Turn to spiritual aspects of religion in schools

Schuijt (n. d..) [1] suggests that for a competence-based ideology to effectively influence the religious identity of both educational organizations, teachers and students, religion should be seen as a 'life force' or 'spirit'. This idea that religion acts as a personal life force allows teachers from different religious backgrounds to engage freely, removing the limitations imposed by emotionally loaded terms and outdated meanings in discussions about the purpose of teaching institutions. The key challenge for managers is to foster a social environment that encourages staff to align their daily work with their personal values.

As Kishore (2025) points out, the way we think and learn about life leads us to reflect on its meaning, purpose, and values. This, in turn, encourages us to see religion as a perspective on life that reveals its deeper aspects, helping us to live with purpose. From this viewpoint, religion holds spiritual power and serves as an inspiration regarding the purpose and significance of life. In the context of education, religion should not be viewed as a limited concept or mere blind faith. This means we need to structure education in a way that is profound and meaningful, focusing on teaching the spiritual values that are shared across all religions.

Kishore puts his views in a two quatrain poem as follows

Religion, a lens, on existence it peers,

Suggesting a purpose, dispelling our fears.

A power unseen, a spiritual fire,

To live with intention, and climb ever higher.

But schools, they have narrowed the view,

Just facts and figures, for me and for you.

We need depth and meaning, a soulful embrace,

Spiritual values, to light up this place.

[1] Schuijt, Lenette (n. d.). Spirituality in educational organizations. Available at Academia.edu, Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/9149033/Spirituality_in_educational_organizations

[2] Kishore, L. (2025. Turn to spiritual aspects of religion in schools, Available at https://lalitculp.wixsite.com/website/post/ce9feff1-230e-4ddf-a1ca-84c54cc81996/edit,