Beyond logic – entering the realm of mystery: hermeneutic phenomenology as a tool for reflecting on children’s spirituality

Abstract

Abstract This paper suggests hermeneutic phenomenology as a theoretical framework for reflecting, interpreting and gaining insight into children’s spirituality. It describes an episode that took place in a Year 5 classroom involving a 10‐year‐old child and his response to an Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime story. The possibilities this observed incident opens for hermeneutic phenomenology are then explored using van Manen’s notion of lifeworld existentials as guides to reflection upon the life expression of this child. The four lifeworld existentials are lived space (spatiality), lived body (corporeality), lived time (temporality) and lived human relation (relationality). In using these as a means by which to interpret the life expression of this child, it is argued that some insights into his or her spirituality can be gleaned. Keywords: Children’s spiritualityHermeneutic phenomenologyMystery Notes David, and the names of other students in the text, are pseudonyms used in order to protect the children’s identity. Additional informationNotes on contributorsBrendan Hyde ** School of Religious Education, Australian Catholic University, St. Patrick’s Campus, Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy MDC, Victoria, Australia 3065. Email: [email protected] * School of Religious Education, Australian Catholic University, St. Patrick’s Campus, Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy MDC, Victoria, Australia 3065. Email: [email protected]