Living Between: Exploring a Framework of Spirituality for Teachers and Students in Catholic Schools

Abstract

Abstract This paper proposes a focus on human experience as the locus of identity construction and meaning making and presents a dialogical framework of Christian spirituality as a heuristic for teacher professional learning in religious education in Australian Catholic schools. Firstly the paper explores spirituality as a growing area of interest for young people today and its relation to identity formation for teachers and students in Australian Catholic schools. Secondly it presents a relatable theological framework of spirituality as an opening to transformative dialogue and self-reflection. Finally it describes the four paradigms of spirituality of the framework and the curriculum possibilities they raise.