The faith closet

This article is based upon research with student social workers and their educators which foregrounded the personal-professional interface in becoming a social worker. Faith was an explicit dimension of this research project insofar as an interest in spirituality and religion is returning to social work and insofar as the author has embarked upon her own inter-faith journey. It was also rather elusive insofar as faith-based students often construct a closet in which to conceal their faith in a predominantly secular world. The workings of the closet and the workings of faith are explored in relation to professional education, ethics and practice as well as research into these territories