The spirituality of Soelle’s liberation theology in social innovation: empirical research into a ‘via transformativa’ for organizations

Abstract

Based on a qualitative analysis of interviews with five Dutch socially innovative pioneers we find that there is a significant match between the actions and the experiences of the pioneers and the spirituality of Soelle’s liberation theology. Studying actual processes of social innovation in organizations from the perspective of Dorothee Soelle’s liberation theology may thus provide various issues for triggering mystagogic development. Mystagogic counseling inspired by Soelle’s liberation theology may help organizations to deepen their understanding of the processes of social innovation they are involved in.

Keywords:

• liberation theology
• social innovation
• mystagogy
• Dorothee Soelle

Notes

1. This conference was held on 28 June 2007 in The Netherlands and was organized by Coachingnet, Gelling Congressing and Pentascope.

2. Available at: http://www.bizspirit.com/bsj/archive/articles/barrett1.html [Accessed 12 April 2011].

3. According to the World Food Programme of the United Nations, every six seconds a child dies because of reasons related to hunger or malnutrition. That equals 14,000 children per day. Available at: http://www.wfp.org/Country_Brief/Hunger_Map/pdf/WFP_HMAP07_ENG_R.pdf [Accessed 11 June 2008].