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Presented by:
Gautam Akash Avtar Sarabjeet Zahid Nishant
Whats Spirituality?
Relation with God, Spirit, Universal Power Seek meaning, purpose, significance in life Transcending the ego self ( I, Me, Mine) Striving for what is sacred in life Spiritus breath or life Fostering virtues/character strengths such as: love, compassion, hope, faith, humility, forgiveness, gratitude
Spirituality is recognized as a factor that contributes to health in many persons. This concept is found in all cultures and societies. Its expressed in an individuals search for ultimate meaning through participation in a religion, but it can be much broader than that, such as, belief in God, family, naturalism, rationalism, humanism, and the arts. Institute for Human Development, Georgia Southwestern State University: 2003.
Encompasses the individuals sense of self, sense of mission and purpose in life It connotes a direct and personal experience of what each individual considers sacred and it is not mediated by a particular belief system prescribed by dogma or by hierarchical structure It is not defined by roles such as priests, ministers, rabbis, gurus, or other defined leaders.
SPIRITUALITY _________________________________
SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS
_________________ Spiritual belief: God or Higher Power can restore him/her to sanity. Spiritual principles: Code of conduct or frame for action that moves people toward the realization of values. Spiritual values: Qualities or ideals culturally derived, highly regarded by a group or society leading to selfacceptance.
Spiritual experience: Moment of clarity or a felt sense of wonder, elation, peace or fulfillment Spiritual growth: Embodies a powerful connection to people, the world or the universe
SPIRITUAL BEHAVIOR
_____________________________________ Prayer Meditation Walking in nature Reading poetry/sacred texts Lighting a candle Listening to music Smelling incense
Spirituality is found in all human cultures. Expressed differently in religious faiths. Common mechanism for transcendence.
Shades of Spirituality
Spiritual? Religious? Both? Neither? Evidence suggests Americans are:
50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
50% 30% 20% 10% Religious & Religious Spiritual Not Spiritual Relig/Spirit
Some Concerns
Neglect of spiritual practices and skills Expanding individualistic I, Mine mindsets. Fundamentalism in religion/spirituality: exclusive, rigid, authoritarian, militant, end justifies means, anti-scientific
Spirit rises, matter falls That can be panacea for various human materialistic problems A balance need to exist in material desires Beware of GREED and its fallout
Practices in daily work life Be Silent. Thoughts prevent access to spiritual Be Present.Demands/Expectations- past/future Be Recognising others. As they are/give space Self Satisfaction. Through self sacrfice
Relationships Between Spirituality and Religion Spiritual, but not religious Religious, but not spiritual
Spiritual and religious Neither religious nor spiritual
EMPIRICAL DATA ON RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH Extensive empirical studies reveal that acitvely religious people have lower rates of many physical disorders ranging from cancer to heart disease. Mortality rates are lower. Coping with death and other stressors is better
Recovery rates from almost everything, including surgery are better for religiously active individuals (Larson & Larson, 1994) A TIME survey in 1996 revealed that over 70% of patients polled believed that spiritual faith and prayer help in illness recover
64% of those surveyed believed physicians should talk to patients about spiritual issues as part of their care and pray with patients if they request it
One of the strongest predictors of survival after heart surgery is the degree to which patients draw strength from religion or spirituality, and the more religious they are the greater their protection from death (Oxman, Freeman, & Manheimer, 1995).
Weekly church attendees have been found to have 50% fewer deaths from coronary artery disease, 56% fewer deaths from emphysema, 74% fewer deaths from cirrhosis and 53% fewer suicides (Comstock, & Partridge, 1972)