Article

Gadamerian-Wittgensteinian Language Hermeneutics as Theoretical Frameworks and Heuristic Devices for Researching Spirituality

Padraig Mc Bennett ORCID
    Received: 4 February 2026 | Revised: 14 June 2026 | Accepted: 21 June 2026 | Published Online: 28 June 2026

    Abstract

    This philosophical reflection stems from the conduct of a triangulated empirical practical socio-theological doctoral exploration of the Republic of Ireland’s post-Catholic religious landscape and spiritual marketplace as perceived by random samples of young people (n=178; N=22). Contextualised within the broad discourse of religious decline and growth of spirituality in tandem with some secularised Western societies, the precise focus was exploring the ways in which people are becoming more spiritual. Data revealed that young people in Ireland think deeply about spirituality as an anchor for life meaning, which they largely viewed as transcending organised institutionalised religious practices. This demographic trend constitutes a significant shift in contemporary macro social structure and culture. The paper concentrates its analysis on the philosophical aspect of the study which argued that employing Hans-Georg Gadamer’s fusion of horizons concept (influenced by Martin Heidegger’s Dasein), in addition to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s language games hermeneutic as theoretical frameworks and heuristic devices contributed to understanding and interpretation of participant perceptions regarding the study constructs. The paper also discusses how Christian theologians George A. Lindbeck and David Tracy advocated language hermeneutics as cultural-linguistic systems for postmodern pluralist societies. Cohering with practical theology’s concern for exploring the dynamics of particular human experiences and reflecting philosophically/theologically on those experiences, the paper sets out to contribute to a scholarly shift towards interdisciplinary practical, innovative qualitative research conduct and analysis of the meaning of a new paradigm of spirituality.

    Keywords

    Practical Theology/Philosophy, Spirituality, Hermeneutics/Phenomenology, Forms of Life, Language Games, Cultural-Linguistic Systems

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