Browsing by Author "Kilian, Andries P."

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Spiritual intelligence and the content of faith: a post-foundational, interdisciplinary and hermeneutical dialogue between Danah Zohar and Dallas Willard
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Kilian, Andries P.; Thesnaar, C. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research process wanted to ask questions about the responsible integration of faith content within the construct of Spiritual Intelligence. This integration process is important to add meaning and awareness within a society that often lives with meaning blindness. To find the integration of faith content a conversation was necessary between Theology and Spiritual Intelligence. Danah Zohar is a proponent of Spiritual Intelligence and Dallas Willard a proponent of Theology. The broader purpose of this research was to facilitate an interdisciplinary, post-foundational, hermeneutical dialogue between Zohar and Willard to find new and shared knowledge on the construct of Spiritual Intelligence by forging connections across disciplines. These investigations also sought to challenge and enhance the construct of Spiritual Intelligence and develop new and shared knowledge. This search for new and shared knowledge specifically focused on the question about the content of faith that underpinned Spiritual Intelligence. The research methodology was a post-foundational and interdisciplinary dialogue. This research process was a dialogue between Theology and Science in order to find the shared knowledge. Practical Theology is about the practice of faith as well as the change and transformation in faith praxis. Spiritual Intelligence could empower individuals and groups to be more aware of the content of their faith and live more integrated lives, thus aiding the praxis of faith and transformation. The research presented Danah Zohar’s current literature on Spiritual Intelligence to provide an overview of her work and to look at the construct of Spiritual Intelligence from a wider theoretical perspective. The research also presented Dallas Willard and his key theological concepts, which were used in the process to find new and shared knowledge on the content of faith within Spiritual Intelligence. The challenge to be more aware of the content of faith and to live more integrated lives is a challenge to apply faith in action and to integrate faith for continuous transformation. This is applicable to the focus of Practical Theology. The dialogue, facilitated as a hermeneutical dialogue, provided a “middle space” through the fusion of the horizons of the two disciplines. From the hermeneutical fusion of horizons, this research presented Spiritual Intelligence as the construct to bridge the dichotomy between eurobiology and spirituality and the integration of faith content in terms of image of God, self-image and anthropology as well as worldview. It also presented Spiritual Intelligence as soulfulness and wisdom. Hopefully, this new shared knowledge between the two dialogue partners as well as the interpretations by the researcher will assist us to live closer, more aware and more integrated with our values in the whole of our lives, through meaning, awareness, integration, responsibility, living as good people with character and transformation. This can lead to people having a better and more conscious relationship with God, themselves and the world. This dialogue is an on-going process in which the researcher is actively participating.