Spiritual Self PowerPoint PDF

Spiritual Self  Lesson Objectives  1. Demonstrate understanding of the spiritual self; 2. Explain the importance of spirituality in one’s life; 3. Identify various religious practices and beliefs; 4. Understand the self in relation with religious beliefs; and 5. Ex...

Spiritual Self  Lesson Objectives  1. Demonstrate understanding of the spiritual self; 2. Explain the importance of spirituality in one’s life; 3. Identify various religious practices and beliefs; 4. Understand the self in relation with religious beliefs; and 5. Explain ways of finding the meaning of life. When was the last time you realized that there is a higher being than yourself? What made you believe  that there is a higher being?  What is spiritual self?   Spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self that connects the person to the sacred, the supernatural, and the universe.  It enables the person to experience a feeling of oneness with a higher being and the universe, it gives a deeper purpose or meaning of one’s life.  Understanding and nurturing the Spiritual Self is as important as the other aspects of the Self.  What is spiritual self?   Spiritual self develops through interaction, observation and imitation.  The family, school and church play a very important role in a child’s spiritual development.  Importance of Understanding and Nurturing the Spiritual Self   Understanding and nurturing the spiritual self is as important as the other aspects of the self.  Understanding and developing awareness of the spiritual self gives the person a feeling of oneness with God and the universe.  It also gives a deeper purpose or meaning of one’s life.  What is spirituality?   Spirituality can be understood as the search for the sacred, a process through which people seek to discover, hold on to, and when necessary, transform whatever they hold sacred in their lives.  It generally refers to a meaning and purpose in one’s life, a search for wholeness, and a relationship with transcendent being.  What is spirituality?   In Christian Ethics, the experience of the sacred is characterized by reverence, faith, fear, trust, love and admiration, which is intimately connected to God.  Worship is regarded as essential act to realize the ultimate meaning of transcendence and human life.  Acts of worship may include prayer, reading the bible, attending sacraments, and doing sacrifices.  Religion   Religion (Stein, 2011) is a set of cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes some or all of the following basic characteristics:  A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods  A focus on the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and awe  Religion   The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings as well as physical beings and objects  The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of sacred objects to communicate to supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events  Religion   Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control within a community; provide explanation for unknown and a sense of control for individuals.  Religion  An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of religious belief lies within the spiritual self, although the choice may be influenced by the society and its culture.  Ritual   Ritual is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law. Its three characteristics are:  A feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred.  Dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the language of myth.  Is symbolic in relation to its reference. Religion   Some World Religion Beliefs and Practices   Buddhists believe that life is not a bed of roses. Instead, there are sufferings, pain, and frustrations.  Christians believe in Trinitarian God. One God in three personas.  Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by karma.  Muslims believe in Allah, who is their “One God”. They believe in the unity and universality of God.  Some World Religion Beliefs and Practices   Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves from Egypt to Canaan; believe in the coming of the Messiah, the Savior.  Orthodox believe that the Christian faith and the Church are inseparable.  Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs are all part of the expression of the  spiritual self. What to believe and how to manifest the belief is entirely dependent on the spiritual self.  A person might believe that there is a higher being, a supernatural being, usually he calls God but not necessarily wants to be affiliated or identified with a certain religious group.  Others may have religious practices which are perceived to be contrary to the practices of other groups.  Religious beliefs and practices, therefore, are formed relative to its content and culture. Finding and Creating Meaning of Life   Logotherapy  Logotherapy is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl, considered the Father of Logotherapy. Its main belief is that “man’s primary motivational force is search for meaning.”  Logotherapy  It aids individuals to find personal meaning of life, whatever life situation they may be. In Logotherapy, man can discover the meaning in life in three different ways or sources: by doing a deed; by experiencing a value; and by suffering.  Basic Concepts of Franklian Psychology  1. Life has meaning under all circumstances. 2. Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life. 3. Freedom to find meaning.  Logotherapy Assumptions  1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind and soul. 2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable. 3. People have a will to meaning. 4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning.  Logotherapy Assumptions  5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be meaningful. 6. The individual is unique.  Logotherapy Assumptions  In essence, all humans are unique with an entity of body, mind and spirit. We all go through unique situations and are constantly looking to find meaning. We are free to do these at all times in response to certain demands.  Beliefs in Spirits  Spirituality is also associated with animism. Animism or the belief that creatures, objects and places possess spirits. Despite all the scientific progress and technological advancements, existence of animism still remain.  Beliefs in Spirits  Among the sources of animism is ignorance or lack of education especially in distant and isolated places. The other source of animism is the lack of faith in God. However, one must admit that there are forces in this world that are unusual and cannot be explained by science and modern technology.   Thank you.