Difference, explanation, certainty and terror: a view from a Londoner about the formation of children’s spirituality as relational consciousness

Abstract

The manner in which we relate and behave towards one another can be analysed in political and social terms. Significantly, in the examination of children’s spirituality, the concept of relational consciousness has revealed how early we become aware of people and phenomena beyond ourselves. But our desire to relate and behave reasonably towards others will be shaped by our desire to so relate, perhaps through a shared identity. However, fundamentalism of all forms, including religious, allows an unqualified and particular sense of ontological security and a freedom to disregard the feelings and rights of others. The ultimate disregard is terrorism. Schools, notably in citizenship education initiatives, are concerned with the development of a shared identity among children as means to achieve of social cohesion and inclusion. The formation of such an identity is a complex process in a contemporary Western liberal society. It can also be regarded as a form of spiritual development.

Keywords:

• Difference
• Identity
• Spirituality
• Ontological security
• Terrorism