Learning Module: Unpacking The Self - The Spiritual Self PDF

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY UNIT 2 UNPACKING THE SELF TOPIC 7 THE SPIRITUAL SELF Intended Learni...

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY UNIT 2 UNPACKING THE SELF TOPIC 7 THE SPIRITUAL SELF Intended Learning Outcome  Evaluate our self as a Religious person and Identify and describe different functions of religion Learning Activity Introduction Most spiritual people realize we are more than our physical bodies. Many believe we are a soul that is only abiding in this particular body for a time, but has resided in other bodies in the past. Many believe we originally came from the spiritual realm and we have the potential to return there. Many also believe that what sent us into this world was a higher part of our beings. We might call this part of our beings for the spiritual self or higher self. Every individual, has a spiritual belief and practice that create a pattern in their lives and set that standard for one’s morality. The assessment of spiritual self is a bit tricky. There are two things to be considered in one’s faith, the belief and practice. This is not readily recognizable unless one declares one’s faith or we can clearly see it from the action of the religious practitioner. The religious practice, on the other hand, is the action which manifests the belief of that person. This is easier to weigh because it is observable. Our right to believe is unlimited, but the practice of the belief is regulated by the Constitution as this will affect the society and the rights of other people. The spiritual self will be cohesive in its belief and practices that one’s echoed by one’s acts. However, in a lot cases these two will collide and clash. One’s belief will not be necessarily reflected in the action of that person and sooner or later, the person will have to choose between the two, either to abandon the belief or to change one’s way in order to be consistent with the belief. The strength of the spiritual self is determined by the depth of that person’s belief. Belief and Practices in Supernatural Being and Power Since the beginning of time man has been perplexed by the happening of natural phenomena. Much as human is given the rationality to think of some adverse perception, yet he is still affected by some occurrence like birth, death, natural calamities like typhoon, earthquake and 1  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY the like which are beyond his understanding. For lack of explanation, primitive men turned to his beliefs, that he attributed the natural phenomena to some external and non-personal forces with magical or supernatural power he considered sacred. To this he rendered awe, obedience and reverence. Debates on the existence of supernatural has persisted through ages. The questions, which came first, God or the idea of God? If it was the former, then we could believe in the Creation, but if it’s the latter- then it’s telling us that the idea of god is the creation of man born out of fear of the unknown and unintelligible. Whatever the direction taken, it has impact on the formation of one’s self. This belief can direct a person and serve as the guide for moral decisions and actions. When people migrate or go to a new place, one of the first things they would consider is the presence of people having the same faith as theirs. This could give them assurance that they are with the like-mind people and therefore feel safer with them. Moreover, one would rather marry somebody of the same faith or have themselves converted to the partner’s religion. Thus, the most important decision in one’s life often would be directed by one’s faith, depending on how deep the person’s religious beliefs are. The person’s identity of spiritual self is deeply tied to the center of their religion and worship. For the Christians, the belief is that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). For Buddhism and Hinduism, man’s goal is to reach Nirvana, that is the removal of desires and sufferings. In the Muslims, the name Muslim itself means one who surrenders and submits to Allah and his laws. In the Philippines, every different community in a given region will have a different set of beliefs and objects of beliefs. It is as diverse as the traditions of pre-colonial times and so it is not surprising that a certain spiritual creature is present in one region and have never been heard of in another. The Christian God would be the most common belief in the Philippines. For Christians, everything else is immaterial for as long as we follow God. He is all-knowing, all-good, Alpha and Omega. He is also God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. For Islam , the second largest religion in the Philippines, God is Allah. He was the one who showed Mohammed, the founding Prophet, the message, Jesus is not considered as the Messiah, but one of the prophets who was shown one of the gospels- Taurah, (Quran 4:171). Like in Christian tradition, he is also believed to have been born of virgin mother, Mary. Halal or permissible meat under the Muslim law, is now also gaining popularity. The Practice of Religion Religion is the belief in supernatural being and the institution and practices associated with the belief. This involves a set of symbols which arouse feeling of reverence, and awe which are likened to rituals and ceremonies like church services practice by community of believers. Religion is culturally entrenched patterns of behavior composed of sacred beliefs, emotional feelings accompanied by overt conduct implementing the beliefs and feelings. (San Juan & Centeno, 2011) 2  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY Simply religion is the bond between God and Man. So, if there is a bond between God and Man, the human self is basically being good in behavior, thinking and feeling. The famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud described religion as a form of wish fulfillment. However, modern psychology recognizes that religion can play an important role in an individual's life and experiences and can even improve health and well-being. In fact, studies have shown that religion can help people develop healthy habits, regulate their behaviors, and understand their emotions—all factors that can affect your health. Other researchers proposed that the human brain works often predisposes people to believe and that the human mind looks for patterns, purpose, and meaning, which may influence why people turn to religion to guide their belief systems. Parenting and cultural influences also play an important role since people tend to belong to the religion in which they were raised. The human need to belong, combined with the desire for social connection, also contributes to the desire to be part of someone larger than the self. Religion can serve a wide range of purposes. Religion can be a source of comfort and guidance. It can provide a basis for moral beliefs and behaviors. It can also provide a sense of community and connection to tradition. Some research even suggests that it may affect health. The impact of religion on health and life expectancy has always been a tricky area of research. It seems (to some) that religious people—defined here as people who attend religious services regularly— seem to be healthier than those who don't attend. This has led to a line of research looking into the impact of religion on health to determine the positive benefit that religion could have on life expectancy. However, this research is tricky because of several factors that are difficult to control for, including:  People who attend religious services may simply be healthier than those who cannot attend.  The benefits may have more to do with social contact than religion itself.  Certain religions may encourage healthy behaviors. Religion can contribute to a sense of community, provide support, and offer guidance. It has also been shown to impact both physical and mental health. One series of studies found that participants who were either religious or spiritual had a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), lower blood pressure (BP), better immune function, and longer lifespans when compared to people who were not religious or spiritual. Researchers found that the participants who were religious or spiritual tended to eat more nutritious diets, engage in more physical exercise, and have better cognitive function compared to people who were not religious or spiritual. In these studies, people who were religious were also less likely to smoke, which put them at a lower risk of smoking-related illnesses such as all cancers, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is linked with a better quality of life as well as a greater lifespan. Religion can also influence mental health in both positive and negative ways. Religion can serve as a source of comfort and strength when people are under stress. At other times, this connection may be less helpful—or even harmful—if it creates stress or acts as a barrier to treatment. Studies suggest that religion has both the potential to help and harm mental health and well-being.7 On the positive side, religion and spirituality can help promote positive beliefs, foster community support, and provide positive coping skills. On the other hand, negative religious coping, miscommunication, and harmful negative beliefs can be detrimental to mental health. 3  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY Religion can also play a role in helping people cope with mental health conditions. People often turn to their religious beliefs in order to cope with symptoms of mental illness and to help manage stress. Research has also shown that religious people often first turn to religious clergy when they need treatment for mental health conditions. Religious and pastoral counseling can be an important resource for people of faith who want to incorporate their religious and spiritual beliefs into their treatment. There's no doubt that religion has a complex influence on the lives of individuals and societies. Religion can help bring people together, but it can also be a source of division and stress, particularly for those who face discrimination within religious communities, such as people who hold differing beliefs from the rest of the group. Research has also found that people who struggle with their religious beliefs may experience lower well-being and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Specific religious beliefs can also play a part in the potential benefits or drawbacks. People who believe in a merciful God are more likely to forgive themselves and treat their mistakes with self-compassion. In contrast, those who believe in a punishing or judgmental God may experience worsened health effects. Given the potential benefits linked to religious affiliation, some may wonder if it might be a bad thing not to be religious. While studies suggest that religion may have health benefits, you don't need to ascribe to a set of organized religious beliefs to reap these rewards. Taking steps to engage in healthy behaviors, form social connections with others, and strengthen your coping skills are steps you can take to obtain those benefits that religion often provides. If you are concerned about religion's impact on your life, discussing your concerns with a mental health professional may be helpful. Research suggests that religion can play a positive and supportive role in people's lives in many ways. For some individuals who feel less supported or even excluded from religious practice, it is important to weigh the potential good with the potential harm. The practice of religion is restricted more than the belief as this will affect other people. It may include worship, rites, rituals, sacrifices, fiestas, trances, etc. There will also be dances meditation, celebrations, matrimonial, funeral, baptismal services or other more practices as provided by the human culture. These acts become religious practices when they are considered sacred by the practitioners depending on their belief. Most countries would regulate religious practices and limit such practices. However, it will also give as much leeway as it can to these practices. Here in the Philippines, Constitutional provisions have been written to ensure that the exercise of religious freedom will be honored. There is a conscious effort to honor the practices of the individuals for as long as it does not violate another person’s rights. In recognition of the right, more national holidays have been declared for the celebration of Muslim faith which has been traditionally given to Christian faith. Filipino religious practice is unique in such a way that it’s like a sari sari (convenient) store where some families would like to ensure they won’t miss any of the blessings all the gods would give them. Hence, you will see in some houses, an altar, a Buddha, incense, etc.- it’s mixture of all the little things from a lot of other religions. There is manifested in the amount of time and money invested on religion activities such as fiesta, Christmas, Holy week, wedding, etc. This is shown 4  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY in the language like “susmaryosep” and the penchant of using religious names for their kids. This religiosity is sometimes confusing though. The mixture of blending of different beliefs have been embedded in our faith that it is not clear to most what is biblical, spiritual, traditional or cultural. For a lot of Filipinos, most of the religious practices for them would be assumed biblical and spiritual. The Concept of Dungan- Spirit or Soul In many religious, philosophical and mythological traditions, there is a belief in the incorporeal essence of a living being called the soul. Soul or psyche (to breathe) are the mental abilities of a living being: reason, character, feeling, consciousness, memory, perception, thinking, etc. The idea of soul has permeated the consciousness of human beings as soon as humans started to speculate on what is the nature of man. In fact, some artifacts have shown us that even during pre-historic times there are some sort of concepts regarding soul or spirit. Early Greek philosophers, namely Socrates and Plato (The Republic, 381 BC) have elevated the position of soul by saying that man is soul only. This strip the man of everything, the body and all physical faculties and the only thing left would be his soul. This soul will survive the death of the body and that would be the real self. The idea of a soul is also central in most religions. For St. Thomas Aquinas, each living thing has a soul and that physical death is not the end. It will be the soul that will enjoy eternal life in the General resurrection. In Hinduism the soul (atman) is the universal, eternal self of which each individual soul (Jiva-jiva-atman) partakes. The jiva-atman is also eternal but is imprisoned in an earthy body at birth and death will liberate it into a new existence as assessed by the judgment of karma. The cycle of death and rebirth goes on and on until such time that the soul has attained karmic perfection, and becomes one with brahman (a supreme, universal spirit that is eternal and unchanging). Buddhism negates the concept not only of the individual self but of the atman as well, asserting that any sense of having an individual eternal soul or of partaking in a persistent universal self is illusory. The Muslims also believe that the soul existed at the same time as the body but that it will survive bodily death which will then have a life of its own. Some ethnic groups in the Philippines have different concept also of spirits. Animism is a belief of our ancestors that souls are quasi-physical and can exist outside the body (in dreams and in vision). A soul can be transferred from one body to another and persist after death of the body as “multo” (ghost). It may reincarnate in the next life in another form like human, animal or plant. Our ancestors believed in the spirit beings in the environment, deceased ancestral souls, and to forces in nature (wind, moon, stars) which are invoked for help. From the point of view of the “babaylan,” inside the body of a living person dwells the “Dungan” (a companion that co-exists). This “dungan” gives life, animation and sensibilities to a person. It can temporarily leave the body at will (during sleep). It is dangerous for “dungan” to 5  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY leave the body when the person is awake. The body would become like a robot that ruins out of battery (Magos, 1986). One thing that we have to remember is that the widespread idea of the soul is different from the indigenous concept of the soul. The soul is a separate entity as mentioned by Aguilar (1998) quoting Alicia Mago’s exposition of the dungan- it is a life force, an energy, as well as an ethereal entity, a spirit with a will of its own that resides in the human body and provides the essence of life. (Aguilar, F 1998 p28) Dungan also refers to willpower, knowledge and intelligence and even the ability to influence and dominate others (Magos, A. 1992, 47-50). It is believed that this spirit or soul is present at birth and has chosen the body where it will reside. It then undergoes the process of adaptation and making sure that it is perfectly knowledgeable of the world. It also has to be ensured that it is comfortable and fixed firmly in the host’s body, otherwise it may be led by other spirits to depart or even be held captive. If this happens, then the host will get sick or even die. If somebody gets a sudden surprise, dungan jumps out of the body, and when the dungan returns, then the host regains self-control. It can also leave the body when one is asleep thus allowing oneself to see itself in a dream. The dungan has to make sure that it will be able to return to the body and that it is safe whenever it travels. Rituals and Ceremonies A ritual “is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words and objects, performed in a sequestered place and performed according to set sequence”. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized but not defined by formalism, traditionalism, invariance, rule-governance, sacral symbolism, and performance. Archeologists have found presence of rituals existing since 100,000 years ago, acknowledging also that all known communities have their rituals and practices and some form of religion. These religious rituals continue to exist even in societies that have tried to curb the presence of religion. Scientific rationality also has not eliminated these seemingly mad practices. There are also some people who would claim that engaging in such acts is irrational and that they are the product of a simple mind. Yet, amidst such challenges, these practices don’t seem to suffer. So why do people engage in such acts that might contradict the seeming logic of science and natural law? According to a study done by Sosis, the main benefit of religion is the promotion of cooperation as an effective social mechanism (Sosis, 2004). 1. Rituals (patterned behavior) are a form of communication which signifies commitment to other members of the group. Most religious rituals are done publicly and usually involves, to varying degree, the whole community. These rituals are manifestations of the beliefs, values and basic ideals of that community. It shouts out to the world what is considered good and bad, appropriate and inappropriate, acceptable and unacceptable. Hence, if one participates in those rituals and others can see one’s participation- it is a public declaration of identification in that group. 6  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY 2. It gives assurance that they will not be freeriders. It tells the society that the person will do their share of the work. For example, Muslims fasting during the month of Ramadan. This is what is claimed to be too dangerous to fake. The cost for non-members would be too high because they will be sacrificing a lot. Hence, only believers and followers will do these, declaring that they can be trusted. Members of religion are often familiar with the rituals and what those ritual mean. This creates a deeper bonding with the other members and stability within the community. Also, the fact that the elements of the rituals are repeated on a regular basis lends a sense of validity and sacredness to the religious system (Stein and Stein, 2011). Whenever a member is willing to make sacrifices to meet the high demands of a religion the higher would be the commitment ensuring easier achievement of group goals. The more one is committed, the greater would be the cooperation. More cooperations means longer survival of religion or the commune. According to new anthropologists, the rituals being conducted are the critical feature that contribute to the success of religion being a cultural universal strategy. Religion, Magic and Witchcraft This is the practice of and belief in magical skills and abilities exercised by solitary practitioners and groups. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally and thus can be difficult to define with precision. Therefore, cross-cultural assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious divinatory or medicinal role and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view. Probably the most widely known characteristics of a with was the ability to cast a spell, ‘spell’ being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action. A spell could consist of a set of words, a formula or verse, or a ritual action or any combination of these. Spells traditionally were cast by many methods, such as by immolation or binding of a wax or clay image (poppet) of a person to affect him/her magically; by the recitation of incantations; by performance of physical rituals; by the employment of magical herbs or portions; and by many other means. How does magic factor in our definition of spiritual self? For example, a student will have an exam. A lot is riding on that exam as this will determine if the student can graduate or not. The student really studied hard but he/she also know that so many things can happen no matter how hard one studies because there is still possibility of failing the exam. So what else can the student do? a. Pray. Go towards the direction of religion and implore the help of God or a deity. Probably even offer a sacrifice, build an altar, bring a religious icon during exam- anything that will bring the deity to help manipulate the result of the exam. 7  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY b. Go towards the direction of magic by connecting to the supernatural so that the student can directly control the situation. The gods and spirits will not be involved here. The only thing that a student needs to know is how to perform that magic ritual in order for her/him to pass. It must be noted though that magic is often used in situations where danger is highly present (Malinowski, 1925) The main reason why people tend to fall into this magic patterns is the association of certain acts done and the resulting success afterwards. In order to replicate that success, the doer also replicates all the acts. Most gamblers perform their magical rituals. When the expected result does not happen, the reaction is- it’s not failure of the magic but because of an error done by the magician or it is also possible that somebody used magic to counter against the magician. Witchcraft is a different matter; it generally refers to individuals who have an innate ability to do evil. Witchcraft is associated with immoral and antisocial behavior such as greed, vengeance and envy (Stein and Stein, 2011). It also has to be differentiated from sorcery. Sorcery involves rituals and magic which are not a requirement in witchcraft. For as long as somebody wills evil on another person, then that is tantamount to witchcraft. It is an inherent need for people to understand what is going on around them. Some might go to science and still others will go to religion, magic or witchcraft. In the Philippine context, it is not strange to see all these three (religion, magic or witchcraft) mixed in a Filipino concept of his spiritual self. Finding and Creating Meaning The search for the meaning of life can be an exasperating experience wherein the answer is not readily given to us. Some people go through life endlessly seeking for the purpose and reason of their existence and might not even discover that in their lifetime. This has never been more apparent than in our search for our spiritual self especially since we are talking of something that is more often intangible and difficult to prove. This is the reason why some people would turn towards religion or magic or even witchcraft. Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist who was imprisoned for three years in a concentration camp during World War II provide three ways of discovering the meaning of life. His book “Man’s Search for Meaning” was a reminder of that life. He was able to provide scientific (even philosophical) observation and analysis of what made men exposed to such atrocities, horror and survive. As a psychiatrist, he was able to come up with a psychology on survival that helped him endure his experience and this he called Logotherapy. According to him (1969), the main motivation why men continue to live is the will to meaning. A person must see meaning in his life. This meaning is unique for every individual and it gives a task that only an individual alone can do at a given 8  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY moment. This may vary from time to time as well as from person to person. It is this kind of significance that gives his own will to meaning. According to Logotheraphy, we can discover this meaning in life in three difference ways: 1. By creating a work or doing a deed; Whenever we find value in who we are through the things we do, then we create meaning in our lives. 2. By experiencing something or encountering someone; Finding meaning in life can also happen when one experiences positive things like goodness, truth, beauty and especially- being loved. Where love means that one is accepted for his uniqueness or that his present and other potentialities are encouraged to the fulfillment of becoming the best person he can be. It can also be just by experiencing nature and culture where is human flourishing. 3. By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering This emphasizes that even in suffering, one can find meaning in life where one can turn one’s predicament into triumph. Suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice. A good example of this would be Nick Vujicic who was born without limbs but has now become an international inspirational speaker. For Vujicic, he chose to be worthy of his suffering and meet the challenge that was given him. One big emphasis from all these three is that, a person can always find meaning in every situation one finds oneself. Unit Summary: The belief in supernatural beings may be one of the oldest beliefs man has ever had. When people encounter events in their lives, especially misfortune, people turn to a different ways to seek explanation of what is going on around them. It is often in the realm of supernatural that people turn to. The definition of one’s spirituality is very much attuned to our belief system. It can be religion, magic or witchcraft. However, in all these, we turn to them as part of our survival. The way we define ourselves shape the choices we make. It is through this that Frankl emphasizes, we should not ask what is the meaning of life, but rather understand that it is life that is asking us- what is the meaning we give to life? TOPIC 7 ACTIVITY Explain: 1. Do you belong to any religion? If yes, how does your membership in that religion shape you? 9  LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY References: Books: Magalona, E.D., et al., (2018). Understanding the Self: Developing Life Skills. First Ed., Mindshapers Co., Inc. Rm. 108, ICP Bldg., Recoletos St., cor. Cabildo Street, Intramuros, Manila Ariola, M.M. (2018) Understanding the Self. First Ed., Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing Inc., Room 215 ICP Building, Cabildo St., Intramuros, Manila Palean, E.D.V., et al., (2018). Introspection: Understanding the Self. First Ed.,Books Atbp. Publishing Corp. 707 Tiaga cor. Kasipagan Sts., Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City Frando, M., Isip, L. (2019). Understanding the Self. First Ed., Books Atbp. Publishing Corp. 707 Tiaga cor. Kasipagan Sts., Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City Internet: https://www.verywellmind.com/religion-improves-health-2224007 https://www.amazon.com/Life-Without-Limits-Inspiration-Ridiculously/dp/0307589749 https://www.overdrive.com/media/63301/mans-search-for-meaning 10