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Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Heutagogy and spiritual growth: evidence from multi-year action research
Journal of Religious Education, Vol.Advanced access
17-Mar-2026
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Heutagogy-self-determined learning-foregrounds learner agency in self-development. Despite its growing profile, heutagogy has yet to be examined empirically in the context of spiritual growth. Addressing this gap, this article reports multi-year action-research evidence on how heutagogy facilitates adult spiritual formation in Australia. Using non-directive mentoring, participants determined and directed their own goals and practices. A multi-method approach-cyclical interviews, participant journals, mentor reflections, professional supervision, and photovoice-captured change over time. All nine participants reported significant spiritual transformation. Reflexive thematic analysis identified five cross-cutting outcomes: practical spirituality, personal growth, relationship with God, growth challenges, and Christian fellowship. Participant accounts consistently linked sustained change to ownership, accountability, self-awareness, and God-awareness. The analysis indicates that heutagogy, augmented by non-directive mentoring, can create and sustain learner-centred conditions for self-development that are personally relevant, contextually grounded, and theologically authentic. The study offers practical implications and recommendations for adult-learning practitioners: (i) empower adults to take responsibility for their formation; (ii) tailor mentoring to denominational and individual contexts; and (iii) address barriers-busyness, fear, and social anxiety. The article contributes to the body of adult-education literature by demonstrating how heutagogy can support durable, context-sensitive spiritual growth in faith-based community settings, with transferability beyond Australia and Christian traditions.
Details
- Title
- Heutagogy and spiritual growth: evidence from multi-year action research
- Authors
- Esa Hukkinen - Alphacrucis University CollegeJohannes M. Luetz - University of the Sunshine CoastTony Dowden - Alphacrucis University College
- Publication details
- Journal of Religious Education, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Springer
- DOI
- 10.1007/s40839-026-00291-w
- ISSN
- 2199-4625
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Data Availability
- The research data are not publicly available because participants were informed prior to interviews that their data would be stored securely and confidentially.
- Organisation Unit
- Academic Support Unit; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991222618602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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