IRS MODULE 1 NOTES PDF

IRS3E (Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality) MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, & SPIRITUALITY Expected Lear...

IRS3E (Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality) MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, & SPIRITUALITY Expected Learning Outcomes Nurses Ruth Beckmann Murray and Judith Proctor Zenter write that “the spiritual At the end of this module, students are expected to: dimension tries to be in harmony with the universe, and strives for answers about the infinite, Differentiate the meaning and concepts behind Religion, Religious Experiences, and and comes into focus when the person faces emotional stress, physical illness, or death.” Spirituality. Religion: An organized system of beliefs, practices, and Develop certain practices, lifestyle, symbols designed to facilitate habits, and closeness to the divine, often involving a community and established sacredattitude or that help deepen one’s search for Spirituality vs. Emotional Health meaning and purpose in life. doctrines. Many practices recommended for cultivating spirituality are similar to those recommended for Religious Experiences: Personal encounters or feelings of Engage in open dialogueconnectionwith with theother Religions, divine or sacred, both byChristian and non- Christian alike, in the often characterized improving emotional wellbeing. This is because there is a connection between the spirit of mutual respect and appreciation transcendence or profound insight. of each one’s unique contribution to the Spirituality: An individual's personal pursuit of meaning, two—emotional and spiritual wellbeing influence one another and overlap, as do all aspects development of humanity. purpose, and connection with something greater than oneself, which may or may not involve religious structures. of wellbeing. Spirituality is about seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself, Introduction which can result in positive emotions, such as peace, awe, contentment, gratitude, and Building a relationship with God is a life-long process of transformation. The key is first acceptance. figuring out where your heart lies. Emotional health is about cultivating a positive state of mind, which can broaden your outlook When we speak of the heart, we refer to our desires, passions, and attractions. Our heart’s to recognize and incorporate a connection to something larger than yourself. desires shape our choices and preferences. They tend to determine where we invest most of Thus, emotions and spirituality are distinct but linked, deeply integrated with one another. our energy, time, and talent, and other personal gifts. Spirituality has something to do with this. It is energy, passion, that provides a sense of meaning and purpose why we do things in Thomas Merton a certain way. “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and Relationship Between Religion and Spirituality to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” While spirituality may incorporate elements of religion, it is generally a broader concept. Religion and spirituality are not the same thing, nor are they entirely distinct from one another. Why Is Spirituality Important? Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. It includes a sense of There is a growing body of evidence indicating that spiritual practices are associated with better connection to something bigger than ourselves, and involves a search for meaning in life. It is health and wellbeing for many reasons. a universal human experience—something that touches us all. People may describe a spiritual experience as sacred or transcendent or simply a deep sense of aliveness and 1. Contemplative practice is good for you. interconnectedness. jewish Contemplative practices are activities that guide you to direct your attention to a specific cynongregation Some may find that their spiritual life is intricately linked to their association with a church, temple, mosque, or synagogue. Others may pray or find comfort in a personal relationship focus—often an inward-looking reflection or concentration on a specific sensation or concept. Many spiritual traditions have a long history of using contemplative practices to increase with God or a higher power. Still others seek meaning through their connections to nature or compassion, empathy, and attention, as well as quiet the mind. art. Like your sense of purpose, your personal definition of spirituality may change throughout a. Meditation your life, adapting to your own experiences and relationships. can induce feelings of calm and clear-headedness as well as improve concentration and attention. Brain researcher Richard Davidson’s research shows that meditation Experts’ Definition of Spirituality increases the brain’s gray matter density, which can reduce sensitivity to pain, Christina Puchalski, MD, Director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and enhance your immune system, help you regulate difficult emotions, and relieve Health, contends that “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals stress. Mindfulness meditation in particular has been proven helpful for people with seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to depression and anxiety, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, type the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred.” 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. According to Mario Beauregard and Denyse O’Leary, researchers and authors of The Spiritual Brain, “spirituality means any experience that is thought to bring the experiencer into contact with the divine (in other words, not just any experience that feels meaningful).”  IRS3E (Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality) MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, & SPIRITUALITY b. Prayer isolation. When our troubled, painful experiences are framed by the recognition that countless may elicit the relaxation response, along with feelings of hope, gratitude, and others have undergone similar hardships, the blow is softened.” compassion—all of which have a positive effect on overall wellbeing. There are several types of prayer, many of which are rooted in the belief that there is a higher 4. Spiritual people make healthier choices. power that has some level of influence over your life. This belief can provide a sense Adhering to a particular spiritual tradition may bring an indirect health benefit because many of comfort and support in difficult times—a recent study found that clinically traditions have rules about treating the body with kindness and avoiding unhealthy behaviors. depressed adults who believed their prayers were heard by a concerned presence Research shows that perhaps because of these tenets, people who practice a religion or faith responded much better to treatment than those who did not believe. tradition are less likely to smoke or drink, commit a crime, or become involved in violent c. Yoga activity, and they are more likely to engage in preventative habits like wearing seatbelts and is a centuries-old spiritual practice that aims to create a sense of union within the taking vitamins. practitioner through physical postures, ethical behaviors, and breath expansion. The systematic practice of yoga has been found to reduce inflammation and stress, 5. Spirituality may help you live longer. decrease depression and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and increase feelings of An exhaustive review that compared spirituality and religiousness to other health wellbeing. interventions found that people with a strong spiritual life had an 18% reduction in mortality. d. Journaling Giancarlo Lucchetti, lead author of the study, calculates that the life- lengthening benefits of is another, often overlooked, contemplative practice that can help you become more spirituality can be compared to eating a high amount of fruits and vegetables or taking blood aware of your inner life and feel more connected to your experience and the world pressure medication. Although some researchers have suggested that the extent of around you. Studies show that writing during difficult times may help you find spirituality’s benefit on health is exaggerated, most researchers agree there is a positive meaning in life’s challenges and become more resilient in the face of obstacles. relationship between religious and spiritual practices and better health outcomes. 2. A Spiritual Community can improve your life. 6. Forgiveness is good medicine. Many spiritual traditions encourage participation in a community. Spiritual fellowship, such as Letting go of blame and negative feelings after a hurtful incident is a practice that is reflected attending church or a meditation group, can be sources of social support which may provide a by a number of spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. sense of belonging, security, and community. Strong relationships have been proven to Modern science shows the health benefits of forgiveness are numerous: better immune increase wellbeing and bolster life expectancy, which is perhaps why one study found a function, longer lifespan, lowered blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, and fewer strong association between church attendance and improved health, mood, and wellbeing. feelings of anger or hurt. 3. Spiritual strength can help you overcome hardships. Develop Your Spiritual Resources Dr. Steven Southwick’s book, Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Nurturing and developing your spirituality may be just as important as eating a healthy diet, Challenges, describes how some people overcome trauma—such as abduction, war, and exercising, and building strong relationships. Taking the time to reconnect with what you find imprisonment—by seeking comfort in spirituality or religion. He gives examples where meaningful in life and returning to life’s big questions can enhance your own sense of connection with spiritual people find ways to “meet the challenge and continue with purposeful lives...they something larger than yourself. bounce back and carry on.” Having a strong spiritual outlook may help you find meaning in life’s difficult circumstances. 1. Cultivate empathy and compassion Southwick describes the story of a woman who overcame the post-traumatic stress following Empathy is the ability and willingness to fully understand another person’s experience and an abduction and rape by believing that her trauma “served as a platform for her personal connect it to your own—for example, rather than seeing an irritable co-worker as a nuisance, development, forcing her to evaluate her life and gradually change it for the better. She you may recognize that they are reacting to stress in the workplace. Compassion is the credits her ability to move forward with her life...to her dedication to spirituality.” practice of responding to this realization with kindness—because you understand. The spiritual practice of recognizing the interconnectedness of all life can also help buffer the Andrew Weil, author of Spontaneous Happiness, describes empathy and compassion as pain that comes with difficult experiences. Researcher Kristin Neff says that “if we can “learnable skills that can bring greater happiness into your life and improve all of your compassionately remind ourselves in moments of falling down that failure is part of the relationships.” They are important to spiritual development, he explains, because they help shared human experience, then that moment becomes one of togetherness rather than you get out of self-centered ways of thinking and help you make connections with others. There are many ways to develop your sense of empathy and compassion, including:  IRS3E (Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality) MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, & SPIRITUALITY a. Listening deeply 5. Seek transcendence through nature, art, or music Let go of assumptions that others feel the way you do, and allow yourself to fully a. Spend time outside listen to the way they describe their experience. Prioritize what the other person has Feeling a connectedness to nature has been linked to decreased stress, better to say above what you yourself would like to say or gain from a given conversation connections with other people, and a heightened sense of purpose and oneness with and just listen. the world. Take a leisurely walk outside alone or with friends, or work in the garden, b. Taking others’ perspectives into account soaking in the details: the expansiveness of the sky, the wind moving through the In addition to simply listening to others, open yourself up to imagining what it would trees. be like to be in their shoes. How would you feel if you were in their situation? b. Allow yourself to get lost in music you enjoy c. Look for the good Whether it’s listening to an album on your headphones or playing the piano yourself, Positivity researcher Barbara Fredrickson recommends boosting compassion by music can incite feelings of connectedness, purpose, meaning, faith, and hope. Close actively considering others’ positive qualities. Encouraging yourself to acknowledge your eyes and allow yourself to fully immerse in the listening experience. the whole picture of another person will help you see them as a complex, dynamic c. Sit with a piece of art human who is worthy of kindness and compassion. This could be a painting in a museum, a sculpture in a local park, or even a piece of colorful graffiti—anything that calls out to you. Ask yourself why you are drawn to this 2. Identify (and live by) your beliefs and values particular piece. Do you recognize something about yourself or some universal truth Making a list of your beliefs and values will help you live with intention. This list will be fluid, in its colors, shapes, or textures? so recognize that it’s natural to shift and revise your values throughout life. Some of the questions you may ask yourself are: 6. Be good to yourself a. Boost positivity. Discover your calling The nonphysical aspects of spirituality can make it feel as if it is a remote practice, What matters most to me? separate from the rest of your life. But this isn’t true—spirituality, just like the other What drives my actions? aspects of wellbeing, is profoundly influenced by other factors in your lifestyle. What do I believe is right? b. Exercising regularly and eating a nutrient-rich diet If you need help coming up with your values, you might try a value sort activity. Exercising regularly and eating a nutrient-rich diet with lots of vegetables and fruits is one way of reminding yourself that you care deeply about this life and this body. 3. Find a spiritual community and friends Paying attention to what you eat is important, too: according to Jon Kabat Zinn, Join a spiritual group, whether that is a church or mosque, meditation center, yoga class, or a practicing mindful eating “allows you to drop right into the knowing in ways that are local group that meets to discuss spiritual issues. The benefits of social support are well effortless, totally natural, and entirely beyond words and thinking. Such an exercise documented, and having a spiritual community to turn to for fellowship can provide a sense of delivers wakefulness immediately.” belonging and support. c. Treating yourself with compassion Treating yourself with compassion is just as important as treating others well, says 4. Practice forgiveness Kristin Neff. “When we experience warm and tender feelings toward ourselves, we Letting go of blame is not easy, but the rewards of relinquishing negative feelings are aplenty. are altering our bodies as well as our minds. Rather than feeling worried and anxious, To practice forgiveness, Stanford Forgiveness Project director Fred Luskin suggests finding we feel calm, content, trusting, and secure.” The broadening effect of these positive the right perspective—parsing out whether your feelings are coming from the actual emotions can enhance our sense of curiosity, wonder, and awe—all feelings that experience of someone wronging you, or whether your anger is intensifying as you re-hash contribute to spirituality. the situation. See how those feelings are affecting you, and let go of what is not helpful. Be gentle to yourself as well—you don’t have to re-establish contact with the person who wronged you in order to forgive. As Luskin says, “Forgiveness is for you and no one else.”  IRS3E (Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality) MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, & SPIRITUALITY 7. Make contemplative practice a part of your everyday life The benefits of adopting a contemplative practice—such as meditation, prayer, yoga, or journaling—have widespread effects not just on spirituality, but on physical and emotional health as well. Take yoga class or practice chair yoga at work Dedicate 15 minutes each day to writing in a journal Listen to a guided audio meditation Join a spiritual community, such as a church, prayer group, or meditation center to share a contemplative experience with others Eat mindfully, savouring and appreciating the food that you have and minimizing distractions during meals Set aside time for prayer or reflection each day Try a guided body scan Watch a nature-guided relaxation video Seven Spiritual Needs Based on more than 30 years of psychological counseling and pastoral care, Howard Clinebell believed that humans have seven spiritual hungers in common. As you read through them, consider whether you recognize any of these spiritual needs in yourself. Are there particular areas of “spiritual hunger” in your life that need more attention than others? Specifically, Clinebell felt that human beings long to: 1. Experience the healing and empowerment of love—from others, self, and an ultimate source. 2. Experience renewing times of transcendence—expansive moments beyond the immediate sensory spheres. 3. Have vital beliefs that lend meaning and hope in the midst of losses, tragedies, and failures. 4. Have values, priorities, and life commitments centered in issues of justice, integrity, and love to provide guidance in personally and socially responsible living. 5. Discover and develop inner wisdom, creativity, and love of self. 6. Develop a deepening awareness of oneness with other people, the natural world, and all living things. 7. Have spiritual resources to help heal grief, guilt, resentment, unforgiveness, self-rejection, and shame and deepen experiences of trust, self-esteem, hope, joy and love of life.