Religion, an obstacle to workplace spirituality and employee wellness?

dc.contributor.authorBester, Alan
dc.contributor.authorMuller, Julian C.
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-14T09:59:45Z
dc.date.available2018-05-14T09:59:45Z
dc.date.issued2017-11-27
dc.descriptionThis research article arises from the PhD thesis of Alan Bester titled, ‘Corporate chaplaincy, spirituality and wellness: A postfoundational practical theological exploration’ in the Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, with Prof Julian C. Müller (Emeritus Professor of Practical Theology and Senior Research Fellow of the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship) as the promoteren_ZA
dc.descriptionThis research article arises from the PhD thesis of Alan Bester titled, ‘Corporate chaplaincy, spirituality and wellness: A postfoundational practical theological exploration’ in the Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, with Prof Julian C. Müller (Emeritus Professor of Practical Theology and Senior Research Fellow of the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship) as the promoter .en_ZA
dc.description.abstractA desperate need for employee wellness is echoed in work-related stories. Workplace spirituality is presented as an integral part of achieving and maintaining employee wellness. However, there is an observed gap of spirituality in employee wellness programmes and in the absence of the workplace spiritual helper in multidisciplinary wellness teams. Using a postfoundational notion of practical theology, I have explored one of the reasons for this gap, namely workplace spirituality’s association to religion. When spirituality is viewed through the lens of religion, it is overlooked as a vehicle of help. This is a consequence of the obstacles of the taboo of religious discussion, the complexity of religious plurality, the dominant voice of secularism and unhelpful religiosity. A proposal is made for a definition of spirituality that describes the relationship between spirituality and religion that overcomes the religionrelated obstacles to the development of workplace spirituality and so enable spirituality’s contribution in wellness. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : The research includes an interdisciplinary collaboration with a Human Resource (HR) manager, social worker, arts therapist, clinical pastoral counsellor, medical practitioner, psychologist, businessperson and two psychiatrists that underscores the collaborative effort in wellness. There is an intradisciplinary challenge to those who restrict the view of spirituality to the experience of religion.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentPractical Theologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2018en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.ve.org.zaen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBester, A. & Müller, J.C., 2017, ‘Religion, an obstacle to workplace spirituality and employee wellness?’, Verbum et Ecclesia 38(1), a1779. https://DOI.org/ 10.4102/ve.v38i1.1779.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1609-9982 (print)
dc.identifier.issn2074-7705 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.4102/ve.v38i1.1779
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/64941
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherAOSIS OpenJournalsen_ZA
dc.rights© 2017. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_ZA
dc.subjectEmployeeen_ZA
dc.subjectWellnessen_ZA
dc.subjectSpiritualityen_ZA
dc.subjectReligion
dc.subjectWorkplace
dc.subject.otherTheology articles SDG-03
dc.subject.otherSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.subject.otherTheology articles SDG-05
dc.subject.otherSDG-05: Gender equality
dc.subject.otherTheology articles SDG-08
dc.subject.otherSDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
dc.subject.otherTheology articles SDG-10
dc.subject.otherSDG-10: Reduced inequalities
dc.subject.otherTheology articles SDG-16
dc.subject.otherSDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
dc.titleReligion, an obstacle to workplace spirituality and employee wellness?en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Bester_Religion_2017.pdf
Size:
2.74 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: