The Spirit Within

The author was convinced from work over many years with senior high school students that they possessed an underlying spirituality that was stronger then formal church allegiance. To explore this spirituality the investigation sought an answer to the Alister Hardy question: "Have you ever been aware of, or influenced by, a presence or power, whether you call it God or not, which is different from your every day life?" The survey was intended to explore the occurrence of these liminal experiences. A "limit" experience was defined as "an experience that reveals a reality of life beyond the self, beyond the here and now. It may be recognition of our own fragility and vulnerability as much as joyous-awareness of a reality beyond our normal encounter with life." Over 90% of respondents affirmed some association with liminal experiences that would have provided a positive answer to the Alister Hardy question. This book will assist all those who work in religious education, in particular Catholic education, to explore the deeper spirituality that underlies religious affiliation and religious expression among their students.