The experience of spiritual intelligence

This paper focuses on spirituality as part of a broad understanding of intelligence and the inquiry into human abilities. Based on a theistic approach, spiritual intelligence is perceived as an ability to understand the world and oneself through God-centeredness and to adapt one's life accordingly. It is a basic ability that shapes and directs all other abilities. Relying on the personal experience of known spiritual authors and lay people, several attributes of spiritual intelligence, such as faith, humility, gratitude, integrative ability, the ability to regulate emotions, morality and the ability for moral conduct, and the ability for forgiveness and love, are portrayed in a noninclusive description. Spiritual intelligence is considered as developmental in nature, built through the accumulation of separate experiences, as manifestations of spiritual intelligence appear in an individual's life in an increasing manner. An illustrative example of spiritual intelligence in action is provided.