Lai_2019.pdf (2.04 MB)
Midlife transformation of Christian professionals in Hong Kong: evolving a model for spiritual practice
thesis
posted on 2023-08-30, 16:25 authored by Christine LaiThis research investigates the midlife transformation of Christian professionals in Hong Kong through a model of spiritual practice, and identifies the possibilities and usefulness for development of this model. By building on my personal experience and the needs of my Christian midlife professionals; and by learning from existing models used in Hong Kong, including Buford’s Halftime model, the Ignatian spiritual exercises and the Inspired Spiritual Education programme, I designed and tested a model of spiritual practice for midlife Christian professionals in Hong Kong.
I adopted certain prominent contemporary theological perspectives from Ignatian spirituality, supported by Buddhist mindfulness. The design was simple, flexible, practical and suitable for the six participants in their local contexts. The structure was eight-weeks’ mindful breathing, silent meditation and journaling with different meditative focus every two weeks. I carried out individual interviews for each participant in an open unstructured way every fortnight.
Using the method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, empirical data was collected and analysed from 24 interviews. Three themes emerged: connectedness, discernment and transformation. These represented an interior spiritual journey during which the participants went through a movement of examen and discernment in connecting to their selves, their past, those significant to them, and to God. The feedback from the participants provided positive endorsement of the model with constructive suggestions for its further development.
As the first study focusing on the spiritual experience of midlife Christian professionals in Hong Kong, the themes revealed the vitality and dynamism of the spiritual experience when engaging with this model. The model was found to be simple, flexible, fruitful and practical in the interfaith intercultural context of Hong Kong. I have already started to apply this model in my other consultancy services to corporations.
History
Institution
Anglia Ruskin UniversityFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
Thesis name
- Other
Thesis type
- Doctoral
Legacy posted date
2019-07-09Legacy creation date
2019-07-09Legacy Faculty/School/Department
Theses from Anglia Ruskin University/Faculty of Arts, Law and Social SciencesUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC