The present paper analyses various contemporary theories and debates regarding a new form of intelligence called spiritual or existential. Inspired by Gardner’s perspective on multiple intelligences, the concept ”spiritual intelligence” gained popularity over the last years and is the topic of several books and websites. In order to avoid rejecting or validating this concept from the beginning, we believe it would be useful to approach with an open mind whether spirituality and intelligence can be combined in a significant way. Although here have been suggested several models of spiritual intelligence, in the present paper we will examine the perspectives of authors such as Howard Gardner and Robert Emmons, in the context of broader debates.