10.07.2015 Views

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

are culturally conditioned rationalities which can be studied, predicted <strong>and</strong> used tomake policy.10.5 Conclusion <strong>and</strong> Reflections on <strong>the</strong> ResearchThe advantages <strong>and</strong> disadvantages to <strong>the</strong> researcher <strong>of</strong> being a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sameethnic <strong>and</strong> cultural group observed <strong>and</strong> with similar experience <strong>of</strong> migration to Britainare complex, as noted by Ahmad (1993) <strong>and</strong> Kelleher (1996). Knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> basicrules <strong>and</strong> social conduct gave <strong>the</strong> advantage <strong>of</strong> easy access to <strong>the</strong> population but did notnecessarily create an ability to interpret <strong>the</strong> meanings <strong>of</strong> words <strong>and</strong> symbols correctly.To observe <strong>the</strong> relationships between <strong>the</strong> healer <strong>and</strong> those requesting healing wasinteresting although I <strong>of</strong>ten felt as if I were an intruder in a sacred space between <strong>the</strong>participants in <strong>the</strong>ir healing relationship <strong>and</strong> God.Having access to <strong>the</strong> community in <strong>the</strong> researcher‟s role has highlighted areas <strong>of</strong> newknowledge, such as <strong>the</strong> common factors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> power relationships in <strong>the</strong> hierarchy <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> church with <strong>the</strong> secular world. The fact that <strong>the</strong>re is belief in <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Holy Spirit does not detract from <strong>the</strong> reality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human power structures. It is morelikely that <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit is acknowledged in words only, ra<strong>the</strong>r thanbe actually appreciated <strong>and</strong> utilised. I am acutely aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complacency <strong>of</strong>numerous church members in accepting <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Minister, even when <strong>the</strong>ydo not agree with <strong>the</strong> outcomes <strong>of</strong> such authority. Many do this on <strong>the</strong> premise that316

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!