Measures of the Different Aspects of Spirituality/Religiosity

Dear Colleagues,

After three successful Special Issues on measures of spirituality and religiosity, it is wonderful to see that the fascination with addressing the different aspects and layers of spirituality (i.e., core experiences, attitudes and behaviours, practices, and rituals) is still vital. Several of the established instruments are still in use in international studies, some of the newer ones have been translated into different languages and implemented in international studies, and some new ones have been introduced to the community of researchers and practitioners.

Spirituality as a multidimensional construct is not a fixed topic; it depends on the religious background and is also shaped by culture. Additionally, nonreligious persons may have an interest in spiritual issues, but not in established and often dogmatic traditions. However, what is relevant to them, how do they live their ‘‘secular spirituality’’, and how can we make this measurable?

In this expanding field, not only the ‘positive’ aspects of spirituality/religiosity are analyzed but also the challenging aspects of faith, struggles with the religious community, the dogmatic aspects of faith, and phases of spiritual dryness or ‘tired boredom’ on the spiritual path. These topics are rather new, and only a few instruments can operationalize this often-neglected field.

All these different aspects need to be addressed and investigated. Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit manuscripts that address how these different aspects can be operationalized and measured, either with old, new, or borrowed original instruments or their culturally adapted translations. Newly developed measures are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Arndt Büssing
Guest Editor

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