SPIRITUAL SELF

Spiritual Self

  • The spiritual self represents the most intimate and subjective part of individual identity.

  • It encompasses our ability to engage with moral sensibility and conscience, representing our unconquerable will.

  • Spirituality is a way of being rather than a specific practice.

Awareness of a Higher Being

  • Reflect on when you last felt the presence of a higher being and what led you to that belief.

Dimensions of Human Life

  • Interrelation of self, others, and God is crucial in understanding the whole of human experience.

Overview of Major Religions

  • Religions Discussed: Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism.

Activity: Picture Gallery

  • Observe pictures of various religious rituals and ceremonies.

  • Reflective questions:

    • What observations were made?

    • What realizations were gained?

Beliefs Across Religions

  • Buddhism: Life encompasses suffering, pain, and frustrations.

  • Christianity: Belief in a Trinitarian God (one God in three personas).

  • Hinduism: Existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by karma.

  • Islam: Belief in Allah as the one and only God, emphasizing unity and universality.

Definition of Religion

  • According to Rebecca Stein (2011):

    • Cultural beliefs and practices, including:

      • Belief in supernatural beings (God/spirits).

      • Focus on the sacred.

      • Ritual activities involving sacred objects.

Understanding Rituals

  • A ritual is defined as ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law.

Spiritual Expression

  • Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs express the spiritual self.

  • The relationship with a higher being may not necessitate affiliation with a specific religion.

  • Variations in religious beliefs and practices are relative to culture and context.

Theological Explanation

  • Nepesh (soul, breath): Refers to the essence of life (e.g., Genesis 2:11).

  • Emotional yearning illustrated in Psalms, linking soul and divine connection.

  • Basar (flesh): Must be understood alongside the concept of nepesh.

Creating Meaning in Life

  • **Layers of Self:

    • First Layer (Shell):** Physical appearance and societal branding.

    • Second Layer (False Self):** Influences and perceptions shaped by experiences from childhood.

    • Third Layer (True Self):** The intrinsic self inherited from the divine creator.

    • Center (Divine Dwelling): Represents the space occupied by the divine within each person.

Quote

  • "The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive!" - St. Irenaeus