What is spiritual intelligence?

What spiritual intelligence is may depend on the perspective from which you understand it, which is not to say that spiritual intelligence is whatever a person wishes it to be, rather, that spiritual intelligence is currently understood in a variety of ways. Some of the ways in which spiritual intelligence is understood are derived from theological perspectives, spiritualistic perspectives, and humanistic perspectives.

The perspective from which I view spiritual intelligence takes seriously the theological and historical origins of the concept and word spiritual. Rather than attempting to pour a new meaning into the word spiritual, a meaning that strains to be inclusive and all encompassing, and a meaning that is socially constructed, I have attempted to remain true to its plain meaning in order to define spiritual intelligence as opposed to spirituality intelligence.

Spirituality intelligence is the socially constructed version of spiritual intelligence. It assumes a definition of the word spiritual that is a departure from its theological and historical origins. The noun spirit from this perspective has given birth to another noun, spirituality. Another way of looking at it is that the adjective spiritual has morphed into the noun spirituality and now modifes the noun intelligence. We are left with two disparate concepts, one that can literally be described as spirituality intelligence, and another concept that can rightly be termed spiriitual intelligence.

Spiritual Intelligence Defined

From a theologial and historical perspective, spiritual intelligence is:

1. God's nature and attributes displayed through His abilities as evidenced by His creation.
2. A universal biological trait that equips each individual with spiritual potential and capacity.
3. The human execution of natural and supernatural tasks and abilities under the direct agency of the Holy Spirit.
4. The economy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

From a Christian perspective spiritual intelligence can easily be understood in very broad ways. Any involvement of the Holy Spirit—whether within the spirit world or in interactions with humans—can be construed as spiritual intelligence. Spiritual intelligence in the human context involves human actions that are inspired or aided by the Holy Spirit.