about the possible roles of nurture viewed in the paradigm of biological and spiritual evolution synthesis.

A Comparative Exploration of Human Potential and Self-Transcendence in Iqbal and Nietzsche

This study examines the essential conceptual distinctions between Nietzsche's notion of the Superman and Iqbal's conception of the Perfect Man, two divergent goals of human potential. Nietzsche's Superman, grounded on power, autonomy, and the repudiation of conventional morality, aspires to grandeur via individual supremacy and the transcendence of social norms. Conversely, Iqbal’s Perfect Man is a fusion of heavenly grandeur and beauty, attaining excellence via spiritual self-actualization, ethical integrity, and altruistic service to mankind. Nietzsche’s Superman dismisses metaphysical ideas and flourishes via human will, but Iqbal’s Perfect Man derives power from religion, love, and justice. This contrast highlights a profound philosophical divergence: Nietzsche’s perspective centers on existential power, while Iqbal’s prioritizes spiritual development and collective advancement. The thesis ultimately emphasizes Iqbal’s Perfect Man as a paradigm for harmonious human growth, surpassing Nietzsche’s individualistic ideal.

Helping Others Facilitates Well-Being for Indigenous Peoples Living With HIV/AIDS in Canada.

Research has found that helping others facilitates well-being for Indigenous peoples living with HIV and AIDS, but limited research exists that investigates the mechanism(s) underlying this relationship. Indigenous perspectives posit that helping others facilitates well-being through the development of an individual's spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental aspects (four aspects). Similarly, self-determination theory posits that helping others facilitates well-being by satisfying basic psychological needs. In the present study, we examined if helping others facilitates well-being through the fulfillment of the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental aspects among Indigenous peoples living with HIV and AIDS. We used a convergent parallel mixed methods design, coupled with a community-engaged approach grounded in the United Nations Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS principles and Indigenous and decolonizing research methodologies. Survey (n = 117) and interview data (n = 9) collected by an Indigenous-led HIV/AIDS organization in Canada were employed to examine the relationship between helping, the four aspects, and well-being. Participants were primarily First Nations leaders and mentors who live with HIV/AIDS, with some Métis and Inuit. A parallel multiple mediation model and reflexive thematic analysis were used to analyze the relationship between helping, the four aspects, and well-being. Mixed-methods findings support the idea that helping others promotes well-being by fulfilling the emotional and mental aspects. Qualitative findings demonstrated this relationship for all four aspects. This research may facilitate the development of programs to support Indigenous peoples living with HIV/AIDS well-being and contribute to the literature on integrating Indigenous perspectives and methodologies within psychological research.