The relationship between spirituality and peace activism: Phenomenological inquiry into the experience of peace activists in Israel

This study examines the experience of spiritually oriented peace activists effective within a cross-cultural environment in Israel. Researchers have performed the majority of past research on peace activists based on a western psychological framework and without acknowledging any influences of spiritual and religious practices on activism. Historically, many exemplar peace activists have maintained strong spiritual or religious practices. Four exemplar peace activists living in Israel from Islamic, Christian, and Jewish religious backgrounds were given in-depth interviews to explore their peace work and lived experiences of spiritual and religious practice. This research took place in Israel, due to its long standing cross-cultural and cross-religious conflicts. All coparticipants were screened for levels of cultural immersion, duration and levels of activism, and spiritual engagement. A psychological phenomenological research method was used to analyze the interview data. A common phenomenological structure was found to include a heart-centered open receptivity to experiences of self, others, and the Divine; an inability to psychically compartmentalize memories or experiences; a yearning to learn from differing others as a path towards deeper spiritual and self understanding; a deep inner awareness and connection with an internal sense of self that is experienced as divinely infused with universal human understandings; a consistently active spiritually based moral filter through which actions are evaluated; an ability to sense similarities across apparent orientational divides; and a nearly continuous connection with love as a motivation for and appraiser of potential actions. Results provide insight into current theories of empathy, moral and spiritual development, and the act of spiritual practice on activism. Results also contribute to the potential evolution of diplomacy efforts in a cross-cultural and cross-religious setting. Spirituality was found to be an essential foundation for successful peace activism.