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You are here: Home > Insights & Research > Youth Voices > Spiritual development is mediated by context

Spiritual development is mediated by the dynamics of interpersonal relationships and social contexts.

“I think people feel comfortable talking about spirituality with anyone with whom we feel we are valued.”
(Female, 15, England)

“I know lots of people in my life are deeply spiritual, but I feel like that’s something that’s private almost – and I don’t see that side of them.”
(Female, 17, U.S.A.)

"To be spiritual you need to have an opinion. But here in this community, you always have to shut up. But in other communities, if you say something you will be appreciated for what you say."
(Male, 15, Israel)

“Maybe you can’t really sit somebody down and teach them to be spiritual, but you can affect them, you can influence them."
(Pune, India)

“My being spiritual depends on whether my friends are good or not."
(Male, Syria)

“I mean, one minute you are thinking spiritually, “This is what I’m supposed to do with my life. This is what I should do.” The next minute your friend calls up, “Let’s go to a movie!” and you’re out of there!”
(Pune, India)

“For someone to be spiritual he needs a transformation or an important change in his life, something that would turn upside down everything that he used to believe in or in everything, and in the atmosphere in which he was living.”
(Male, Syria)

“Art and sports don’t directly help you spiritually, but they teach you self-control and self-respect and how to work …”
(Male, 17, Israel)

“So, if you’re raised in a spiritual house you’re going to be spiritual – just by nature.” (Female, 14, U.S.A.)

If the environment that you grow up in has these kinds of qualities [optimism, happiness], then I think it is possible for us at this age to possess this kind of qualities.
(Male, 12, China)

The Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence

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