Clarifying the Concept of Spiritual Capital

Abstract

The notion of has been subject of growing interest in recent years; however, concept remains poorly defined. Based on a review of academic literature and on interviews and focus groups conducted with leaders and volunteers of over fifteen NGOs and community groups in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, this paper proposes a preliminary conceptual framework for understanding, generating and applying spiritual capital. We discuss problematic aspects of concept and its potential for offering a critical, engaged perspective on social relations of capital and identifying means for transforming them through application of spiritual motivations and values. We define spiritual capital as the individual and collective capacities generated through qffirming and nurturing intrinsic spiritual !Jalue rif every human In contrast to some other definitions and theorizations of spiritual capital, this conceptual framework stresses (1) that spiritual capital is an autonomous form of value which is not merely a subset of social, cultural or religious capital; (2) that spiritual capital is based on afflrmation of intrinsic value and, as such, offers a critical perspective on instrumental concepts of capital and its conversion; (3) that spiritual capital generates and transforms social and material relations. Spiritual capital is generated through afflrmation and nurturing of intrinsic, infinite spiritual value of each human being. When this afflrmation and nurturing are built into organizational culture of a third sector organization, it enhances individual and group capacity to pursue intrinsic goals and serve common good.

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