Spiritual Relationship Research Articles

“Bridging cultures with love”: Spirituality in fostering intercultural effectiveness. The effects of language

Abstract Research yields contradictory results on the relationship between an individual’s spirituality, that is, the relationship with God/the Transcendent, and their cultural development. To address this gap, we conceptualize a model that investigates the effects of two spirituality dimensions, namely felt love for God and love for others, on the behavioral aspect of intercultural competence, that is, intercultural effectiveness (IE), through ethnocentrism. This model undergoes testing using a sample of 144 international students who self-identify as Christians, Muslims, belonging to other religions, and non-religious. The results confirm the positive impact of spirituality on IE by reducing ethnocentrism. We establish suppressing effects of both love for God and love for others, suggesting intricate dynamics of these two spirituality dimensions within the intercultural communication model. Furthermore, we identify the direct effects of host language and English as a lingua franca proficiency on IE. We also define the mitigating effect of host language proficiency on the adverse impact of ethnocentrism on IE. This study underscores the importance of higher education institutions to nurture students’ relational spirituality and support them in overcoming ethnocentric perspectives.

The Role of Spiritual Well-Being in Spanish Cancer Patients: Exploring the Relationship Between Health, Religiosity and Spirituality, and the Underlying Psychosocial and Behavioral Pathways

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the interactions of spiritual well-being with different psychosocial and behavioral aspects that have been proposed in the literature as pathways underlying the relationship of religiosity and spirituality (R/S) with physical health, specifically in cancer patients (N = 351). Using a cross-sectional research design, a series of hierarchical regression analyses show the predictive power of different elements of R/S (attachment to God, religious practice, commitment and coping, and spiritual experiences) on spiritual well-being. In turn, spiritual well-being (meaning/peace and faith) predicts gratitude and compassion (as psychological pathways). Thus, finally, spiritual well-being, together with gratitude and compassion, correlates to the rest of the psychological (positive and negative emotions), social (social support) and behavioral (healthy behaviors) pathways to different extents. Spiritual well-being may play an important role in understanding the relationships between R/S and health, so considering it along with its associated factors may be key to improving the health and quality of life of people affected by cancer in Spain.

Latent Profiles of Seminary Students’ Perceptions of Sense of Community Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Existing research on sense of community in educational contexts shows positive associations with well-being and negative associations with mental health symptoms. However, exploration of students’ sense of community within the seminary context is minimal. Drawing on the relational spirituality model, which posits oscillating experiences of dwelling and seeking in a dialectical growth process, we framed sense of community as horizontal dwelling. We used mixture modeling to generate subgroups using items from a measure of sense of community and then explored associations between sense of community and various demographic predictors and personal formation outcomes, including well-being and symptoms, along with virtues and religiousness/spirituality. We did so within the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a sample of graduate students from 18 Christian seminaries across North America (N = 867; Mage = 31.95; 48.1% female; 60% White). Factor mixture results supported a 3-class solution, with one class reporting consistently greater ratings of sense of community, labeled the strongly connected, another class reporting consistent mid-level ratings, labeled the moderately connected, and a third class reporting consistently lower ratings, and labeled the disaffected. Results for the disaffected showed a pattern of associations with lower well-being and greater symptoms, and lower religiousness/spirituality, along with greater pandemic stress. The strongly connected showed greater levels of virtuousness, well-being and religiousness/spirituality, and lower symptoms, although they were also more likely to report greater illusory health. The pattern of associations for the moderately connected was a blend of similarities with the other two subgroups. The disaffected also showed a modest risk effect for lower well-being and greater symptoms over time. Findings pointed to providing greater horizontal dwelling among the disaffected and the need for greater seeking among the strongly connected.

Psychology of religion and spirituality in Jewish contexts: A synthetic review

Jewish spirituality and religion include dynamics that are different from other traditions and have important implications for relational forms of spirituality. Certain approaches to relational Judaism (e.g. Mussar) have offered insights for understanding the folk psychology of relational spirituality in Jewish contexts but have not generated empirical research. Existing research in the psychology of Jewish religion and spirituality draws on several theoretical frameworks and has generated helpful findings. In this synthetic review, we foreground the role of theory in psychological research and offer a brief review of several theoretical frameworks used in research on the psychology of Jewish religion and spirituality (cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, cultural psychology of religion, and positive psychology). The relational spirituality model (RSM) is summarized as a conceptual framework that could be useful for future research in this area. We use the RSM as a heuristic organizing framework to review several lines of prior empirical research on the psychology of Jewish religion and spirituality that fit within the RSM domains of spiritual dwelling, seeking, and struggles. The final section outlines future directions in research in this area based on the RSM, with particular attention to dimensions of diversity (e.g. gender, sexual orientation), diverse contexts of Jewish spirituality, Jewish spirituality in relation to both mental health suffering and flourishing, and historical trauma. We also highlight the need for research on Jewish spiritual development in communal settings (e.g. congregations, seminaries) to provide a deeper understanding at both individual and communal levels, and interdisciplinary integration with Jewish theology.

Spirituality and family caregivers: Ethical considerations on the role as a spiritual guide

ABSTRACT In recent years, spirituality has become a key factor in the field of care and, even more precisely, in dealing with sick and dying people. Those affected find themselves in existentially threatening situations and are looking for advice, help, an ultimate meaning or simply want to cope with the situation. It is not uncommon for other individuals to provide support in these constellations. This article deals with an ethical perspective on spirituality in relation to family caregivers. In a first step, both family caregivers and the concept of spirituality are examined and placed in relation to each other. Then, in a second step, the role of these people who have taken on the care of a loved one is addressed. Consequently, it is shown that they can be assigned a task of guidance comparable but not identical to that of pastoral caregivers, insofar as they can contribute to spiritual experiences through constant presence, engagement with the person in need of care and caring interaction. In a final step, the extent to which family caregivers have good reasons to be available for the spiritual needs of the person receiving care is presented. Spirituality should be internalized as an ethically important guideline in the care of sick and dying people when this invaluable task is taken on.

Patient and Physician Perspectives on Discussing Addiction Recovery and Spirituality in the Primary Care Setting.

Spirituality is an important component of recovery for many individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). However, few studies have compared patient and physician attitudes on spirituality in SUD recovery. This study investigates patient and physician beliefs about the role of spirituality in SUD recovery and about discussing spirituality in relationship to recovery in primary care settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary care physicians recruited at two academic hospitals, and patients recruited from a faith-based residential therapeutic community. Interview transcripts were independently coded by two researchers and a grounded theory approach was used to generate themes that reflected participants' experiences. Interviews were conducted with 15 patients and 10 physicians. Patients had diverse views about the impact of spirituality on their SUD recovery, including positive, negative, and neutral. Patient and physician opinions on discussing spirituality in a primary care setting differed: most physicians felt positively towards this, believing that understanding their patients' spirituality helped them care for their patients as whole people. Many patients felt neutral, stating that they did not feel like these conversations were necessary for their care, and that they believed physicians preferred not to discuss spirituality in medical settings. Tolerance from both the patient and physician, open-ended questioning, and an individualized approach were identified as facilitators to effective discussions about spirituality and recovery. Spirituality can have diverse effects on an individual's SUD recovery. Physicians endorsed the benefits of discussing spirituality in the context of their patients' recovery, while patients expressed reservations about engaging in these conversations with their physicians. This variation in perspectives highlights the need for additional research to understand the individual and structural factors that contribute to it, as well as best practices for engaging in effective, non-judgmental conversations about spirituality in recovery.

Relasi Birrul Walidain dengan Kesuksesan Karir Anak (Kajian Tematik Konseptual)

The purpose of this article is to propose a relation between filial piety towards parents and a child's career success. The research methodology employed is contextual thematic analysis, focusing on verses of filial piety (Birrul Walidain) found in al-Isra’:23-24, Luqman:14, and al-Ahqaf:15. Interpretations used for dissecting these verses include the social-adab style commentaries by renowned scholars such as HAMKA's Al-Azhar, Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy's An-Nur, and Ahmad Musthafa Al-Maraghi's Al-Maraghi. HAMKA's interpretation states that, regardless of one's job position, be it an official/police officer/doctor/successful entrepreneur, one must not forget their parents and continually show filial piety towards them. Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy emphasizes that being a filial child entails not only being dutiful while parents are alive but also continuing to fulfill filial duties even after their passing, ensuring the child's obedience to Allah for the well-being of their parents. Al-Maraghi, through his commentary on the filial piety verses, relates the command to express gratitude by being dutiful to parents to the success and progress of the child, indicating the positive influence of the parents. This serves as evidence of the virtue of a filial child, impacting not only their spiritual relationship with Allah but also providing tangible benefits in worldly life which is the child's career success.

Influence of spirituality on quality of life in community-dwelling elderly: integrative literature review

Aging brings with it some limitations that become more pronounced with advancing age, and psychological, physical, behavioral, and social changes can reduce the quality of life of the elderly, who seek spirituality. Spirituality is a tool for coping with difficulties and attributing meaning to life, providing hope, faith, and motivation. This study analyzed the health aspects associated with spirituality in community-dwelling elderly people. This is an integrative review that synthesized the scientific production with the guiding question: What scientific knowledge production on health-related aspects are associated with better levels of spirituality in community-dwelling elderly people in Brazil? Articles with the descriptors in Portuguese and English were selected: spirituality, aged , and quality of life with the following inclusion criteria: published in full, available electronically, in Portuguese, English, and/or Spanish, published between 2015 and 2020, in the SciELO, LILACS, PubMed, and Capes Periodical Portal databases. A total of 130 articles were identified, and 15 were selected that presented evidence on the influence of spirituality on the quality of life of the elderly. After reading the articles, two categories of analysis emerged: I – The experience of spirituality in situations of chronic diseases, and II – The relationship of spirituality with the well-being/quality of life of the elderly. Most of the studies showed positive effects of spirituality on health outcomes, with better physical health conditions, quality of life, longer survival, lower rates of depression and lower prevalence of chronic diseases. In addition, it demonstrated the ability to withstand limitations and protect against stress in the face of changes in aging. Finally, the results indicate a positive influence of spirituality on the quality of life of the elderly. The importance of spirituality for health practices and the need to value it and include it in professional health training are highlighted.

What Is Beyond Conversion? 2. Practical Theological Approaches to Spiritual Formation

Following the theological grounding of spiritual formation in a previous study, this paper explores how we can approach the topic of faith growth in a way that maintains both human responsibility and the divine supremacy of grace. To this end, the threefold path of via purgativa – via illuminativa – via unitiva will be explored in a new way, rather than the stair-step paths of the mystical tradition. Further on, the spiritual and religious dimensions of spiritual formation will be presented, integrating Diana J. Chandler’s model with the trinity of the Great Commandment. According to the Great Commandment, the triune unity of God–man–fellow man is the space of spiritual formation. It is based on a personal intimate relationship with God, in which God has the priority. A fruitful, ethical life lived towards one’s neighbour comes from this personal, spiritual formation based on a spiritual relationship with God. Keywords: spiritual formation, via purgativa, via illuminativa, via unitiva, the Great Commandment

How Does Spirituality Increase the Happiness of Medical Students?

After completing education, medical students are expected to provide good medical services, so good mental health must be possessed. But in reality psychological problems occur since the time of medical education. This condition resulted in their unhappiness. Spirituality is believed to play a role in increasing happiness, so increasing spirituality will increase happiness. There has been no research on the relationship between spirituality and happiness in medical students, especially in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to see the relationship of spirituality for individual medical students that has an impact on happiness. The study adopted an analytical observational type with a cross sectional design. The study subjects were randomly selected by sampling a population of 100 medical students at Universitas Sebelas Maret class of 2020-2023. Primary data were taken using spirituality instruments based on DSES to determine the level of spirituality and happiness instruments based on SHS and SWLS to determine the level of happiness. To analyze ordinal relationships, a spearman correlation test is used. The results showed that medical students at Universitas Sebelas Maret had a high level of spirituality, while the level of happiness was in the medium category. The relationship between spirituality and happiness showed significance with a correlation value of r = 0.179; p = 0.037 (p < 0.005) indicates that there is a weak relationship between spirituality and happiness. Many factors affect happiness, the higher the spirituality of medical students, the higher the level of happiness. Keywords: spirituality; happiness; medical students

Membangun Fondasi Iman Anak Melalui Katekese Keluarga

This article emphasizes the importance of family catechesis in cultivating faith among children. The utilization of family catechesis can be an effective means of guiding and educating children in religious matters in a complex society that is increasingly influenced by adherence to secular values. Parental involvement is very important in this process. This article discusses the role of family catechesis and the importance of parents in educating children about faith. Use strategies to apply family catechesis to daily life, such as family prayer, reading and discussing scripture, celebrating religious holidays together, leading by example, providing space to ask questions and explore, and using technology and online resources. This article also discusses the challenges that may arise in the implementation of family catechesis, as well as solutions to overcome these challenges. Finally, the conclusion of this article highlights the importance of building a religious foundation for children in an increasingly complex world. Parents have an important role in guiding their children in religious affairs, in spiritual relationships, instilling religious teachings and introducing them to the world.

Exploring the interplay of religiosity, spirituality, and messaging in relation to queer allyship and activism in affirmative contexts

ABSTRACT We conducted hierarchical regression to determine the relationships between religiosity, spirituality, and frequency and impact of affirming and non-affirming religious and/or spiritual (R/S)-oriented messages toward queer communities on allyship and activism. We observed a minimal relationship between religiosity and spirituality and allyship and activism and a significant positive association between the frequency of queer-affirming and non-affirming R/S-oriented messaging and allyship and activism. Our findings inform implications for facilitating allyship and activism within counseling.

Beyond HIV shame: the role of self-forgiveness and acceptance in living with HIV

ABSTRACT Research is developing regarding the beneficial association of spirituality with numerous health outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH); however, little attention has been paid to the association of these variables with forgiveness and acceptance of HIV status. This cross-sectional study used a sample of 648 PLWH from the United States aged 18–61 to test the mediating effects of forgiveness and acceptance of HIV status on the relationship of spirituality and life satisfaction. As expected, self-forgiveness and acceptance straightforwardly and serially explained the links between spirituality and life satisfaction, while forgiveness of others was not a significant mediator for this relationship. The data obtained suggest that spirituality and self-forgiveness are two important targets for future experimental research, and therapeutic interventions on these variables may have a synergistic effect of increasing acceptance and improving well-being in PLWH.

Dinamika Kemurtadan: Kajian Psikologis Terhadap Faktor-Faktor Individu dan Lingkungan dalam Masyarakat Kontemporer

This research aims to explore theological views on apostasy in the context of Christianity. Apostasy is defined as an act of rejection of one's faith and religious teachings, with a focus on serious spiritual consequences. The main source of insight is the Bible, which provides strong warnings against apostasy, highlighting specific passages such as Hebrews 6:4-6. This verse reflects the theological view that for those who consciously abandon the Christian faith, repentance may no longer be possible. This view reflects the serious spiritual consequences that can separate an individual from the presence of God. Although the Bible provides a strong warning against apostasy, the theological perspective also highlights God's grace and forgiveness. The Bible shows that repentance is always open to those who sincerely desire to return to God. In Luke 15:7, Jesus emphasizes the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, providing hope that despite the seriousness of the apostasy, God always provides a way for repentance and restoration of a spiritual relationship with Him. Overall, the theological view of apostasy reflects a balance between stern warnings about the spiritual consequences and God's gracious mercy that is always open to those who return to Him.

Philosophical Significance of the Way, Experience, and Silence in the Context of Camino de Santiago

The problem addressed in the article refers to an attempt to present the phenomenon of the way, experience, and silence in the context of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in modern times. The objective is to present what is popularly referred to as Camino as a dynamic and evolving per­spective on human spirituality in relation to the challenges of modern times. The main thesis of the pro­posed study is that this type of pilgrimage offers an alternative to the phenomenon of increasing secu­larization. The key concepts related to the Camino were discussed and interpreted using the methods of analysis and synthesis in order to present the anthropological vision of the human being developed by Karol Wojtyła and Józef Tischner. An outline of their ideas reveals the deeper meaning of the way and experience. The main conclusion following from the analysis of the issue is that, by embarking on the Camino route, an individual is enabled to take a more in-depth look at his or her own condition, his or her perspective on relationships with others, contemplation, and new opportunities to organize and develop his or her own spirituality.

Illuminating data beyond the tangible: exploring a conceptually-relevant paradigmatic frame for empirical inquiry with Muslim educators

Effective social research tapping a broad range of human experiences must employ research paradigms that are consistent with the ontologies and epistemologies of the research participants, community, and contextual scholars. This paper describes the construction of a bricolage, imbricating Islamic and interpretivist concepts for coherence and rigor in engaging 35 Muslim–Canadian educators in interviews on their pedagogies. The act of centering an Islamic paradigm made data visible beyond a narrow secular Western frame, offering analytic precision and interpretive significance within Muslim educational communities. Illustrating this data–paradigm engagement, a collective data excerpt is presented on socio–spiritual development, whereby educators described establishing with young Muslims an overarching conceptual framework rooted in Islamic tradition to situate self, social, and spiritual relationships; embark holistic transformative actions with social, individual, and spiritual dimensions; and engage in continuous self-reflexivity triangulated with divinity (muhasaba). Offering a unique pedagogical approach to socio–spiritual development, this bricolage also challenged methodological singularity.

‘Even a piece of paper has two sides’: multi‐scalar cosmologies of Japanese New Year cards

AbstractAnnually on 1 January, Japan's efficient postal system circulates 2.5 billion New Year cards to arrive simultaneously in every home in the country. Based on ethnographic fieldwork around Osaka, this article investigates the continued popularity of this exchange of paper forms in an age of smartphones and fast internet connections. Extending recent anthropological scholarship about digital data, I argue that these seemingly trivial cards have transformative potential. They are active, potent participants in the cultivation, accumulation, and ongoing care of multiple networks of social, economic, and spiritual relationships. Through an analysis of the material and aesthetic qualities of the cards, I highlight how their front‐back design embodies co‐existing, but contrasting, dimensions of Japanese relations along a qualification‐quantification and personalization‐standardization axis. The cards also produce depth and scale by linking intimate, domestic concerns with larger political and economic interests, while weaving together multiple temporal dimensions. Ultimately, they exemplify how the manipulation of surfaces can have profound cosmological consequences. These cards possess a spiritual and social potency that generates an all‐encompassing, intimate closeness that yearly rejuvenates society by reconstituting individuals as part of the whole.

The Spirituality of Deconstruction in United States Theological Schools

Building on a movement within the sociology of religion to better situate studies of spirituality in relation to contexts, practices, and power relations, the current study examines shifts in spiritual practice associated with “deconstruction” among graduate students within theological education. We rely on new interview data with a cohort of 30 students at time 1 (2020) and follow-ups with 22 of those students at time 2 (2022), comparing students at four different types of schools (Mainline Protestant, Evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and Black Protestant), and oversampling for students of historically minoritized identities. After identifying patterns in the spirituality of deconstruction, including trends toward embodiment, attunement to the natural world, social activism, and syncretism, we examine how these students perceive the responses of their theological schools to students’ deconstructing spirituality. We especially note a pattern of ambivalence, where certain aspects of the institution (especially some individual faculty and administrators, and student affinity groups) support and model deconstruction for their students. We argue that the spirituality of deconstruction may, therefore, function to both challenge and regenerate institutionalized contexts of religion in an overall setting of institutional decline.

The relationship between the strength of religious faith and spirituality in relation to post-traumatic growth among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in eastern Poland: a cross-sectional study.

The COVID-19 pandemic had forced intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to adapt to extreme conditions in a short period of time. This resulted in them experiencing extremely stressful situations. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and religiosity and spirituality (R/S) among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in intensive care during the pandemic. 120 nurses working in Lublin, eastern Poland, participated in the cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was made up of three standardised tools: The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, The Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, The Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List. In terms of spirituality, the study group of nurses achieved the highest score in the Connectedness with Nature subscale (4.37 ± 1.07), while the strength of religious beliefs had a positive correlation with post-traumatic growth only in the Spiritual changes subscale (r = 0.422, p < 0.001). The following dimensions of spirituality were significantly correlated with post-traumatic growth in the multi-factor model that included religiosity and spirituality: Transcendent experiences, Spiritual activities, Meaningfulness, Acceptance, and Trust. We saw that increase in the assessment of the Transcendent experiences, Meaningfulness and Trust subscales significantly mirrors increase in post-traumatic growth, while increase in the assessment of the Spiritual activities and Acceptance subscales significantly mirrors decrease in post-traumatic growth. The above variables explained up to 44% of the dependent variable. Both religiosity and spirituality were significantly associated with post-traumatic growth in the group of ICU nurses, but spirituality appears to have played a larger role. Our findings support the value and significance of the development of spiritual and religious identity as a means of enhancing positive psychological changes in the face of traumatic events.

Живописный код в романе «Бесы» Ф. М. Достоевского («Сикстинская Мадонна» в судьбе С. Т. Верховенского)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the picturesque plot in F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel “Demons,” built around the canvas of the Italian master Raphael Santi, “Sistine Madonna,” in its semantic and symbolic dynamics — the inner spiritual relationship with the fate of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky. The image of Raphael’s Madonna is the most significant element of the ethical and aesthetic system of the character’s worldview, defining the way of thinking and behavior of the character. At the same time, in the conceptual space of the novel, the Sistine Madonna acquires the features of a spiritually ambivalent image: inspiring Stepan Trofimovich to a high way of thinking, she, nevertheless, turns out to be powerless to transform his life. The article analyzes the theological content of the canvas in the context of the Russian tradition (Zhukovsky, Karamzin, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov), which makes it possible to decipher the pictorial code in the fate of Verkhovensky’s father. Spiritual healing and the near-death transformation of the hero become possible thanks to two symbolic and semantic transitions carried out by the Verkhovensky’s father in the final part of the novel: from the Western Catholic “Sistine Madonna” to the Russian Mother of God, from the Western way of thinking and life to the Russian “soil” and Orthodox spirituality.