BASS ten years on: A personal reflection

ABSTRACT

This article revisits the speech made by John Swinton at the inauguration of the British Association for the Study of Spirituality (BASS) in January 2010. It argues that some of the difficulties in defining spirituality can be clarified and addressed if we think of spirituality not simply in definitional terms, but in relation to how we use it in practice. It provides a critique of the ways in which ideas about spirituality are constructed, and offers some thoughts as to how we might move away from the search for definitions towards a focus on the impact that spirituality has on the humanness of our practices, including its peace-making potential within fragmented societies.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirituality
• BASS
• Wittgenstein
• Post-Brexit Britain

Acknowledgement

I am most grateful to the editor of this journal for inviting me to write this piece and for her support throughout the process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

Notes

1 While this article has been in-press Jean Vanier has been accused of sexual abuse. The author's reference to him here is in relation to the work of L'Arche communities and does not condone any other aspect of Vanier's life.