From darkness to light: children speak of divine encounter

Abstract

Studies have shown that children share both positive and dark spiritual experiences. The former dominates the literature but whilst the need to address the dark side of spirituality has been raised it has not, as yet, been dealt with as widely as the more positive aspects. This paper draws on an empirical study with 44 children aged 8–11 who were interviewed in school after visiting a sacred space. Three key themes arising from their conversations are covered in this paper: divine encounter; physical feelings and fear. It is argued that the most appropriate way of understanding these phenomena is to draw on different fields and disciplines, notably although not exclusively, theology, psychoanalysis, psychology and neuroscience. The paper concludes that it is important to recognise both the light and dark and the blurred boundaries between them, in addition to different ways of perceiving them, in order to understand the whole child.

Keywords:

• Children’s spirituality
• dark spirituality
• holistic education
• spiritual experience
• angels

Notes

1. The research ethics committee at the University of East Anglia granted permission for the research to take place as part of a larger study which Lovelock subsequently completed at the College of Teachers in London, UK, leading to the award of Doctoral Fellowship of the College of Teachers (DFCOT).