Celebrating National Psychotherapy Day—Again! They want to eliminate the perceived negative and focus only on the positive. Transpersonal experiences are defined as “experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends … Why are so many people drawn to conspiracy theories in times of crisis? The impressive longevity, ubiquity and tenacity of religion in human affairs attests to its relative efficacy in this regard. And best wishes for a passionate, creative and joyous New Year! Coparenting With an Ex: Battleground vs. Common Ground. Psychologically speaking, religion is conceived, created and perpetuated by virtually every culture throughout history to provide meaning, comfort and succor in the face of the stark, disturbing, anxiety-provoking existential facts of life: suffering, misfortune, meaninglessness, isolation, insecurity, disease, evil, loss, and ultimately, death. Hank Davis Ph.D. on December 13, 2020 in Caveman Logic. Known for his scholarly work and his scientific analyses of religion’s role in mental health, he served as editor-in-chief of the “ APA Handbook of Psychology, Religion … Diverging from Freud, depth psychologists Otto Rank, Carl Jung and Rollo May took a far less jaded view of religion, recognizing spirituality as an archetypal potentiality and essential psychological need. The sense of transcendence experienced in spirituality is a universal experience. Steve Taylor is the author of several books on spirituality and psychology, including The Fall and Waking from Sleep. People who attend religious services, research finds, appear significantly less vulnerable to “deaths of despair” such as suicide, drug abuse, or alcohol poisoning. Spirituality can best be characterized by psychological growth, creativity, consciousness and emotional maturation. Spirituality & Psychology: How they help each other One of the great beauties of the Catholic Church is the anthropology she professes and defends: the human person, made in the image and likeness of God, possesses an inherent dignity and infinite value. (2007) The Road to Emmaus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life. Psychiatrist Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, famously wrote about how he held onto meaning and purpose as a counter to suffering. Curious, Lennon climbed the mysterious ladder apparently to nowhere, discovering only a magnifying glass with which the tiny word YES inscribed on the ceiling was made visible.). Linda and Charlie Bloom on December 20, 2020 in Stronger at the Broken Places, If I had to choose one word to capture the essence of Zack and Shira's story, it would have to be “integrity.”, Debbie Joffe Ellis on December 18, 2020 in Tried and True. A concern for religion and God. But recognizing, honoring, embracing and bringing this dark side to light is at the very heart of true spirituality. Does death exist? The reasons are not clear but could include increased social connection and support, a greater sense of purpose, and time spent learning about the value of life and one’s responsibility to care for oneself. One would think that in order to transmute these lower energies, you would first need to accept them as a part of your self and acknowledge their effect. Oxford University Press. By bravely facing our inner "demons"--symbolizing those scary, shameful, primitive, uncivilized, irrational, unconscious complexes, emotions, passions and tendencies we most fear, flee from, and hence, are obsessed or haunted by--we transmute them into helpful spiritual allies. 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