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WHDL - 00017886

Towards resilience: enhancing access to spirituality among selected children in Nagaland, India.

Wobeni Nyimtsemo Lotha

Resource Types

Academic (Thesis, Dissertation, Etc.)

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

Because children live in a world filled with complexities, problems, and challenges of many kinds, they need spirituality for the sake of resilience when faced with day-to-day challenges as well as larger problems. Being raised in a Christian home with an acquaintance of spirituality does not automatically guarantee true accessibility. In light of these realities, this study sought to explore methods that allow access to spirituality towards resilience. Rebecca Nye’s six criteria foundational for children’s spirituality, namely, space, process, imagination, relationship, intimacy, and trust provided the theoretical foundation in this study for exploring methods that would allow children access to spirituality towards resilience. This qualitative case study employed non-probability sampling technique that included a sample selection based on selected criteria to choose eight children, their parents, and two Sunday school teachers. The data from the total of 26 participants was collected using in-depth interviews, non-verbal observations, and journal reflections of the researcher. The research used MAXQDA software to analyze the findings and identify themes. Research results demonstrated that the six criteria—space, process, imagination, relationship, intimacy, and trust--provided the means for gaining valuable insight on methods that allow access to spirituality towards resilience. The six criteria are distinct yet interrelated aspects of the indicated methods. The six criteria can serve as distinct methods that can be applied separately, yet they are also intertwined and interrelated, with each aspect being equally essential in allowing access. The research results also indicated that methods of access to spirituality require caution, a balanced approach, intentionality, a reflective and unhurried approach, freedom of space (emotional, auditory and physical), innovative interfaces, creative tools, interactive cultivation in the form of ongoing conversations, vicarious experiences, and taking children's perspectives into account. Children’s access to spirituality was also found to be highly relational and dependent on the attitudes, behavior, and lifestyles of significant adults. The study recommends that adults in the church, parents at home, or students in the seminary should recognize and take the spirituality of children seriously. Adults can ensure that children have the necessary spiritual resources through their own awareness and resources.

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Publish Year: 2023

Subject Index

KeywordsRebecca Nye, Childrens spirituality, Resilience, Nagaland India

Degree AwardedDoctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development

Awarding InstitutionAsia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

Committee MembersFloyd T. Cunningham, Esther Zimmerman, Romerlito Macalinao, Nativity Petallar, Catherine Stonehouse, David Ackerman, Larry Bollinger

Supervisor or ChairBeverly Johnson-Miller

Peer Reviewed?No

Place of PublicationPhilippines

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Collections With This Resource

Dissertations in Holistic Child Development

13 Resources

Religion - Christianity
Social and Behavioral Sciences

English

This collection contains the dissertations of our graduates that fulfilled the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The program is designed for those preparing to be equipped in leadership, teachers of children, practitioners, and pastors, so that they will have the gifts, skills, and capacity to care holistically for children inside and outside the church.