Faith-inspired praxis of love in action
Insights and applications from a multiple-site case study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21745015 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Monica Chi Eaton (Redeemer University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-32 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work Social Thought (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1542-6432 • E-ISSN: 1542-6440 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15426432.2026.2689688 |
| OpenAlex | W7165764460 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 77 |
This article presents a revised faith-inspired praxis of love framework, developed through a multiple-site case study of three community-based organizations in southern Ontario that intersect with social work through field education, referral networks, and collaborative partnerships. Drawing on interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, the study examines how practitioners rooted in faith traditions shaped by Christianity express love in practical, everyday ways. Three central elements (i.e. faith, love, and praxis) capture core motivations, while seven operational elements (i.e. reciprocal relationships, shared affection, hospitality, human frailty, shared responsibility, nonviolence, and positive change) illustrate how these motivations are enacted in practice. While the framework has relevance across helping professions, this article engages it primarily as a contribution to social work discourse, exploring its productive tensions and convergences with social work ethics, relational practice, and social justice commitments. The framework is proposed as a conceptual tool to support dialogue between faith-motivated and secular practitioners, and to advance understanding of love as a principled, relational foundation for ethical helping practice
Field (mathematics) · Foundation (evidence) · Praxis · Reciprocal · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology) · Relevance (law) · Social justice · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |