A Reflection on an Emergent Spirituality and the Practice of Adult Education

Abstract

The idea of spirituality is increasingly being used in the context of adult education. This paper will tentatively explore some of the implications of an emergent spirituality within the practice of adult education. It begins by situating our understanding of spirituality in an historical context. This is followed by a brief historical overview of the relationship between spirituality, social change, and the practice of adult education. Building on this brief historical analysis, our understanding of an emergent spirituality is argued to be a property of the evolution of human consciousness. The implications of an emergent spirituality for the practice of adult education are then examined.