Introduction

This book provides a collection of texts dealing with religious and spiritual perspectives in organizations and societies, as there has been much debate about religious and spiritual diversity in the workplace in many countries around the world. From a secular perspective, religious and spiritual identity as a key characteristic of personal identity has moved into the centre of societal, political and organizational attention. Much of this debate has had negative connotations with the focus often being religious militantism, dogmatic prejudices, uncompromising and excluding attitudes, and religious worshipping practices and ceremonies disrupting organizational life and performance. Often, organizational contexts are considered as ‘religious neutral’ spaces without considering the fact that organizations operate in contexts shaped by religions in general, and often by unmarked and implicit religious norms in particular. Depending on the context, many (mostly secular) observers propose the exclusion of all religious- and spiritual-related aspects from organizational life, others promote a more tolerant approach to certain practices, symbols and ceremonies, and a few commentators highlight the benefits that the values, diverse religious beliefs and experiences of employees could bring to the organization. Arguments, conclusions and recommendations are often contradictive and inconclusive due to the complexity and dividing nature of religious and spiritual diversity and to the different cultural, political and legal contexts.