La espiritualidad en la niñez

Abstract

This is a qualitative research with an exploratory ethnographic design, aimed to examining the behavior patterns and shared beliefs of a religious group. The data was obtained through qualitative interviews (ethnographic interviews and focus groups) in which a question guide was used. Participants were boys and girls, ages 10-11; eighteen in total. In addition, 20 parents were interviewed through focus groups. All the participants belonged to the Christian religion. The study revealed that spirituality and religion seem to stand in the way of children’s behavior to reduce, control, and restore those behaviors that their beliefs dictate are wrong. Narratives about their spiritual life made it possible to determine that their thinking about God is a cognitive, deeply emotional, personal, and social exercise. They have developed spiritual lives and conceptsof God that direct their feelings and religious experiences. They have a spiritual understanding underpinned by thoughtful thinking and family interactions. They find in their religion the satisfaction of the psychological needs of belonging, security, self-esteem, love and justice that allow their self-realization and self-transcendence when they achieve communion with the sacred or God. Parents argued that the spiritual and religious beliefs are necessary to raise appropriately the sons and daughters. They feel advantageous over the nonreligious because they have the teachings of the Bible, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the support of the church.