This is What Happens to Nice Words in Ivory Towers

Spirituality: When transcendent beliefs are lived, holistic experiences occur and can be called, “Spirituality.” These “lived experiences” are not limited to a narrow understanding of religious practices such as prayer, meditation, fasting and pilgrimage. Instead, the lived experiences of spirituality encompass the many experiences that come as the result of holding transcendent beliefs. Spirituality is also not isolated from social location. Such factors as gender, culture, race and sexual orientation are interwoven with these lived experiences and cannot be separated from them. Spirituality learns from itself, it is reflexive. Each lived experience often leads to new lived experiences. In this way spirituality is transformative, it operates as both map and guide to ultimate goals of transcendence and growth.