Spiritual
Development as a Mix of Biology, Environment
By Rev.
Ken Blank and Dr. John Campbell – Oklahoma Health Center Clinical Pastoral
Education Institute, Inc. Ó 2006
Julia C. Keller reported in the December, 2005,
issue of Science and Theology News on the discussions among members of
the Catholic Medical Association about spiritual development in
children.
Dr. Judith Hughes, Dr. Daniel Siegel, Dr.
Herbert Benson, and Mr. David Fagerberg provided their opinions on
the issue. Dr. Hughes is a former psychiatry professor at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Siegel is a psychiatry professor at the University
of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. Dr. Benson is founding
president of the Mind/Body Medical Institute in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
And Mr. Fagerberg is a Catholic liturgical theologian at the University of
Notre Dame.
Dr. Hughes says “The child’s spirituality
cannot be dissected from the cognitive, emotional, moral, or behavioral
“ aspects of his or her development. Dr. Siegel adds, “all these factors
contribute to spiritual development in order to get a complete picture”.
But he comments that this realization isn’t shared across all disciplines.
Definitions tend to set up roadblocks. For example, agreement is not uniform
on the definition of “mind”. Each
discipline has its own “clear idea” of reality.
What can be agreed upon? Among the views of these
experts, consensus emerges that genetics appears to play a significant role
from the beginning, but that environment has influence from the earliest
days of fetal life. Dr. Siegel asserts that the “mind first develops as the
genetically programmed maturation of the nervous system is shaped by ongoing
experience.”. In the womb, the environment affects how proteins from the
genes are transcribed – specifically in the effects on the start of the
protein’s code called the promoter region. “Every gene has a promoter
region which the maternal environment influences” according to Dr.
Hughes. Dr. Siegel quantifies that “almost one-third of [a person’s] genetic
material is involved in formation of the brain”.
Dr. Benson is quoted as expressing “spirituality
may be hard-wired”. “Spirituality is seen as an innate human trait that is
very much like a drive. It’s a longing, a hunger for a connection with the
transcendent and the divine” adds Dr. Hughes.
But the path from “hard-wired potential of the fetus”
to the “spiritual being inside the adult” is paved with experiences that
cement the neural network. Dr. Siegel notes the creation of new synapses
during the first three years of life and again during the teenage years when
the brain undergoes another intense neural connection reformation.
Mr. Fagerberg sums up by noting the evidence in
biology resonates with theology, stating “ [humans] are incomplete by
God’s design so we can cooperate with God in our own development…this
allows for maximum individuality. People exist in a dependent relationship with
God. Free will in Catholic liturgy supports the unique qualities of reason
…so man and woman.. can fulfill their unique ministry”.
To let us know YOUR opinions on this topic: please
send responses to:
Mail: Chaplain
Services, VAMC #125, 921 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK
73104 OR
Scan it and attach it to an email to us at mailto:survey@cpeokc.org.
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Oklahoma Health Center Clinical Pastoral Education Institute,
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