Psychology Chapter 9: The Spiritual Self

The spiritual self, as defined by William James, refers to the innermost workings of a person's mind, including their behavior, beliefs, and morals.
The spiritual self is considered the most enduring and intimate part of a person.
Manifestations of the spiritual self include:
- Person's Will: referring to one's wishes and desires.
- Intelligence and abilities: perceived strengths and confidence in doing certain tasks.
- Morals: definition of what is right and wrong, and distinguishing acceptable actions.
- Values: ability to distinguish what is important and prioritize tasks.

The concept of spirit and soul is debated among philosophers and theologians.
Monists believe that the essence of human beings confers individuality and is often considered synonymous with the mind of the self.
Dualists believe that the soul is immaterial, made of a different substance from the body, and acts independently of the body.

Transcendence refers to the experience of existence beyond the physical and psychological, and the idea of divinity that is separate from our universe.
Immanence refers to the discovery of the transcendent in the physical and psychological, and the idea of the divine being present in the world.

Egyptian beliefs: the "ka" (breath) survived death, while the spiritual "ba" proceeded to the region of the dead.
Chinese beliefs: distinguished between a lower, sensitive soul, and a rational principle, the "hun", which survives the grave.
Hebrew beliefs: did not separate the soul from the body.
Filipino beliefs: the soul has two existences, one physical and one spiritual, and is referred to as "kaluluwa", "ikaruruwa", or "karuruwa".
Christian beliefs: concepts of a body-soul dichotomy originated from the ancient Greeks and were introduced into Christian theology.
Epicurean beliefs: the soul was made up of atoms like the rest of the body.
Platonist beliefs: the soul was an immaterial and incorporeal substance.
Aristotelian beliefs: the soul was a form inseparable from the body.
St. Thomas Aquinas' beliefs: the soul as a motivating principle of the body, independent but requiring the substance of the body to make an individual.
St. Augustine's beliefs: the soul as a rider on the body, making clear the split between the material and immaterial.

Religion refers to beliefs and behaviors related to supernatural beings and powers.
Worldview is broader than religion and refers to the collective body of ideas that members of a culture share concerning the ultimate shape and substance of their reality.
All cultures have religion, spirituality, a worldview, and magic.

Religion is an organized system about spiritual reality, or the supernatural, along with associated beliefs and ceremonial practices.
Spirituality is a concern with the sacred in an individual manner, and is often individual rather than collective.

Myth: a sacred narrative that explains the fundamentals of human existence.
Rituals: culturally prescribed symbolic acts or procedures designed to guide members of a community through personal and collective transitions.
Supernatural: the supernatural is present in many cultures, especially in non-industrialized societies.

Cognitive function: enabling humans to explain the unexplainable phenomena.
Emotional function: helping individuals to cope with anxieties that often accompany illness, accidents, death, and other misfortunes.
Social function: social control, conflict resolution, and building group solidarity.

The "dungan" or soul of a person has two dimensions: the human body and the spiritual.
The soul is referred to as "kaluluwa" by the Tagalogs or "dungan" by the Ilonggos.
The soul is believed to leave the body while the person is asleep.

Rituals are established or fixed by traditional rules and are viewed as a universal feature of religion.
Rituals serve to relieve social tensions and reinforce a group's collective bonds.
Rituals provide a means of marking important events and lessening the social disruption and individual suffering of crises.

Relief of social tensions and reinforcement of collective bonds.
Providing a means of marking important events and lessening the social disruption and individual suffering of crises.
Serving as a means of communication with the supernatural.

Religious symbols are used to create a myth that expresses the teachings of the religion.
Examples of symbols include the Cross, Star of David, and Torii Gate.

Viktor Frankl's theory of Logotherapy suggests that finding meaning in life is a key motivation for human beings.
Frankl's hypothesis questions the thoughts of Freud, who believed that the significance of life comes from the pursuit of pleasure.
Frankl's theory holds three primary human capabilities: self-detachment, self-transcendence, and the ability to "spiritually be in touch" with something or someone independent of spatio-temporal dimensions.
Frankl's postulates include:
- Anthropological: man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be.
- Psychological: man's key motivation is the search for meaning.
- Philosophical: life has unconditional meaning, regardless of the circumstances.