Abstract The need to take account of spirituality in research and health services provision kaiser copy stands is assuming ever greater importance.However the field has long been hampered by a lack of conceptual clarity about the nature of spirituality itself.We do not agree with the sceptical claim that it is impossible to conceptualise spirituality within a scientific paradigm.Our aims are to 1) provide a brief over-view of critical thinking deus gorras that might form the basis for a useful definition of spirituality for research and clinical work and 2) demystify the language of spirituality for clinical practice and research.