Improving the Teaching and Learning of Spiritual Intelligence in Seventh-day Adventist Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to examine the link between spirituality, spiritual intelligence and Seventh-day Adventist education. The paper presents a critical analysis of the current religious studies syllabus for stages 4 and 5 in Seventh-day Adventist schools and suggests a new framework for the syllabus based on a developed understanding of spirituality and spiritual intelligence. This is accomplished through an extended literature review that analyses the current research in the area of spiritual intelligence and then utilizes the findings of this research to suggest changes that can be made to the religious studies teaching methodologies. The concept of spiritual intelligence is framed within Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences for the purpose of this paper, although many critics do not acknowledge 'spirituality' as a form of intelligence. This paper examines these arguments and supports the view point of Robert Emmons in that it asserts that spirituality can in fact be classified as a form of intelligence. The paper concludes that the current syllabus documents are in fact effective in regards to content. However, there needs to be a number of changes that take place in regards to teaching methodologies and focus competencies within the classroom. The research provides four steps that could be integrated into the syllabus in order to ensure that spiritual intelligence development is taking place.