Spiritual Sense Research Articles

Student Leader Burnout at Christian Universities: The Protective Roles of Achievement and Awareness of God

Many leaders increase their risk of burnout, the strain from exposure to job-related stress, by neglecting to adequately care for themselves, especially as they experience conflict between the roles they perform and a lack of clarity around the limits of their responsibilities. Resident Assistant (RA) positions are often ambiguous and ill-defined, encompassing roles as helping professionals, administrators, and spiritual leaders for their residents at all hours of the day, navigating conflicting demands placed on them by their myriad responsibilities while also being students themselves. The role conflict and ambiguity they are exposed to have increased in recent years as the scope of RA positions continues to expand, heightening role conflict and ambiguity. This study collected surveys of RAs at a Christian university in the southwest United States to determine the effects of one’s sense of personal accomplishment and spirituality on burnout and its facets of emotional exhaustion, a marked lack of emotional and physical energy, and depersonalization, a dehumanizing perception that distances self from others. Findings indicate that high levels of personal accomplishment, when paired with a strong awareness of God, mitigate the risk of burnout by attenuating the relationship between emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. This extends current understandings of protective factors that can inform efforts to prevent burnout and promote well-being in RAs and other spiritual leaders.

Religion as a strategy for Ukrainians to overcome difficulties at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022

This study is about those Ukrainians who chose faith аs their dominant survival strategy at the beginning of the war. The multifunctionality of the religious strategy (according to K. Pargament) can manifest itself in religious behavior, which is also observed among the respondents: passive, active, in the development of personal relationships with God and interpersonal — in the middle of church communities, focused on solving problems and the emotional calm that religious practices bring — prayer and participation in divine services. A religious coping strategy helps to find hope through faith and trust in God and build a more positive vision of your future and your country. How did Ukrainians use religion to deal with the fear and trauma of war? This study shows how some Ukrainians, feeling the fear and trauma of war, turned to religion and faith not only in the traditional spiritual sense, but also in a broader interpretation as a hope and trust for a better future, victory and the forces of good. In order to identify strategies that help Ukrainians survive difficult trials, we conducted the interviews in April and May 2022 with 31 Ukrainians from different regions of Ukraine and abroad. Our research particularly highlights the spiritual experience of the Roman Catholic community of Ukraine. Religious coping mechanisms included physical activities such аs evening prayer with the family and attending church services. Metaphysical actions included communicating with God in everyday life or "giving everything to God." Religion was singled out as one of the strategies for overcoming difficulties by Ukrainians in extreme situations. Using thematic analysis, several strategic areas for dealing with stress were identified from the interview. In a brief linguistic analysis, It was noted that the word ‘faith’ appears in various meanings, not only faith in God, but also faith in victory, faith in the forces of good, faith in a better future for their children. Verbal concepts that reveal respondent’s religious worldview — faith in God (4 mentions), prayer (4), God (3), religious community (2), hope in God (4), faith (2), Lord God (2), church (1), trust in God.

Il significato dei riti e delle usanze del Triduo Pasquale nell'opera di Amalario di Metz Liber officialis

This article explores the subject of the Paschal Triduum, which has been at the centre of the liturgical celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ since the first centuries of the Church. The author examines Liber officialis, the work of the medieval liturgist Amalarius of Metz, to show the rites used in the liturgy during the most important days for Christians in the first half of the ninth century. The paper analyses the rites described in Liber officialis and the liturgical customs of the Paschal Triduum, for which Amalarius of Metz provides rich interpretation and justification. The author of this study shows the theological, symbolic and spiritual sense of the celebrations presented in the medieval liturgical instructions. In his analysis, the author takes into account the vital importance of Amalarius’s allegorical method as this mode of interpretation reveals ingenuity and creativity, though requires a realistic assessment of the reliability of the interpretations. Amalarius’s theories from Liber officialis are examined so that the conclusions of the analysis may serve today as an aid to a better understanding of the liturgy of the Paschal Triduum.

Parting the Waters: the Anagogical Sense in Maximus’ Ambiguum 10

Abstract Those who wish to see an example of anagogical interpretation of the Bible will find abundant examples of it in the tenth of Maximus the Confessor’s Ambigua to John. This article explores Maximus’ approach to the spiritual sense of Scripture as exemplified in Ambiguum 10, particularly as it adumbrates a biblical basis for the elements of his theological anthropology. It begins with an overview of Maximus’ approach to biblical interpretation and pertinent elements of his anthropology. After presenting examples of Maximus’ anagogical exegesis, the article concludes by evaluating these interpretations by the inner logic of the spiritual senses (called here “formal continuity”) to show how an anagogical interpretation can be authentically understood to reveal a major element of that anthropology, namely the fall of man.

French Catholics and Synodality: Spiritual Sensibilities and the Will to Participate or Abstain

Using the situation of French Catholicism as a starting point, this article shows how sociologists of Catholicism have continued to refine the methods and categories used to construct the representation of Catholicism and understand the expectations of Catholics. The most recent surveys are based on an in-depth analysis of how Catholics think about “their church,” and identify what is causing the crisis within it. They are of particular interest in understanding why some practicing Catholics, especially younger ones, have shown little interest in the Synod on Synodality scheduled by Pope Francis. In fact, sociological surveys help us understand how the synodal process, through its procedure and legitimization, encourages the participation of certain sensibilities and discourages others. Sociological analysis also enables us to identify resources for overcoming this resistance, developing listening among Catholics and working towards the authentically ecclesial character of synodality. In conclusion, the article argues that the contribution of the social sciences should be taken into account in the development of consultation techniques and ecclesial governance.

Does Workplace Spirituality Enhance Employee Well‐Being? The Mediating Role of Workplace Happiness

ABSTRACTWorkplace spirituality and employee well‐being are significant aspects of organizational behavior that greatly influence the success of an organization. While numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of workplace spirituality on employee performance, few have delved into its correlation with workplace happiness (WPH). The present research seeks to investigate the direct and indirect effects of workplace spirituality on workplace engagement and employee well‐being, with WPH serving as a mediator. The groundwork for the proposed conceptual model was laid by conducting a survey with 473 working professionals from Indian organizations, employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. Results reveal that employees with a strong sense of workplace spirituality tend to have greater attachment to the workplace. WPH, in turn, acts as a mediator in the relationship between workplace attachment (WPA) and employee well‐being. This study sheds light on the significant relationship between workplace spirituality, WPA, and employee well‐being. It underscores the importance for organizations to prioritize WPH of employees which in turn, would enhance their well‐being within the workplace. The study also discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, offering suggestions about directions for future research.

Navigating the Complexities of Inter-Religious Peacebuilding: Implications for Theory and Practice

As conflict dynamics become complex and escalate globally, especially identity-based conflicts, we are witnessing an unprecedented shift in the Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Peacebuilding field toward contextually innovative and effective community-led approaches. The inadequacies of liberal and neoliberal paradigms and the increase in identity-based conflicts, religious pluralism, and differences in communities have motivated evidence-based inter-religious community-level engagements over the past two decades. These interventions rely on the theoretical frameworks of emancipatory peacebuilding and compassionate reasoning, and reflect an in-depth sense of spirituality, longing, and the essence of human relationship building and practice. This study gathers data from primary sources (which include findings from hybrid interviews) through a semi-participatory and empirical qualitative explorative research process in order to critique the underlying philosophies of traditional paradigms and explore emerging alternatives. It also posits that inter-religious community-led interventions are founded on the emancipatory elicitive religious peacebuilding (EERPb) framework. They are adaptive to non-linear (and sometimes non-scientific) approaches and are less focused on international standards. The framework fundamentally embraces phenomenological, metaphysical, and ethical realities in peacebuilding, operationalizes the concept of just peace, and acknowledges a global approach to peace that offers the opportunity to resolve the difficulties encountered by the various CAR and peacebuilding theoretical schools.

Technological Culture and the Challenge of Erosion of Yorùbá Moral Values

The advent and rapid evolution of technology have significantly impacted global cultures, including the culture of Yorùbá people, an ethnic group primarily located in southwestern Nigeria. The Yorùbá people are known for their rich cultural heritage, which includes a strong emphasis on communal living, respect for elders, and a deep sense of spirituality and moral uprightness. However, the pervasive influence of technological advancements, such as the internet, social media, and mobile technologies, has posed a significant challenge to the preservation of these values. Social media platforms, in particular, have played a role in reshaping perceptions of morality, success, and identity, often promoting values that conflict with traditional Yorùbá principles. This paper examines how technological culture contributes to the erosion of Yorùbá moral values, traditionally passed down through generations. A self-structured questionnaire grounded in the Ọmọlúàbí Code of Ethics was used as instrument. One hundred Yorùbá youths in Ede community, Osun State, Nigeria were sampled across the three major religious groups in Nigeria and copies of the questionnaire given to them. The findings reveal a significant relationship between the increasing use of technology and the perceived erosion of Yorùbá moral values. The younger generations, who are more engaged with digital platforms, exhibit a noticeable shift in moral perspectives, often aligning more with globalized digital culture than traditional Yorùbá ethics. Now, while technological culture poses challenges to the preservation of Yorùbá moral values, it also offers opportunities for innovative cultural engagement and education. The study, therefore, recommends a balanced approach, advocating for the integration of traditional values within modern technological frameworks. This study also recommends that film censoring should be taken more seriously by the government in order to disallow contents that seem to downplay good moral values and that broadcasting houses should promote/project indigenous cultural and moral values.

Jézus hívása

The subjects of the vocation and mission are the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The basis and the aim of the Father’s calling and sending is Jesus. Between Jesus’ transfiguration and return, the Holy Spirit is the subject of the vocation and the mission. Jesus is able to make the stones cry out, yet he still calls ordinary people to proclaim his eternal message. In spite of the apparent restriction, Jesus’ call in Mt 11,28a refers to everyone. Jesus’ universal call becomes evident in Mk 13,10 and, eventually, in his command that is sent to every creature and nation all over the world. The universal call is delivered as a personal call. The goal of calling is practical discipleship. In a spiritual sense, God calls us away from sin, death and judgment. In a physical sense, the calling can be heard everywhere, be it at the church, at work, at home, at a place of entertainment, at the supermarket or on the road. The universal call knows neither racial, national, religious, social or sexual differences nor geographical boundaries. Along with the calling, mission is universal as well because it concerns Jews and Gentiles regardless. Jesus taught us that service means sacrifice and suffering, for which he set an example. The responsibility of the mission means a step out from us and a start towards others, service done to others. The triune God, out of his endless grace, called us, elected us and sent us, deeming us worthy of being his serving and suffering fellow-workers.

A Negative Way: Dionysian Apophaticism and the Experiential

The experiential bias in modern understandings of spirituality has led to readings of the pre-modern texts of Pseudo-Dionysius as referring to “negative experiences” of faith. Denys Turner, Bernard McGinn, and others have outlined the mistaken “spiritual positivism” of such readings and their contrast with the negative dialectics of the classical apophatic tradition. Indeed, the philosophical parameters of the Christian mysticism of the Dionysian tradition would deny “mystical experience” to be “experience” as such. Nevertheless, several modern theologians have attempted to integrate interpretations of the experiential in Christian mysticism into their theology. These include Sara Coakley in the idea of spiritual sense in her theology of the body, Karl Rahner in the conception of spiritual touch within his theology of grace, and Louis Dupré’s view that there is religious significance in the experience of “emptiness” in modern-day atheism. I shall contrast these attempted integrations with the critique of “mystical experience” within classical understandings of apophaticism.

Existential Issues and Coping: A Qualitative Study of Breast Cancer Women

Breast cancer was supposed to induce existential issues among women. The study's major aims were to examine breast cancer patients' existential issues and coping mechanisms. The author conducted the interviews using an existential approach to capture the extent to which breast cancer women encountered existential issues. Sample was collected via purposive sampling. In Punjab, Pakistan interviews were conducted with documented breast cancer ladies. The researcher looked at numerous themes that emerged from interviews with ten women with breast cancer, all of whom were under support from the government at the time of the interview. This research was qualitative. Death anxiety, loss of control, meaninglessness, loneliness, freedom of choice, helplessness, and hopelessness were some of the existential challenges identified by reflective thematic analysis of the interview data from women living with breast cancer. And applied a lot of coping strategies against these existential issues like religiosity, sense of spirituality, improved family bounding, rescuer defense, anxiety defense mechanisms (denial, suppression, projection), distancing herself, reinterpreting the event, enhanced self-esteem, reframing the situation, sharing their experience with others, finding reasons to be hopeful, realization, reevaluation, believe on fate, acceptance, universalize the predicament, meaningful activities, counseling session helped them against existential issues.

Unveiling the Spiritual Essence in Contemporary Bahraini Mosques through Architectural Phenomenology

This research explores the impact of light phenomenology on user experience in contemporary mosques, focusing onmosques in Bahrain. The research aims to understand the significance of architectural phenomenology, and how lightcan contribute to affecting the user experience, particularly in smaller contemporary mosques. The theoretical studydelves into the role of architecture in shaping space, a detailed examination of light phenomenology, its role in sacredspaces, and its effects on human beings. The case study involves a phenomenological analysis of three contemporarymosques, considering building orientation, natural light fenestration, material qualities, and artificial lighting. Theresults indicate that despite the absence of traditional Islamic elements, contemporary mosques in Bahrainsuccessfully create a spiritual atmosphere through the integration of natural light. User surveys reveal a preferencefor mosques that provide a sense of spirituality, emphasizing the importance of light in enhancing the sacredexperience.

A pilot study of virtual Harm Reduction Talking Circles for American Indian and Alaska Native adults with alcohol use disorder.

Prior research suggests that culturally aligned, accessible and lower-barrier interventions are well-placed to align with the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Taking into account community members' suggestions and the need for physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, our team developed a protocol for virtual Harm Reduction Talking Circles (HaRTC) to incorporate these points. The aims of this 8-week, single-arm pilot were to initially document feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes associated with attendance at virtual HaRTC, which integrates the accessibility of virtual connection, a lower-barrier harm-reduction approach, and a culturally aligned intervention. Participants (N = 51) were AI/AN people with AUD (current or in remission) across 41 Tribal affiliations and 25 US states. After a baseline interview, participants were invited to attend 8, weekly virtual HaRTC sessions. At the baseline, midpoint and post-test assessments, we collected data on virtual HaRTC acceptability, cultural connectedness, quality of life, and alcohol outcomes. Of the 123 people approached, 63% were interested in and consented to participation. Participants attended an average of 2.1 (SD = 2.02) virtual HaRTC sessions, with 64% of participants attending at least one. On a scale from 1 to 10, participants rated the virtual HaRTC as highly acceptable (M = 9.3, SD = 1.9), effective (M = 8.4, SD = 2.9), culturally aligned (M = 9.2, SD = 1.5), helpful (M = 8.8, SD = 1.9), and conducted in a good way (M = 9.8, SD = 0.5). Although the single-arm study design precludes causal inferences, participants evinced statistically significant decreases in days of alcohol use and alcohol-related harm over the three timepoints. Additionally, both sense of spirituality, which is a factor of cultural connectedness, and health-related quality of life increased over time as a function of the number of HaRTC sessions attended. Virtual HaRTC shows initial feasibility and acceptability as a culturally aligned intervention for AI/AN people with AUD. Future randomized controlled trials will provide a test of the efficacy of this approach.

Transcendence through Nature: Mysticism and Spiritual Connection in Mary Oliver’s Poetry

This research discusses the mystical elements and themes in Mary Oliver’s selected poems, Wild Geese, the Summer Day, Morning Poem, When Death Comes, In Blackwater Woods, and the Journey. These poems reflect various mystical themes such as the deep spiritual connection with nature, human states of consciousness, transcendence of the self, unity with nature, and the pursuit of enlightenment through her poetic symbols, language, imagery, and themes. Mysticism offers an experiential connection between the human soul and the divine. Mysticism holds that the soul may see and understand using a spiritual sense that cuts across the physical world. Those with this inner sense of intuition can get insights into eternal wisdom, know God, experience a conscious connection with the unseen, and reach unity with God. Oliver’s poems are the perfect embodiment of her mystical ideas that lead a man to God. Her mystical vision symbolizes a profound unification with the natural world. Her poems are the guide that teach spiritual experiences, the right way of observation while meditating, the practice of being sacred in natural presence, and the path to connect with the world to be unified.

The Spiritual Fruits of the Desert Fathers (1)

In the 4th century, Christianity was officially acknowledged as the state religion of the Roman Empire, and it started to gain prominence worldwide without facing persecution. However, some individuals believed that this newfound religious glory contradicted the teachings of Christ. As a result, they willingly embraced asceticism and withdrew to deserts like Egypt to lead a devout and spiritual existence. The individuals in question are commonly referred to as the Desert Fathers. They sustained themselves by toiling under the scorching heat during the day and enduring the frigid desert temperatures in the early morning and at night. They devoted their time to reciting the Bible and tending to the well-being of their fellow monks, who resided in solitary huts nearby. In doing so, they fostered a sense of spirituality in their desert community. This paper aims to analyze the spirituality of the Desert Fathers and apply the valuable insights it offers to contemporary life. By dividing it into the facets of fruitfulness, humility, obedience, love, forgiveness, humor, poverty, solitude, and community, their spirituality can be better understood. This study will only analyze the first four areas, while the remaining five areas will be addressed in a future paper.

Combating Islamophobia: Compromise, Community, and Harmony in Mitigating Harmful Online Content

Despite significant advances in content moderation within HCI, social computing scholarship in this area remains constrained by secular values and Western interpretations of justice. As a result, current literature often overlooks religious and spiritual sensibilities, as well as communal peacebuilding efforts even when the harms originate from and strongly connected to faith sensitivities, such as Islamophobia. This article presents findings from a design and evaluation study on the reporting and moderation of Islamophobic posts on Twitter (currently known as “X”). By utilizing HCI theories and readily available NLP techniques, we developed an online tool for reporting and moderating Islamophobic tweets. We subsequently conducted usability studies, contextual inquiries, and interviews with 32 participants to assess the tool’s effectiveness in addressing Islamophobic content. Our study revealed that factors such as faith-related knowledge practices, fact-checking, communal leadership, social harmony, and the cultural-religious value of “compromise” significantly influence reactions to Islamophobic posts online. Expanding on these findings and drawing from the literature on conflict resolution in theology, legal studies, and justification, we explore how “Sulha,” a community-driven process for mitigating conflict and restoring communal peace, can cater to faith-based sensibilities in reporting and moderating Islamophobic content. Therefore, this article complements existing content moderation literature by recommending the adaptation of faith sensitivities in the design of computing tools and policies to mitigate Islamophobia and similar faith-related online harms.

The Tato.Net Initiative – A Program Developed by the Cyryl and Metody Foundation in Support of Contemporary Fatherhood

This study aims to present the operation of the Tato.Net Initiative [Dad.Net] implemented by the Cyryl and Metody Foundation (hereafter referred to as the Foundation). The programme was launched in 2004 to promote conscious and responsible fatherhood among contemporary men through self-education and self-formation amidst a crisis in masculinity, brought on by modern civilisation, and its negative consequences with regard to fatherhood. The Tato.Net programme implements initiatives and projects to strengthen families through the empowering presence of the father, both in the physical and spiritual sense. The programme also engages in cooperation with social organisations and institutions that similarly advance the culture of responsible fatherhood. All actions undertaken by Tato.Net reflect the idea of fatherhood, with the project itself founded on two primary values: the empowerment of a family by the presence of the father and the promotion of a culture of responsible fatherhood. The paper presents different projects executed by the Foundation in a few countries.

Shattered hierarchy: how the Gaza conflict demolished Maslow’s pyramid of needs

Conflicts and wars have a profound impact on human needs, as vividly illustrated by the ongoing crisis in Gaza. This paper aims to systematically examine how these crises affect individuals’ ability to meet their basic and higher-order needs, as conceptualized by Maslow’s hierarchy. By employing Maslow’s framework, this paper seeks to uncover the specific ways in which conflict disrupts the fulfillment of essential human needs and to identify targeted interventions that can mitigate these effects. Through this focused lens, I hope to contribute to a deeper understanding that supports efforts to end the war. In this paper, a methodical approach that integrates a review of online news, media reports, published official reports from international organizations, and academic publications was adopted to identify the current challenges in Gaza impacting the different levels of need. An exploration through the framework of Maslow’s hierarchy revealed the extensive humanitarian challenges stemming from the blockade and military actions since 2008. There are significant disruptions across all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy. Despite the severe compromise in basic needs like safety and physiological sustenance, there is a notable resilience in the pursuit of transcendence needs among the residents by transcending personal suffering through acts of solidarity, altruism, and community engagement and exhibiting a deeper sense of spirituality and faith that provide solace and a sense of connection to a larger purpose. There is an urgent need to end the conflict, facilitate unrestricted aid, and address the multifaceted needs of Gaza’s population. Strategies that support both immediate survival and long-term personal and communal growth in the face of adversity are critically needed. Essential initiatives include establishing community support networks for critical needs like food, shelter, and healthcare, alongside promoting economic stability through livelihood projects. Additionally, the development of online education programs offering vocational training and digital literacy, in partnership with international institutions, is crucial. These initiatives, tailored to Gaza’s context and aimed at overcoming siege-related barriers, are vital for empowering residents with the skills for community rebuilding, economic self-sufficiency, and enhanced social cohesion. Such strategies are indispensable for addressing immediate adversities while laying a foundation for sustainable future growth.

The Effect of Plants on Climate Change According to the Hadith’s of the Prophet

This descriptive study was conducted under the title “The effect of plants on climate change according to the hadith’s of the Prophet” for the purpose of the First International Conference on Climate Change at Nangarhar University. It is clear that we found out the sources of Islamic law, especially in the Prophet’s hadiths, general and partial rules about the effect of plants in protecting the environment. For example: the “no harm, no foul” rule. Preventing people from urinating, defecating, sitting in public roads, in sitting places and in the shade without need or excuse, and from cutting down trees. He commanded that the land of the dead be revived in addition, plants help improve air quality, reduce pollution, and create a healthy and comfortable environment for learning and studying, which contributes to people's sense of peace, tranquility and spirituality.

Transient communities: The case of a refugee choir in the Catholic church of Lesvos — Eirini Papanikolaou, Jennifer Sherrill & Antonis Ververis

For many refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa, the Greek island of Lesvos is the first point of entry into the European Union. However, due to an agreement between the European Union and Turkey declared in March of 2016, people crossing the Aegean Sea without formal travel documents would be detained on the Greek islands until their asylum applications were examined. This bureaucratic slowdown trapped refugees on Lesvos for months and years of unknown waiting. At the same time, the arrival of refugees from various African countries led to a flourishing of the small Catholic church in the capital city, Mytilene. In 2017, a parish choir was established by Congolese refugees with the purpose of providing a refuge to members who sought a sense of community, spirituality, and normality. Through interviews, participatory observation, and polyvocal ethnography, we address the following research areas: the importance of spirituality in the lives of refugees, how participation in the choir helped them to feel a sense of community, and the use of choral singing as a form of integration. More specifically, we discuss how the refugee-initiated autonomous aspect of the choir created an environment in which each member had a personal stake in developing and caring for the choir community as a whole. As a majority of the interviewees felt that singing for God was the highest purpose, participation in this choir helped members connect to their faith while also giving a much-needed sense of purpose in uncertain times.