Lesson 3: Supernaturals: Believe it or Not
Spiritual Self is one of the four constituents of the “self”
according to William James in his book. The Principles of
Psychology in 1980.
Spiritual self - is the most intimate, inner subjective
part of self. It is the most intimate version of the self
because of the satisfaction experienced when thinking
of one’s ability to argue and discriminate, of one’s
moral sensibility and conscience, and of our
unconquerable will is purer than all other sentiments of
satisfaction.
The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may
be seem through the expressions of religion, its beliefs
and practices. In the same manner, cultural rituals and
ceremonies are some manifestations what people
believe in.
RELIGION
Rebecca Stein (Stein 2011) - defines religion as a set of
cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes some
or all of basic characteristics.
These characteristics are:
1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being
such as spirit and gods;
2. A focus on the sacred supernatural, where
sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and awe;
3. The presence of supernatural power or energy
that is found on supernatural beings as well as
physical beings and objects;
4. The performance of ritual activities that
involves the manipulation of sacred object to
communicate to supernatural beings and/or to
influence or control events;
5. The articulation of worldview and moral codes
through narratives and other means;
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social
bonds and mechanism of social control within a
community; provide explanation for unknown
and a sense of control for individuals.
Ritual
 Ritual - is the performance of ceremonial
acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law.
 Ritual is specific, observable mode of
behavior exhibited by all known societies.
Three Fundamental Characteristics of Rituals
according to Penner:
1. A feeling or emotion of respect, awe,
fascination, or dread in relation to the
sacred
2. Dependence upon a belief system that is
usually expressed in the language of myth.
3. Is symbolic in relation to its reference.
The self can be described as a ritual being who exhibits
a striking parallel between their ritual and verbal
behavior. Just as language is a system of symbols that is
based upon arbitrary rules, ritual may be viewed as a
system of symbolic acts that is based upon arbitrary
rules. Participation to rituals is expressions of religious
beliefs.
SOME WORLD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
There are different religions with different
beliefs and practices. Some of the major world religions
are:
Buddhism
Christianity
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
BELIEFS
BUDDHISM
Buddhism believes that life is not a bed of roses.
Instead, there are suffering, pain and frustrations.
When people suffer, they want to experience the
goodness of life and avoid disappointments.
Additional:
It was these four principles that the Buddha came to
understand during his meditation under the bodhi tree.
(Dukkha) The truth of suffering
(Samudaya) The truth of the origin of suffering
(Nirodha) The truth of the cessation of suffering
(Magga or Marga) The truth of the path to the
cessation of suffering
The Eight Noble Paths (Dharma Wheel)
Right View (Know the Truth)
Right Intention (Free your mind of Evil)
Right Speech (Say nothing that hurt others)
Right Action (Work for the Good of others)
Right Livelihood (Respect life)
Right Effort (Resist Evil)
Right Concentration (Practice Meditation)
Right Mindfulness (Control your thoughts)
Custom and Practices
Two types of Meditation
samatha - practices as mindfulness of breathing and
development of loving kindness
vipassana - practices aim at developing insigh into
reality.
Buddhist Celebrations
Parinirvana in February
Buddha Day (Wasak) in May
Dharma Day in July
Padmasambhava Day in October
Sangha Day in November
 Lesson 3: Supernaturals: Believe it or Not

CHRISTIANITY Muslims also have a strong sense of community or

“ummah” and awareness of their solidarity with all
Christians believe in Trinitarian God. One god in three Muslims worldwide.
personas ISLAM - means willing submission to God.
God the Father (Creator) Muslim believed in Mohammed in the last and final
God the Son (Savior) prophet.
God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer) Quran - it is the Holy Book of Islam, which taught to
be recited in Arabic because any translation is seen
Eternal life after death will be achieved through faith in as inadequate.
Jesus Christ.
Customs and Practices
JESUS CHRIST - is God the Son, who came into flesh to
spread the Good News of Salvation. He died on the Five Pillars of Islam
Cross for the sin of the Humanity but resurrected from Shahadah - Statement of Faith
the death, so that anyone who believes in him will be Salat - the prayer that is practiced 5x a day
saved and have eternal life. Zakat - monetary offering for the benefit of the
poor
Holy Bible - collection of books which is divided into two Hajj - the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca
Old Testament Sawn - the fasting.
New Testament
Festivals and Celebrations
Customs and Practices Eidul-Fitr - is the celebration at the end of
Sacraments of Baptism Ramadhan
Sacraments of Communion Eidul-Adha - celebrated within the completion of
Christian Celebrations the Pilgrimage, or Hajj

Christmas on December 25, birth of Jesus

Resurrection Sunday (depends on the lunar
calendar)
o (sometime in March or April) celebrates
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
death
HINDUISM
Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs and
religious groups; thus there is no single founder or
leader.
JUDAISM
The Jews believes in the God of Abraham, the
same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves
from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land
through the leadership of Moses and later,
Joshua.
Jews believed in the coming of the Messiah, the
Savior
TORAH OR THE LAW - the sacred scripture of
Jews

Hindus believe that existence in a cycle of birth, death

and rebirth, governed by Karma. Customs and Tradition

Karma - is a concept where the reincarnated life will There are five major festivals observed by the
depend on how the past life was spent. Hindus believe Jews:
that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives
and its next incarnation is always dependent on how Rosh Hashanah - the New year
the previous life was lived. Yom Kippur - the day of Atonement
Pesach - Passover
Two important Text of the Hindus Shavuot - Pentecost
Mahabharata Sukkot - Tabernacles
Ramayana
FINDING AND CREATING MEANING OF LIFE
Customs and Practices
Celebrations: Most celebrated festivals of the Hindus Another extensive study of self can be found in the
are . works of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl.
Diwali is the Festival of Lights
Navrati is the festival of nine nights The Psychiatrist

DR. VIKTOR E. FRANKL

ISLAM
was born on March 26, 1905 in Vienna, Austria
Muslims believed in ALLAH, who is their “One God”. He was considered “The Father of Logotherapy”
They believe in the unity and university of God. and Died in 1997
 Lesson 3: Supernaturals: Believe it or Not

He graduated with a medical degree from

University of Vienna in 1930.
He was assigned in Vienna Hospital suicide ward
He also published a book about Logotherapy
His book is Entitled that was revised to English
 The Doctor and the Soul: An Introduction to
Logotheraphy
 Man’s Search for Meaning

LOGOTHERAPY

It is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor

Frankl and its main belief was “man’s primary
motivational force is search for meaning”.
Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal
meaning of life, whatever life situation they
may be.
In logotherapy: meaning can be discovered by
creating a work or doing a deed, experiencing
something or encountering someone and the
attitude toward unavoidable suffering.
According to Dr. Viktor, Logotherapy uses the
Philosophy of Optimism in the face of tragedy,
where people are capable of “turning suffering
intro human achievement and accomplishment;
deriving from guilt the opportunity to change
oneself for the better; and deriving from life’s
transitoriness and incentive to take responsible
action.”

Basic Concept of Franklian Psychology

These are:
Life has meaning under all circumstances
Main motivation for living is our will to find
meaning in life
Freedom to find meaning.

Furthermore: Franklian Psychology aims to:

Become aware of spiritual resources
Make conscious spiritual resources, and
Use “defiant power of the human spirit” and
stand up against adversity.

Logotherapy Assumptions

1. The human being is an entity consisting of Body,

Mind and Spirit;
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances;
3. People have a will to meaning;
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to
activate the will to find meaning;
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must
respond if decisions are to be meaningful;
6. The individual is unique;

Frankl Sources of Meaning

There are 3 possible sources of the meaning in life.

Purposeful Work
Courage in the Face of Difficulty
Love