The Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development is the first reference work to focus on the developmental process of religion and spirituality across the human life span. Spiritual development is an important part of human development that has links to identity development, moral development, and civic engagement. This innovative Encyclopedia offers insight into the characteristics of people and their contexts that interact to influence religious and spiritual development over time. Editors Elizabeth M. Dowling and W. George Scarlett provide readers with glimpses into the religious and spiritual developmental trajectories of people from all over the world, from many different religious and spiritual backgrounds. The Readerʼs Guide groups entries into the areas of The Arts, Religious and Spiritual Concepts, Health, Leading Religious and Spiritual Figures, Scholars, Nature, Organizations, Religious and Spiritual Places, Religious and Spiritual Practices Supports/Contexts, Texts, Theory and Traditions. Also includes information on I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou).