Sustaining culture in modern times: spiritual beliefs and practices among working women of Malaysia

Abstract

Spiritual beliefs bring comfort, order, and meaning to life in every culture, particularly in challenging times. To gain access to the spiritual beliefs and practices of Malaysia, a uniquely multicultural nation in the throes of rapid development and political change, we interviewed a diversity of Malaysian women about their spiritual beliefs. Using the lens of gender to frame the study, we focused on working women as it was theorized that women’s ways of knowing might provide insight to the challenge of sustaining traditional spiritual values while maintaining careers in the modern world, which often holds more restrictive views on spiritualism. In-depth interviews revealed a common knowledge of the rules of the invisible world, including how to gain access to it, and respect for ancient practices regardless of religion, career, ethnicity, age, or educational level. Most importantly, sharing spiritual beliefs and practices provided a means of sustaining traditional culture in the everchanging flows of Malaysia’s rapid development.