Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...

a) people in Western cultures are increasingly speaking of the need forsomething more than a material existence (a quest for meaning) 30 ;b) neurological research (including the ‘God spot’ research by Ramachandranat the University of California) has recently developed to the point where anempirical case for SQ can be reasonably proposedc) people can learn to develop SQ and in fact must develop SQ for the benefitof society and culture32 .31;As with moral and faith development theories, SQ is described as a universal capacity ofhuman functioning and growth potential and not as the product of any particular religionor ideology. According to the authors, SQ may be used ‘to become more spirituallyintelligent about religion’, and indeed the following description of what this means couldwell apply to Rahner’s life work.SQ takes us to the heart of things, to the unity behind difference, to the potentialbeyond any actual expression…A person with high SQ might practice…religion,but without the narrowness, exclusiveness, bigotry or prejudice 33 .The authors note that ‘a person high in SQ could have very spiritual qualities withoutbeing religious at all34 . It is interesting to note however that the SQ text is filled withreferences to both religious texts and mystical experiences, including many from theChristian tradition; and also that Zohar completed her graduate studies in psychology andtheology at Harvard University (the birthplace of faith development theory). In this sense,the idea of SQ reads as somewhat friendly to the essential spirit of the Christian traditionalongside others, but squarely challenges the cultural hegemonic right of the Christiancommunity to define human spirituality in purely doctrinal terms.Reflecting on SQ from a Rahnerian perspective of spirituality of silence gives rise to thefollowing considerations. It seems that what Zohar and Marshall recognise in theirpsycho–social/neurological construct of SQ has many similarities to what Rahner30 Ibid, 8.31 Ibid, 11-12 & 39-41.32 Ibid, 16-17 & 225-282.33 Ibid, 14.34 Ibid.193