Prickles and goo: Human rights and spirituality

Abstract

Although there appears to be a growing interest in exploring the crossroads between spirituality and social change, spirituality remains a relatively obscure topic within mainstream international human rights. This article will explore what a more spiritual grounding for human rights might look like and how it might change perspectives and practices from the comparatively conventional and mainstream. Viewing conventional human rights thinking, policy, and practice through the lens of spirituality can facilitate a better and more balanced reading of the human rights corpus and, ultimately, better and more sustainable human rights practice. Although no panacea, spiritual perspectives that enhance a sense of interconnectedness and inclusionary identity may be one way of reinvigorating the human rights project at a time when it is said to be in a state of crisis.