Faith is a Universal Condition

In the last few years, religion scholars and the popular press have written much about the “Nones”—people who profess no religious faith. Ryan Burge and Tony Jones have found that it is not that simple. The Nones are often thought of as a single group, but Jones and Burge have found they’re not. There are the Nones in Name Only (NiNOs), Spiritual but Not Religious, the Dones and the Zealous Atheists. There not discreet boxes but gradients.

What this means for coaches is that we may find ourselves coaching about existential or faith issues when we least expect it. Our clients may say that they have no particular religious views, but some are more spiritual than they think!

All coaches—Christian or not—can their support clients in authentic meaning-making by exploring their inner world, uncovering and integrating their true selves. Faith coaching acknowledges and accepts the inherent ambiguities and tensions of the collective human experience. There are several ways that coaches can walk with their clients in considering faith issues.

Coaches can guide clients in integrating spiritual beliefs to provide a sense of purpose and connection. If we are coaching for transformation, these deep beliefs are a valuable source of direction and motivation.
Coaches can help clients navigate the freedom and responsibility of by aligning their values, beliefs, and actions with their lifestyles.
Coaches can support clients in reconciling competing worldviews and values, fostering an integrated sense of self. We live in a world with many competing truth claims, leading to uncertainty and confusion. A coach provides a safe space to address these issues.
Coaches can empower clients to embrace feelings of anxiety and uncertainty into growth opportunities by applying their inherent values and beliefs to the life situations they encounter daily.

The primary goal of the coach who is dealing with faith questions is to ask, listen, and encourage the client to do this work for themselves. The coach may have deep faith commitments of their own, but the work of exploration, commitment, and discipleship belongs to the client. The coach can provide support and encouragement in that process.

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