sustain:if:able kiwi

an open door to welcome cohort C

Cohort C in my action research into the social impact of spiritual practices began last night. There was an open door on a chilly autumn evening.

Cohort C is a variation of cohort A, B and D (which begins tonight). Cohort C is shorter – 4 weeks not 8. Cohort C has different snacks – Werthers Originals. Cohort C is a different practice – silence. There are reasons for these variations, which I might explain in a future post.

But amid the changes, the same four ways to gather data remain. As part of the Psychology and Theology Cross-training research fellowship funded by John Templeton through the University of Birmingham (my project is described here), I am gathering data using surveys, focus group, individual journals and my participation. Together, this gives me qualitative and quantitative data, shared individually and with others.

On the first night we made introductions. Spiritual practices were introduced, first in general, then specifically in relation to silence. A candle was lit and we settled into a period of shared silence. We began with 10 minutes on our first night. It will be 20 minutes the second week, and 30 minutes the third week. Could sitting in silence with others have a social impact?