Theology, Disability, and Spiritual Transformation: Learning from ...

Chapter 1

Transformation
and the Study of
Christian Spirituality

The context of this study of spiritual transformation in the communities of L’Arche is found in theoretical conversations that have focused broadly on the processes leading to moral and spiritual maturity. The participants in these conversations have represented a broad spectrum of theoretical disciplines including, among others, the various branches of theology, ethics, religious education, and pastoral care.¹ Along with these various disciplinary approaches, a number of different theoretical resources in psychology have also been brought to bear on the question of how persons grow morally and spiritually. Constructive-developmental theory, depth psychologies, humanistic and transpersonal theory, addiction theory, and various object relations theories have been utilized to explore the processes involved.

In addition to these various disciplinary perspectives, the field of spirituality studies has begun to mature as an academic discipline, articulating