Spiritual Presence Research Articles

PSICOLOGIA DA RELIGIÃO: VERTENTES DA ESPIRITUALIDADE INTEGRADAS À PSICOLOGIA

The presence of spirituality in the daily life of society is indisputable, even those who say they have no religious affiliation believe in the existence of a God or a superior force that helps to deal with traumas, conflicts and/or decision-making. Psychology comprises a branch of fundamental questions with in-depth discussions about the integrative aspects of the human being. Spiritual questions aim to establish answers to the invisible, in the belief and faith of the community, presenting themselves as a tool for integration in therapeutic management. The study is highly necessary, as it addresses the bio-psycho-social-spiritual being that resides in each man and woman. On the other hand, reaffirm that spirituality cannot be ignored when it is manifested in the therapeutic environment, as the aforementioned manifestation comes from the subjective element of that being.

What Returns, What Remains

Abstract: In February 2020, a group of Kanaka 'Ōiwi cultural practitioners arrived in Cambridge, England, to repatriate ancestral remains stolen from Hawai'i in the late nineteenth century. This essay explores the possession, return, and interpretation of these remains, specifically fourteen iwi po'o (human skulls) originating from the Pali, an important historic battle site in the Ko'olau mountain range of O'ahu. In telling the story of their possession and dispossession, I draw upon theories of haunting from Indigenous studies and Black studies in order to challenge the way that settler colonial structures work to limit and potentially foreclose Hawaiian relationships to spiritual presence and placemaking. Through the Native Hawaiian concept of ho'opahulu, which, in 'ōlelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language), encompasses both spectrality and the exhaustion of land from overfarming, this essay highlights connections between land, spirit, and haunting that provide a more comprehensive framework for understanding spectral placemaking beyond colonial geographies. In doing so, I argue against possessive logics, showing how contemporary Hawaiian cultural geographies fundamentally refuse, upend, and replant relations that exceed the American state.

A Survey of American Synagogue Stained Glass

Abstract This article addresses the lacuna of scholarship on Jewish-American stained glass by presenting a historical overview of this prevalent synagogue art form (1845 to the present). Analysis of key trends reveals Jewish congregations’ engagement with Christian influences by imitating the work of church stained glass in some ways while differentiating in other ways. Jewish artists and congregational leaders have also been in conversation with each other, sharing thematic and design ideas to formulate a loosely shared aesthetic and religious approach towards creating windows for their houses of worship. In accordance with the Second Commandment’s prohibition against creating “graven images,” God in figural form does not appear in synagogue space. Instead, a Jewish technique for eliciting a sense of Divine in the sanctuary has included a repertoire of light-filled images—including torches, lamps, fire, and celestial bodies—to convey a spiritual presence, enhanced by actual light from the sun itself as refracted through the windows.

Presents with presence: The role of memory and essence in heirloom gift appreciation

AbstractChoosing the right gift is a common challenge. Despite recent research suggesting that sentimental gifts are most appreciated, it remains unclear of the underlying value of such gifts. The current research examines sentimental gifts in the context of heirlooms and demonstrates that the value of such sentimental gifts comes from their memory value (being a reminder of loved ones) and essence value (being a receptacle of their spiritual presence). These findings emphasize the importance of prior physical contact with an item on the appreciation of heirloom gifts and demonstrates how ordinary store‐bought gifts can benefit from increased appreciation when framed as future heirlooms (being gifted with the intention to be 1 day gifted to future generations). Three experiments find support for these predictions. This research contributes to the understanding of gifting by exploring the mechanisms underlying heirloom gift appreciation and offers guidance to those looking to give gifts that will be well received.

CATEGORIZATION OF ADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Adherence to antiretroviral treatment is an important barrier to adequate health care. The objective of this study was to characterize people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and exhibit adaptive behaviors in response to treatment, and to compare the control variables for these behaviors. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Outpatients on antiretroviral treatment who had, for more than 12 months, an undetectable viral load and CD4 ≥ 500 cells/mm3 were evaluated. For data collection, the following were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, semi-structured interview, WHOQOL-bref and Cross-sectional Symptom Scale. Quantitative and qualitative analyzes of the data were carried out. Of the 36 participants, the majority were male, with low education and low socioeconomic status. The majority identified two or more sources of social support and did not present severe psychiatric symptoms. There was an adequate perception of general quality of life and satisfaction with health. A statistically significant association was also found between mental health and quality of life. The majority reported having no difficulty with drug treatment and listed motivation related to quality of life, social support and spirituality. Among the main tips offered, persistence in treatment, the search for adequate information and social support stood out. It is concluded that adherence to antiretroviral treatment consists of a collaborative process and co-responsibility in health care. Psychological adaptation to HIV/AIDS associated with satisfaction with available social support and the presence of spirituality encourage adherence and maintenance of treatment and strengthen PLWHA's ability to cope.

Dreams and Grief Process in Selected Communities in Africa

Death is as old as life itself. The unpredictable psychological feeling called grief is usually accompanied by emotional setbacks such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and yearning. Within these emotions also lie the reality of dreaming about the deceased. Thus, this study aimed to assess the role of dreams in grief process among selected communities in Africa and was guided by Nyerere’s philosophy of Ujamaa. The study used a phenomenological design with a sample size of 31 respondents from the Igbo (Nigeria), Tabwa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Muganda (Angola), Agni Morofoue (Cote D’ivoire), Luo (Kenya) and Gusii (Kenya) cultures. The results of the study were interpreted using content analysis. The findings showed that dreams served the roles of comfort, encouragement, warning, revelation, and spiritual presence during grief process. The results also showed that dream images can be interpreted in three ways; positively, negatively or altered image interpretation, each having its emotional effects. Prayers, purification, libations, and ritualistic sacrifices are some of the communal healing techniques for dreams having a negative image interpretation. The study therefore recommends that detailed analysis be combined with empathetic intuition and creative imagination in dream interpretation as many African communities place great importance on dreams.

Participation in Artificial Intelligence: Toward a Tillichian Reading of AI-Produced Images

This paper argues that Paul Tillich's theology of art is an effective approach to assessing images generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Tillich's theology of art and concept of participation demonstrate its limits and provide a helpful supplement to the dominant approach of focusing on AI creativity and consciousness, particularly through the framework of philosopher Margaret Boden. In Tillich's theology of art, there is an existential experience of being grasped into participation in the ground of being through the artwork that comes through participation in the art. In participating in the art, one also participates in that artist's contextual answer to the question of ultimate meaning. This article finds that AI-generated images, on their own, lack intentionality and desire to express participation in the spiritual presence and so do not provide this "religious style." Rather, the participation of a human artist crafting text prompts and curating the produced images is necessary along with the AI software.

Visiting the Prophet at His Grave: Discussions about the Religious Topography of Madina

Theological discussions about visits to the Prophet’s grave in Madina are the focus of this paper. The relevant question in this context relates to the idea of a postmortem life of the Prophet and its accessibility for believers after his death. The idea of a spiritual presence of the Prophet in this world is found in the description of religious visits to Madina, namely in the traditional Sunni books of Fiqh (describing the normative rules concerning the Prophet’s grave), as well as in some books of Tafsir. These ideas have been challenged by the Wahhabi movement, in which the idea of becoming connected to the Prophet’s presence is refused and the visit to Madina is seen to be focused on the mosque, not the grave of the Prophet. This reinterpretation is examined in this article on the basis of various textual references.

Employee’s Spiritual Well-Being: Diminishing the Negative Fibs of Job Stress, Ego Depletion and Cyberloafing

Purpose: The present study aims to empirically examine a research model that investigates the impact of job stress and ego depletion on cyberloafing behavior. Also examining the role of Islamic workplace spirituality as a moderating factor in the relationship between job stress and ego-depletion, with cyberloafing and its consequences on employees’ spiritual well-being. Theoritical Framework: This study used the theory of self-regulation and control. Although there may be slight differences in the conceptualization of self-regulation of behavior but if a discrepancy is detected, the behavior is performed, or expectations are modified to mitigate the mismatch. It is the basis for examining the impact of work-related stress and ego depletion on human behavior. Design/methodology/approach: This research was conducted with 271 employees out of 547 population’s members of Islamic-based universities located in Banyumas Regency, Indonesia. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling, and the distributiin of questionnaires to employess was conducted haphzardly. Data were then analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS). Findings: The finding indicates a favorable relationship between job stress, ego depletion, and cyberloafing. A noteworthy finding also indicates that engaging in cyberloafing should nourish employes spiritual well-being. The presence of Islamic workplace spirituality did not seem to have a moderating effect on the association between job stress and cyberloafing. In contrast, Islamic workplace spirituality serves as a moderating factor in the relationship between cyberloafing and spiritual well-being. Research, Pratical & Social Implication: This finding does not align with previous research on job stress and cyberloafing. However, researchers have expanded the research model related to cyberloafing by including ego depletion and spiritual well-being variables. They have also examined the moderating influence of Islamic workplace spirituality on the relationship between cyberloafing and spiritual well-being. The purpose of this study is to incorporate academic literature regarding the impact of cyberloafing. This trend is not inherently negative but is associated with the value of spiritual well-being. The anticipated outcomes of this study encompass both theoretical and practical contributions to the fields of spiritual well-being and workplace deviant behavior. Originality/value: This research examines the impact of cyberloafing behavior on the spiritual well-being of individuals in a professional setting. Following the research subject, researchers also incorporate a spiritual value to the concept of well-being, as the study is conducted within an Islamic university that adheres to Islamic principles in its practices.

Aspects of Shrine Devotion and its Entwined Communication with the Lived Sufi Culture in Karachi

This paper endeavors to gain insight into the phenomenon of sacred presence, as it is perceived, expressed, and defined by devotees of diverse Sufi orders in the context of a sampling of ritual practices, narratives, and beliefs connected to eight Sufi saints’ tombs in Karachi. The paper explores how devotion, tradition, and faith through the saints are preserved within the physical and spiritual framework of shrines and play an indispensable role in the lives of the ordinary person. How a deep love and veneration are epitomized as a testimony to the Saints’ selfless service to God’s creation, and how these sacred spaces have stood the test of time in preserving tradition and the essence of the spiritual. This paper investigates rituals, and practices and how through the singular thread of devotion to the saints they connect various communities that make up the diverse populace of Karachi. This paper argues that despite the apparent disorderliness, disruption, and haphazardness, there is a unity of purpose behind different rituals/ways of remembrance and its integration into people’s lives, centered around and nourished by the saints’ spiritual presence, which is a lived experience for millions. It investigates the ways this culture becomes the common thread of connection, unity, and continuity for a vast populace that identifies with the connection (nisbat), of the saints (auliya) and their shrines (dargahs).

Employee’s Spiritual Well-Being: Diminishing the Negative Fibs of Job Stress, Ego Depletion and Cyberloafing

Purpose: The present study aims to empirically examine a research model that investigates the impact of job stress and ego depletion on cyberloafing behavior. Also examining the role of Islamic workplace spirituality as a moderating factor in the relationship between job stress and ego-depletion, with cyberloafing and its consequences on employees’ spiritual well-being. Theoritical Framework: This study used the theory of self-regulation and control. Although there may be slight differences in the conceptualization of self-regulation of behavior but if a discrepancy is detected, the behavior is performed, or expectations are modified to mitigate the mismatch. It is the basis for examining the impact of work-related stress and ego depletion on human behavior. Design/methodology/approach: This research was conducted with 271 employees out of 547 population’s members of Islamic-based universities located in Banyumas Regency, Indonesia. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling, and the distributiin of questionnaires to employess was conducted haphzardly. Data were then analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS). Findings: The finding indicates a favorable relationship between job stress, ego depletion, and cyberloafing. A noteworthy finding also indicates that engaging in cyberloafing should nourish employes spiritual well-being. The presence of Islamic workplace spirituality did not seem to have a moderating effect on the association between job stress and cyberloafing. In contrast, Islamic workplace spirituality serves as a moderating factor in the relationship between cyberloafing and spiritual well-being. Research, Pratical & Social Implication: This finding does not align with previous research on job stress and cyberloafing. However, researchers have expanded the research model related to cyberloafing by including ego depletion and spiritual well-being variables. They have also examined the moderating influence of Islamic workplace spirituality on the relationship between cyberloafing and spiritual well-being. The purpose of this study is to incorporate academic literature regarding the impact of cyberloafing. This trend is not inherently negative but is associated with the value of spiritual well-being. The anticipated outcomes of this study encompass both theoretical and practical contributions to the fields of spiritual well-being and workplace deviant behavior. Originality/value: This research examines the impact of cyberloafing behavior on the spiritual well-being of individuals in a professional setting. Following the research subject, researchers also incorporate a spiritual value to the concept of well-being, as the study is conducted within an Islamic university that adheres to Islamic principles in its practices.

Politicization of holistic spirituality, mistrust of science and public space in Argentina post COVID-19

As many analysts of contemporary spirituality have pointed out, the renewed public presence of alternative non-denominational spirituality, generally identified with those who define it as ‘spiritual, but not religious’, is a process that forces us to rethink the more classical relationships between religion, public sphere, and politics. In this article, the author discusses in detail the relationships between holistic lifestyles and spiritualities in relation to public distrust of COVID-19 in Argentina. The strong presence of discourses and practices related to therapeutic holism in the trajectories and arguments of distrust of official expert politics will lead to establish a relatively unanalyzed and quite unexpected relationship in studies on the politicization of contemporary spirituality.

Afterlives of the Clouded Leopard

This paper analyses the afterlives of the likulau (clouded leopard), through its spiritual presence and material traces among the indigenous Paiwan people of Taiwan. Despite having been locally extinct for over half a century, the clouded leopard still continues to inhabit the myths and imaginations of the local population. In traditional Paiwan culture, the clouded leopard held a special status, and its skin and teeth were used to make ritual clothes and adornments for the village chiefs. In this paper, I explore the significance of these likulau artefacts in contemporary Paiwan society. I also examine how the Paiwan’s interactions with and the cultural significance of these objects have evolved in connection with environmental changes and social transformations of Paiwan society. As embodied in these material traces, the clouded leopard is both absent and present, extinct and alive. I explore this spectral presence via the concept of survivance (Didi-Huberman), examining how the ambiguous persistence of the clouded leopard relates to the resilience of traditional Paiwan culture.

Impact of spirituality on mortality of patients admitted to the intensive care unit

The conceptual heterogeneity of spirituality has been widely recognized and, for some authors, spirituality does not have a clear definition, being the term used imprecisely and inconsistently, varying according to religion, culture and time and therefore difficult to measure. The theme is so relevant that the Department of Spirituality and Cardiovascular Medicine of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology elaborated and published a Position on arterial hypertension and spirituality – 2021, making it clear that the realization of the spiritual anamnesis is fundamental. We evaluated 200 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to clinical pathologies that were lucid and conscious. Because there is no single and established methodology, it was decided to elaborate a score of easy applicability in the patients evaluated by this group to classify the patient as spiritualized or non-spiritualized. Before classifying them as spiritual or not, the risk of mortality in this hospitalization was calculated through the Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (SAPS 3). The 200 patients had a predictive score of death around 20% (18.5% to 21%). Through this sample, it is concluded that the existence of faith and the presence of active spirituality of these patients was one of the factors for the reduction of mortality during their hospitalization during the period in which they remained in the ICU. Another highlight was the lower mortality in women, especially in the non-spiritual group (2.5 times lower). The length of ICU stay did not vary significantly between groups.

Jesus Prayers Applied in Separation of Craniopagus Twins (Medical Innovation and Distress Elimination by Contemplation)

There is considerable literature on the harmful effects of distress in medically critical situations. There is just as much literature available on psychological methods aimed at relieving stress. One can make creative and fast decisions without stress much more effectively. We will discuss these acute decisions and investigate them with a scientific approach, attempting to judge the propriety of decisions made in emergencies by medical personnel. We will investigate the results of our contemplative approach to this phenomenon through concrete examples. Deliberate practice of contemplative behavior daily gives one the ability to quickly retrieve the learned approach, previously studied and experienced in contemplative behavioral practice, during a given procedure. Once the information is retrieved regarding a certain procedure, it can be synthesized with the situation at hand, which allows for the formulation of an enhanced creative option that may increase the possibility of a successful procedure. Thus, the procedure together with the application of the contemplative approach could be acknowledged as a real innovative treatment after gaining scientific approval. This article gives an account of the application of the practiced contemplative approach during a craniopagus, resulting in the success of the procedure. The article gives an account of three different neurosurgical innovations that were possible with the application of the contemplative approach. These innovations eventually gained wide recognition, applied by many, leading to progress in neurosurgical challenges not conquerable before. The case study we investigate was the separation of a craniopagus in which the engraved spiritual algorithms of the stress-distress situation there because of contemplative practice led to the innovation of surgical techniques responsible for the success of the procedure. Spiritual silence is a helpful aid, swiftly attainable if the invocation of it is practiced every day. Ensuring the presence of spirituality during the mindful contemplation of procedures results in professional success of emergencies, demonstrated in the case of the neurosurgical separation of a craniopagus. Alongside a strong intellectual understanding of the profession, emphasis on spirituality allows for successful execution.

Beyond Memorial

This article discusses the primacy of divine action in the observance of the Lord's Supper as a correction to some common misconceptions in memorial views. The author discusses the similarities and differences between Zwingli's memorial view and Calvin's spiritual presence view. This article presents a modified spiritual presence view to capture three essential elements of the Supper: the primacy of divine action, the need for human participation, and the formative importance of the physical media of the Supper.

JOHN CALVIN DAN PERJAMUAN KUDUS: SEBUAH PROPOSAL BAGI PRAKTIK DI GEREJA BETHEL INDONESIA

This research intends to give a proposal concerning the practice of the holy communion in Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) based on John Calvin’s theological thought. As one of the largest Pentecostal church in Indonesia and even further, as a Holy Spirit-centered church, GBI has not yet given a ‘room’ for Holy Spirit to unite the church with Christ through holy communion. In general, the holy communion practice is done as a memorial act upon His crucifixion that not only save the world, but also able to heal physical ailments. This study is using literature study to explore some material sources from GBI that contain the church’s doctrine, the primary source of John Calvin’s theological idea from his writings, and also secondary sources from theologians that has been exploring this issue. The researcher’s perspective and experience of being a member of GBI also cannot be dismissed to contribute in this study. I argue two things: 1) that Calvin’s theology on ‘spiritual presence’ about the union with Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit can be a beneficial contribution to the practice of the holy communion in GBI and it is not conflicting each other, considering the work of the Holy Spirit is a central doctrine in the life of Pentecostal congregation; 2) The act of faith in the GBI context might be a necessary role in believing the work of the Holy Spirit in holy communion. Researcher also give some potential challenges and solutions to consider in doing this proposal. 
 

Spirituality in the uncertainty of illness: the perspective of oncology patients.

To analyze spirituality in the process of illness uncertainty in cancer patients. This is a qualitative study, in which Merle Mishel's Theory of Uncertainty of Disease was used as a theoretical framework; and as a methodological reference, the stages of Bardin's Content Analysis. As a technique for obtaining information, a semi-structured interview was used. Spirituality in the uncertainty of the disease varies from patient to patient and acts in a unique way. They presented readaptation attitudes in their reports. The presence of spirituality in their lives acted as the main force mechanism to deal with the uncertainty of the disease, and this moment was called by Mishel "probabilistic thinking". Patients demonstrated readaptation attitudes in their reports, and spirituality acted as the main mechanism of strength to deal with uncertainty in the disease.

Personal beginnings and institutional endings in spiritualism

AbstractIn the religious movement known as Spiritualism, a medium's task is to provide evidence that there is no such thing as death. Human existence is defined by Spiritualists in terms of continual spiritual progress rather than stark beginnings and endings, although converts do tell vivid stories of the moment they realised Spiritualism's truth. The movement changed over decades as mediums turned their attention from physical to mental manifestations of spiritual presence. Mediumship has remained popular in public culture, but as an institution Spiritualism has declined in prominence to the point where many members of the movement now join it as converts and worry about the closure of churches. In this article, I juxtapose personal and institutional beginnings and endings to show their interrelation, with people's senses of radical newness and progress cultivated in the context of perceived institutional decline.

Making Informal Sacred Geographies: Spiritual Presence, Sensual Engagement, and Wayside Shrines in Urban India

Inspired by recent debates in material religion, and using the example of the central Indian city of Bhopal, this article characterizes an informal Hindu religious geography that flourishes in the interstices of India’s planned urbanity. The small wayside shrines that dot Indian cities usually arise spontaneously, created by believers who discern divine manifestations and begin to worship these. Traces of ritual activities animate others to follow suit and express their devotion, thus reinforcing the sites’ sacredness. The daily repetition of myriad minor ritual gestures maintains a dynamic religious geography, which in a recursive mode ties together devotees in an anonymous ritual community, whose members share a visual language and are inclined to take seriously the desire of deities to live among humans. With a focus on minor religion, and by concentrating on the social life of a cosmos of informal shrines, the text highlights a less-studied dimension of urban religion. It draws attention to the cumulative effect of lived practices and human–material entanglements, and complements discussions that frequently engage with omnipresent politics of formalization as well as competition of communities for attention and recognition in multireligious spaces.