ABSTRACT
Specifically, we believe the nature of the challenge here is threefold. First, it exposes us to analysis of the context in which work with children and young people takes place. By doing so, it also cautions us about the power of the forces surrounding and compromising integral work: consumerism, violence, war, nationalism and covert moral agendas, to name just a few. These are powerful, perhaps indomitable factors. Finally, the challenge of this volume is that it cautions us about praxis. Spiritual education is still in its infancy, still struggles to make its voice heard in curriculum discourse and is still susceptible to shallow or opportunistic ‘quick fixes’. For a spiritual education that faces the challenges, we need a praxis that seriously analyses its context with courage and honesty, and behaves accordingly. We need more penetration of analysis into practice.
