Aging and the Dimensions of Spiritual Development

Abstract

The human spirit has personal and corporate dimensions and can enjoy experiential continuity, with growth and/or regression on both levels at any point in the life-cycle. memory and prolepsis contribute to spiritual development-memory by transmitting the past and bestowing identity, polepsis by incorporating a vision of the future into the presnt-thereby making creativity possible. Society's view of time can preclude a vision of the future appropriate for spiritual development in old age; however, the future can be viewed as a series of discrete moments, allowing the creativity necessary for spiritual development. The role of the church in spiritual development is vital on both the popular and the basic levels. Two concrete proposals are presented.