Spirituality Studies (Nov 2017)
Spiritual Autobiography: A Vehicle for Religious and Ethical Transformation
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to discuss spiritual autobiography in the context of the western Christian tradition as a legitimate form of religious discourse and appropriate mode of theological and ethical reflection that seeks to inform, form, and transform readers, who as a result of this process commit to the transformational task of Christianity in the world. Writing autoethnographies in general and faithful, effective spiritual autobiographies in particular is not as simple a task as may appear to those unfamiliar with the subject. This essay will introduce several important thinkers who work in the field of theology and life writing, thus providing helpful information for a deeper exploration of the issue. Appropriately for this topic, the author will share a portion of his personal story to illustrate the transformative power of the Christian narrative, maintaining that spiritual autobiography has the potential to be an important tool of transformational leadership and vehicle for religious and ethical transformation.
