Spiritual Crisis Research Articles

Do nurse spiritual responses to trauma explain nurse outcomes? A correlational observational study

BackgroundVarious facets of spirituality are associated with wellbeing. Given the current urgency to promote nurse wellbeing, nurse spirituality merits exploration. PurposeTo investigate how spiritual distress and growth (i.e., spiritual/religious struggle, moral injury, post-traumatic growth) contributed to nurse outcomes (i.e., burnout, job satisfaction, intent to leave). MethodsRNs providing direct patient care in three Southern California hospitals completed an online survey that included psychometrically robust measures. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test spiritual variables as predictors of nurse outcomes after accounting for demographic and work-related factors. FindingsIn this sample of 531 demographically diverse RNs, spiritual struggle contributed to burnout and turnover intention; posttraumatic growth and employer respect for nurse wellbeing contributed to all three nurse outcomes. DiscussionSpiritual distress and growth are understudied but potentially important influences on job outcomes for nurses. Results here suggest that continued development of interventions to address spiritual health is worth investment.

O umieraniu ciała i obumieraniu ducha. „Jak nie zabiłem swojego ojca i jak bardzo tego żałuję” Mateusza Pakuły

The study focuses on the problem of corporeality and spirituality in relation to Mateusz Pakuła’s prose debut How I Didn’t Kill My Father and How Much I Regret It. The author of the article presents the analysed work against the background of the contemporary funeral tradition and makes genre determinations in an attempt to show the specificity of Pakuła’s literary expression. He shows the drama of a father and a son presented in the funeral diary, pointing on the one hand to the dying of the body (father), and on the other to the deep spiritual crisis of both protagonists (father, son). In the case of the father, it concerns the inability to bear his own pain and a request for euthanasia, and in the case of the son, it is a drama of choice, i.e. accelerating the death of the father or passivity and accompanying his father in a painful and long dying.

INSECURE ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF TAFSĪR AL-JAYLĀNĪ

Insecurity has now become a common thing that affects many people. Many people worry about their future or feel inferior when facing reality or interacting with others. Excessive worry can prevent someone from doing activities or doing something. Insecurity can be a disease that disrupts people's mental health. If not handled well, anxiety, low self-esteem, and feeling unable to accept oneself completely, including feeling inferior, can make someone prefer to be alone and what is most worrying is that when insecurity is not handled well, there is a risk of increasing cases of suicide. Insecurity can be caused by many things, including changes in the environment and times. Materialism results in the loss of the essence of life, which leads to a crisis of meaning, values ​​, and spirituality. Spiritual values ​​can help someone avoid insecurity. A spiritual crisis and mental well-being can trigger emotional anxiety. This research aims to explore the Al-Qur'an's views regarding the phenomenon of insecurity in Tafsīr al-Jaylānī. From an Islamic perspective, the solution to overcoming insecurity includes obedience to Allah, humility, and patience. This research method is qualitative with a character thematic approach. Although al-Jaylānī does not discuss insecurity explicitly, he emphasizes the importance of repentance and returning to spiritual values. The implications of the interpretation show that the Qur'an provides solutions through obedience, patience, and strengthening self-confidence.

Building a New Ideology in the conditions of a Transitional State-Legal System (the Case Study of the Russian Republic in February — October 1917)

The paper presents the author’s point of view regarding the spiritual sphere of Russian society, changes in which were caused by the crisis resulting from the revolutionary events of February 1917, and the related experience of building a new ideology in the conditions of the transitional state law system in the Russian state in March-October 1917. The author, based on the study of a wide range of sources, critically analyzed this experience and made a number of conclusions: such construction in the conditions of permanent spiritual crisis was difficult and it was conditioned by a set of factors, namely, political, socio-economic, cultural-religious, etc. The author’s analysis of this experience was based on the study of a wide range of sources. The state of a state law anomie, that can rightly be considered one of the characteristic features of the transitional state-legal system, was the result of a deep spiritual, religious, ideological, cultural conflict that emerged, starting from the first days of the formation of the «new» Russian state, and the resulting spiritual vacuum and situation of ideological and religious uncertainty. The changing position of the Russian Orthodox Church in relation to the new bourgeois government and its reformist plans due to the political situation also contributed to the deepening of the spiritual crisis in Russian post-revolutionary society. The emphatically indifferent position of the Russian clergy towards the Provisional Government once again emphasized the unpopularity of its decisions in the eyes of society, deprived its projects of ideological support. Thus, this contributed to the loss of the government’s authority among the population. Under such conditions, all attempts of the central government to form a new post-revolutionary bourgeois-republican ideology were unsuccessful.

Rudolf Eucken and the crisis of spiritual life

ABSTRACT The paper clarifies some prominent aspects of Rudolf Eucken’s Philosophy of Life that, despite its vast influence in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, is nowadays mostly forgotten. More specifically, I will reconstruct Eucken’s philosophical diagnosis of the spiritual crisis affecting European and Western civilization in relation to the concepts of culture, history, and worldview. First, I will offer an analysis of the spiritual crisis in its two core aspects: as a crisis of culture and as a crisis of the historical present stemming from the unprecedented polarization of vying worldviews. Second, I will identify the defining traits of Eucken’s original and systematic concept of Weltanschauung through a detailed comparison with Ernst Haeckel’s naturalistic worldview, an early version of scientific reductionism. Third, I will show how the problem of clashing worldviews both configures and responds to the present crisis and how such a problem hinges on a latent process of falsification of life. In doing so, I will shed light on Eucken’s belonging to Lebensphilosophie by elucidating the relation between philosophy and life as well as the task of philosophy vis-à-vis the present crisis.

Semantics of Transition: Death and Resurrection of the Hero in Film Fantasy at the Turn of the 20th—21st Centuries

The article is devoted to the study of human metaphysical experience through cinema art. The material of the study is widely known fantasy films (“The Lord of the Rings”, “The Matrix”, “Harry Potter”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, “Avatar”), in which the sacral space is realized as a magical fairy tale or a dream, and the hero acting in it is identified with the concept of “soul” or “consciousness”. The aim of the study is to semantically and cognitively analyze the visual image of transition through death, which is offered to the viewer by cinematography, and to model the director’s concepts included in it. The author’s concept of transition is based on the works of M. Eliade, A. van Gennep, C.G. Jung, M.P. Hall and is revealed as a multi-phase process of soul transformation in the conditions of spiritual or perceptual crisis. It is established that the transition scenario in the films considered includes an “entry point” into another world, a series of initiations and an “exit point”. In this context, death and resurrection are the climactic phase and have different symbolic connotations, their essence depending on the prototype that the hero imitates. As it has been revealed, the imitation of cyclical forces of nature (solar, agrarian deities) by contemporary directors is interpreted by them as a long stage of soul maturation, which is no longer opposed to, but naturally precedes the imitation of the “divine archetype” (in the Christian tradition, Christ the Saviour). The axis of transition from forced submission to the endless cycle of renewal to the evolutionary stage of spiritual maturity is the act of “awakening” expressed in the willingness to voluntarily sacrifice oneself out of love and compassion for others. Death and resurrection in this case manifest the metaphysical transformation of the soul aspect into the spiritual one. At the same time, in the process of studying the film material, a tendency of a transgressive nature was detected, namely the replacement of the concept “soul” by the concept “brain”. As a result of identifying the functions of the human brain with the functions of a computer in the mental space, there is a danger of substitution of the divine image by artificial intelligence, which can provoke the blocking of the channel “soul – spirit” and the involutionary turn from spirit to matter.

The Bodhisattva in T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”: A Journey through Spiritual Desolation

T.S. Eliot's seminal modernist poem "The Waste Land" has long been recognized for its intricate web of literary and philosophical allusions, including references to Mahayana Buddhism. This paper aims to examine the presence and significance of the Bodhisattva, a central figure in this tradition, within the poem. By leveraging Sallie B. King's theory of Buddha Nature (1992), which posits the inherent potential for enlightenment within all beings, this analysis seeks to shed new light on Eliot's portrayal of spiritual desolation, disillusionment and the quest for transformation. Through the lens of Buddha Nature, the fragmented characters and desolate landscapes depicted in "The Waste Land" are re-examined, revealing hidden layers that resonate with the notion of inherent enlightenment in apparent spiritual crisis. The paper explores how Eliot's engagement with Buddhist philosophy, as reflected through the concept of Buddha Nature, bridges eastern and western worldviews, offering a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and interpretation. By synthesizing King's scholarly insights with literary analysis, this paper sheds light on the transcendent potential embedded within the poem. It seeks to unravel Eliot's nuanced exploration of human suffering, the quest for enlightenment, and the interplay between spiritual emptiness and the inherent Buddha Nature. The Bodhisattva's commitment to guiding others toward enlightenment echoes the potential for transformation and renewal embedded within Eliot's desolate world. Through this analysis, the paper aims to contribute to the ongoing scholarly discourse surrounding Eliot's masterpiece, offering fresh perspectives on the poem's engagement with Buddhist philosophy and its universal themes of suffering, enlightenment and the human condition. By illuminating the presence and significance of the Bodhi-sattva and Buddha Nature in "The Waste Land", this paper hopes to inspire further exploration of the transcendent potential within Eliot's work and its enduring relevance in the modern world.

В.С. Соловьев и цивилизационный выбор России

The attention is focused on the idea that the modern phase in the Russian philosophical and social thinking is characterized by the discourse on civilizational choice of Russia. Therewith, addressing the Russian religious and philosophical tradition is deemed to be relevant. The central personality of the Russian religious philosophy is Vladimir S. Solovyov – the ideological founder of the all-unity philosophy. His contemplation on multiple topics became significant for the Russian society of his time as well as of the modern days. It is stipulated, that one of the central topics for the Russian society is the problem of correlation of western and eastern elements of spiritual culture and historical development of Russia. Contemplation on this problem based on the creative heritage of Vladimir Solovyov makes his standpoint relevant in the current stage. The opinion that Solovyov's solution to the “East-West” dichotomy is based on the acknowledgement of universal christian values as the highest factor of historical development is being sustained. This allowed the founder of the all-unity to stipulate the highest ideals of spiritual and moral perfection as a goal of the progress of the society, to highlight the threat of spiritual crisis, to anticipate catastrophic events of the following historical period. The universalistic approach of Vladimir Solovyov presumes the inclusion of Russia into the context of the European Christian culture. The philosopher assumed for Russia a task of “global synthesis” of western and eastern values in global scale. Detailed ways of solving this task were utopian. The conclusion is made that the relevance of the philosopher's standpoint for the present is constituted by the vision of main tendencies in spiritual and social life. The all-unity philosophy is deemed to be productive to justify the general Russian identity of the present.

Преодоление последствий глобализации на примере взаимодействия государства и Русской Православной Церкви в информационной сфере

Introduction. The article considers the problem of overcoming the consequences of globalization in the context of informatization of society using the example of interaction between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church in the information sphere. The following methods were used in the study: system analysis, philosophical analysis, interpretation, comparison and synthesis. Theoretical analysis. The State and the Church, as active users of the information resources and technologies available today, have a significant impact on their development. Many hierarchs and laypeople, adhering to “protective” views, represented by an established political course, continue to participate in the media sphere. The participation of the Church and the state makes it possible to maintain political stability in the country. It is pointed out that, on the one hand, the spiritual and moral crisis of modern society is caused by informatization as one of the conditions for its development, but on the other hand, informatization permeates all areas of life and activity, both of the Church and the state, to such extent that neglecting its resources is impossible today. Conclusion. The characteristic features of the Church and the state which, with the help of information resources and technologies, are trying to resist the negative consequences of globalization and Westernization, are highlighted and described. The ways of solving these problems are outlined. It is emphasized that the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and the state authorities are interested in consolidating efforts aimed at resolving the numerous social contradictions that exist in the information space today.

Trauma survivors’ spiritual struggles and the anger of hope: A practice-based clinical study examining links with mental health symptoms and well-being.

Trauma survivors’ spiritual struggles and the anger of hope: A practice-based clinical study examining links with mental health symptoms and well-being.

Silent Speech in Phaswane Mpe's HIV/AIDS Writing.

South African writer Phaswane Mpe (1970-2004) is often canonized and memorialized as a brave truth-teller who broke the silence on HIV/AIDS in the context of government silence and denial. And yet Mpe's writings-including poetry, short stories, a novel, and scholarly criticism-contemplate illness as a problem for truth and representation in works that linger in silence and ambiguity. This article analyses the tension between silence and speech in Mpe's creative writing in response to HIV/AIDS. Using Mpe's works as an illustrative example, I trouble the desire to read illness narratives as forms of truth-telling and silence-breaking. The desire for the transparency of speech in a global archive of illness narratives also informs a colonial politics of representation that instrumentalizes literature as ethnographic evidence. Mpe's writing on HIV/AIDS refuses a demand for authenticity by holding the embodied experience of disease at a slight remove from the reader in order to register the forms of spiritual and epistemological crisis that epidemic and social loss produce. My contention is that the political stakes of this writing lie not in Mpe's ability to render a public health crisis with verisimilitude, but in the capacity for writing to provide solace and sublimity faced with death. Through an analysis of Mpe's fiction and poetry, this article proposes a methodology for reading the politics of illness narratives across globalized space which attends to the world-building potential of creative expression as a radical practice that resists incorporative models of aesthetic intelligibility.

Russian School Journal in History of Educational Journalism of Russian Diaspora in 1920s and 1930s

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the Russian School journal within the context of the development of émigré periodicals during the 1920s and 1930s. It presents the history and significance of the journal within the system of educational publications of the Russian diaspora. The study specifically investigates the role of Andrei Pavlov in the establishment and publication of the journal, particularly focusing on the financial support from various organizations in Subcarpathian Rus’. Utilizing archival sources, previously lesser-known facts from his biography are reconstructed. The mission of the journal, its structure, and thematic concerns are examined. It is emphasized that the editor perceived the primary objectives of the journal as combating the European spiritual crisis, discussing pressing issues in education and upbringing, providing methodological support for teachers and Russian schools in general, and objectively reporting on the state of Soviet education. Special attention is given to the authorship of the journal, which featured prominent representatives of émigré psychological and pedagogical science such as S. I. Hessen, V. V. Zenkovsky, G. Ya. Troshin, theorists and practitioners from the Czech school, as well as philosophers N. O. Lossky, I. I. Lapshin, and F. Pelikan. The conclusion drawn is that the Russian School journal continued the traditions of Russian pedagogical journals from the late 19th to early 20th centuries and served as a center for coordinating educational efforts among émigrés in the late 1930s.

Exemplifying the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) in Fostering Peaceful Co-Existence among Christians and Muslims in Nigeria

In the last three decades, most of the major conflicts in Nigeria are centered on ethnicity and religion. Fundamental Muslims and Christians or moderate (liberal) Muslims and adherents of African Indigenous Religions have wrecked a lot of havoc in Nigeria. In many cases, religious leaders and politicians have manipulated these conflicts for political and economic gains. These conflicts have resulted in the death of several thousands of people and loss of unquantifiable amount of money and property. Various attempts by government, individuals, religious and other interest groups on resolving the lingering and hydra-headed crisis have not yielded holistic and desirable result. Some scholarly articles have been written to proffer solutions to Nigeria's ethno-religious crisis; these include research on interfaith dialogue, social integration, sustainable communal developments, the impact of ethno- religious crisis on the security, economy and sociopolitical stability of the country. However, the exemplary nature of loving, empathizing, accepting, accommodating and living with one’s known or perceived enemies have not been adequately explored with religious hindsight. This paper therefore considers the exemplary character of the “Good Samaritan” in the parable of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:25-37) as a spring board for peaceful co-existence between Christians and people of other faiths in Nigerian multicultural contexts, particularly the Muslims. Exegetical and historical methods are used; the Theoretical Framework is premised on Eisenberg Pro-social Behaviour theory, which is defined as voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another (Eisenberg, 1986). Findings reveal that Nigeria has been wracked by periodic violent clashes between political, ethnic and religious groups since the second half of the 20th century. Reasons for these clashes vary from one locality to another but they are mostly motivated by religious, social, economic and political disputes. Conclusively, exemplifying the teaching of Jesus Christ on love for one's neighbour in the parable of the "Good Samaritan" here proposed first to the Christian community gives a new hope on the quest for peace in Nigeria and re-orientation for Christians and their Muslim neighbours. It is recommended therefore that both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria should leverage on the “Good Samaritan’s” peace accord to one’s neghbour proposed by Jesus Christ without prejudice or stereotyping one another.

Health and well-being of refugee women in sex work: A systematic literature review

Introduction: Refugees face many barriers when arriving in a new country, and these barriers are especially felt by women, who often travel alone or with children. These barriers create a situation where some women turn to sex work, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Both refugees and sex workers face adversities related to their mental health and well-being, however little research has examined the intersections between both identities outside of STI incidence and violence. Objective: This systematic literature review aimed to explore mental health and overall well-being of women refugees who engage in sex work. Themes were extracted to better understand experiences to inform clinical and community practice. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Medline, as well as grey literature for articles published between 2013 and 2023. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to evaluate the quality of the primary research articles. 11 articles were included in the final synthesis. Results: The five themes included Fear, Mental/Psychological Health, Social Well-being, Economic/Financial Well-being, and Spiritual Struggles. These themes were interconnected to shape the experiences of these women within their circumstances. Engaging in sex work as a refugee, particularly in instances of sex trafficking, created significant challenges in all aspects of well-being, and the circumstances related to being a refugee often increased vulnerabilities to become involved in sex work for survival. Conclusion: These results suggest the need for policies, community programs, and clinical practice protocols to address the unique needs of women refugees to mitigate factors drawing them to sex work, and better support those who are currently involved in it.

Ecological Grief, Religious Coping, and Spiritual Crises: Exploring Eco-Spiritual Grief

AbstractEcological grief results from human-caused environmental changes. While it is a growing subject of study, research on the relationship between it and spirituality/religion remains scarce. This article explores the topic by focusing on the frameworks of religious coping and (complicated) spiritual grief. Religion and spirituality can be resources for coping with ecological grief, but there can also be difficulties which cause spiritual grief: crises about beliefs, estrangement from one’s spiritual community, and disruption in spiritual practice. The author proposes a new term for the combinations of ecological and spiritual grief: eco-spiritual grief. Frameworks of religious coping (the RCOPE) and spiritual grief (the Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief, ICSG) are analyzed in relation to ecological grief and eco-spiritual grief. The author argues that elements in these frameworks can be useful in relation to ecological grief and spirituality, but modifications should be made for this particular topic. Research about ecological grief should avoid individualizing tendencies, strong anthropocentrism, and a narrow focus on monotheism. Some items in the RCOPE and ICSG are especially relevant for monotheism, but they could be broadened to include other forms of spirituality. Themes for nuanced research about the matter are charted. The results are relevant for anyone who wants to explore the intersections of spirituality/religion and ecological grief, as well as theology and psychology, and they have special relevance for researchers and (pastoral) psychologists.

The Concept of the Soul (Nafs) in the Philosophical-Thesavvuf Discourse

At the very beginning of the paper, the historicity of the human desire for the Truth was pointed out, with a special reference to the concept of tasawwuf as a way of searching for the Truth within the Muslim religious tradition. An explanation of the concept of Tasawwuf, as well as its historical development and certain teachings that are practiced within the twelve present Tasawwuf (Dervish-Sufi) orders, was presented. On that occasion, it was pointed out that in the Tasawwuf tradition, the path to knowledge is as important as the knowledge itself (Truth), and according to that, in this paper we especially tried to clarify the organs of cognition: ruh (spirit), aql (mind), qalb (illuminated heart), fu’ad (spiritual heart), hiyal (spiritual imagination) and nafs (soul). Special attention was paid to the concept of the soul (soul) as an organ of cognition, where the existence of seven levels of mental cognition was highlighted. Namely, in the Tasawwuf tradition, seven levels of the soul are mentioned, and those are: “the soul that is inclined to evil” (an-nafs al-Ammara), above which is the “soul that chastises itself” (an-nafs al-Lawwama), which is below the “inspired soul” (an-nafs al-Mulhimma). After the third stage, the spiritual journey moves along paths from “calm” (an-nafs al-Mutmainna), through “satisfied” (an-nafsar-Radiyya) and “one with whom God is pleased” (an-nafs al-Mardiyya) to “pure souls” (an-nafs as-Safiyya, or an-nafs al-Kemaliyya). At the very end of the work, the significance of the spiritual journey (as-sayr as-suluq) is emphasized, during which the dervish, through the spiritual struggle (muyahed) with himself and his personal passions, rises to the cognitive horizons where nothing exists but the Almighty God.

Geniusz rozkładu. Nikołaj Bierdiajew wobec sztuki Pabla Picassa

Picasso occupied a very special place within Nicolai Berdyaev’s philosophical considerations. What motivated him to assess avant-garde art was an exhibition at the art gallery owned by Sergey Shchukin in 1914. The Russian thinker became personally acquainted with the exhibition. In his attitude towards Picasso’s art, Berdyaev shows the universal category of assessment which he had applied earlier to random artistic phenomena. The philosopher gives avant-garde art the status of the verifier of spiritual changes, at the same time pointing to the evolution of people’s attitude towards both the surrounding reality and themselves. By paying so much attention to the works of the Spanish artist, Berdyaev formulates a thesis concerning the spiritual crisis of the culture occurring in statu nascendi. That is to say that he perceives avant-garde art as, on the one hand, the foreshadowing of inevitable socio-political changes and, on the other hand, a graphic equivalent of the spiritual changes which are about to happen. In the role of category which should present the direction of assessing not only Picasso’s works, but also, in a broader sense, the historical and cultural changes, Berdyaev uses the terms of crisis, freedom, beauty, humanism and spirituality. The Russian philosopher considers Picasso a helpless exposer of illusions of materialized and synthesized beauty, whose paintings are the proof of the crisis occurring in art, self-awareness and, in a broader sense, also within humanity.

Organised Spinozism in the Netherlands (1897–2022): Growth, Flourishing, Decay and Revival

This paper gives an outline of the history of organised Spinozism in the Netherlands, divided into three periods. In 1897 the Vereniging het Spinozahuis (VHS) was established. On the one hand, it wanted to preserve the physical and spiritual heritage of Spinoza, being an essential part of Dutch identity, and on the other hand, it strived for the propagation of Spinozism, which might fill the void left by the end of Christianity. This double aim precluded the transformation of the VHS into an international society to disseminate Spinozism. To that end the Societas Spinozana was established in 1920. It had to contribute to the solution of the spiritual crisis created by the WWI which had divided humanity. By the time of National-Socialism and during the post-war reconstruction period, in which philosophies incompatible with Spinozism dominated, the VHS successfully returned to the initial aim of preserving Spinoza’s heritage, but in the 1970s Spinozism once more became a viable alternative to traditional religion.

Resistance to Change or Transformation After Involuntary Unemployment and Underemployment: A Theoretical Model

Significant changes in workplace strategy or economic instability can lead individuals into emotional and spiritual crises, triggering identity transformations. This paper explores the effects of involuntary unemployment, underemployment, compromised employment, and mandatory retirement, referred to as involuntary second-order employment disruptions, on personal identity. Drawing from theories of quantum personal change and positive psychology, the paper discusses how these changes can lead to emotional and spiritual distress, akin to a “dark night of the soul,” potentially resulting in posttraumatic transformation. The transition through this crisis involves stages of resistance and adaptation, ultimately leading to a profound shift in identity and purpose. The process includes disengagement, disidentification, disenchantment, and disorientation, which can create significant psychological challenges, and involuntary opportunities for spiritual growth and self-actualization. The paper proposes that these employment disruptions are catalysts for deep personal transformation, highlighting the importance of managing such transitions effectively to foster resilience and positive outcomes.

Kierkegaard, Spiritual Crisis, and Anxious Faith: Battling for Faith in Fear and Trembling and Strengthening in the Inner Being

Abstract This study shows that, for Kierkegaard, the crisis of faith plays an essential role in the life of faith. To demonstrate this, it compares pseudonym Johannes de silentio’s portrayals of religious crisis in Fear and Trembling with similar sketches in Strengthening in the Inner Being, an edifying discourse published on the same day as Fear and Trembling. Kierkegaard agrees with de silentio that the life of faith is tethered to struggle, but unlike his pseudonym, who is baffled by the source of Abraham’s bold trust, Kierkegaard is more confident about identifying that which gives him strength: an inner, divine affirmation.