A methodology for doing research into corporate spirituality should enable us to deal with the religious component of spirituality instead of trying to separate spirituality from religious beliefs, as the positivist school proposes. Waaijman’s phenomenological-dialogical research cycle enables us to deal with religious diversity in a scientific way. Sölle’s concept of democratized spirituality allows for discovering everyday (corporate) life as a finding place and workplace for spirituality. Replacing theistic terms by the concept of ‘alterity’ in a definition of spirituality may stimulate corporate spirituality without excluding or disqualifying spiritual diversity. Arendt’s concept of ‘action’ is closely connected to democratised spirituality. From that we can deduce a number of characteristics of corporate spirituality that give flesh and bone to what corporate spirituality can be. This allows us to see that many elements of corporate spirituality are already present in our organizational praxis. It also tells us that we need to become more aware of them and practice them. In doing so we set out on a ‘via transformativa’ that eventually may transform our organizations.
If we study processes of social innovation in organizations from the perspective of Dorothee Soelle’s liberation theology, various issues for mystagogic counseling emerge. Mystagogic counseling inspired by Soelle’s liberation theology may help organizations to deepen the understanding of the processes of social innovation they are involved in. Soelle’s liberation theology may also provide valuable input on how students can develop a critical, socially engaged view on issues in the field of ‘business and society’.
‘Businessspiritualiteit’ staat steeds meer in de belangstelling. Maar wat bedoelen we daar eigenlijk mee? En wat willen of kunnen we met spiritualiteit in organisaties in bereiken? Worden we er bijvoorbeeld creatiever van? Of krijgen we er meer gevoel voor ethische zaken door – of misschien zelfs meer morele ruggengraat? Het zijn ingewikkelde onderwerpen en er wordt driftig over gedebatteerd. In dit artikel proberen de auteurs deze vragen te beantwoorden.
