Work

How Faith in the Nexus research captured children's spiritual oracy, advanced theory, and informed education and church policy and practice

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Religious Education in Catholic and Church of England schools has often emphasised top-down transmission of tradition and spiritual practice. While this may remain important, Pope Francis’ Global Compact on Education (2019) calls for attentive listening to children. Young people are co-agents in their own formation. This paper draws primarily on findings from the Faith in the Nexus research, which explored children’s own accounts of prayer, reflection, and spiritual flourishing in primary schools. It argues that children are active initiators of spiritual meaning-making and that listening to their voices provides fresh insights for schools, families, and churches. These findings suggest a need to rebalance practice towards a dialogic model of spiritual education, affirming children’s capacity for spiritual oracy and contributing to wider interdisciplinary debates on spirituality, wellbeing, and inclusion.

Source: Journal of Religious Education

DOI: 10.1007/s40839-026-00298-3

Authors: Robert A. Bowie, Ann Pittaway, Ann Casson, Mary Woolley, Sabina Hulbert

Institutions: Canterbury Christ Church University, Bishop Grosseteste University, University of Kent

Language: English

Topic: Religious Education and Schools

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090