Chapter 7 - A goals perspective on religion and spirituality

Abstract

This chapter explores religiosity and spirituality from the perspective of goal pursuit. It highlights that religious and spiritual strivings toward self-transcendent meaning not only aid contending with “ultimate” human existential concerns regarding death, meaning in life, and personal significance but also often bolster perceptions of subjective well-being as well. The chapter also offers insights into the sanctification of “everyday” aspects of life and goal pursuit, examining how sanctification (imbuing aspects of everyday life with divine significance) can more tangibly connect people with, often abstract, religious and spiritual values, improve everyday goal pursuit, and infuse everyday goal pursuit with self-transcendent meaning. In addition, deterrents to goal attainment and their role in religious and spiritual conviction are considered. The chapter ends with a critique of the optimality of religious and spiritual goal pursuit as a means of grappling with ultimate human existential concerns.