Understanding the Self Module 3: Unpacking the Self

Lesson 1: The Spiritual Self

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

 Understand the connection of religion and self
 Understand the difference between religion and spirituality
Description of Lesson
The self-system entails three major components: the individual self, the relational
self, and the collective self. The individual self represents a person’s uniqueness. The
relational self represents dyadic interpersonal bonds and the collective self represents
group membership, that is, similarity and affiliation with valued groups. One good example
of these valued groups is religion. Regardless of what religion you belong to, it has
attributes that are shared among group members and may define roles within the ingroup.
On the other hand, spirituality is acquired as result of various personal, social, and
environmental factors present throughout one’s lifetime. In this regard, spirituality is
related to religiosity, which is often used interchangeably with the former.
This lesson will help you focus on spiritual dimension of the self. It broadly tackles
different aspects of spirituality versus religion. It broadly tackles the different aspects of
spirituality from existence, relatedness or connections, and the inner soul.

Here are definitions of some words you can find as you go along
this module. This will help you to better understand the lesson.
Key Terms existence: the fact or state of living or having objective reality.

nirvana: the state of perfect happiness and peace

religiosity: defined as the adherence to a belief system and

practices associated with a tradition in which there is
agreement about what is believed and practiced.
spirituality: the quality of being concerned with the human
spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
 Let’s dig deeper! Module 3: Unpacking the Self
Lesson 1: The Spiritual Self

The concept of the “whole person” is usually associated to the idea of human beings
as having physical and psychological aspects. However, there is third aspect of being
human which is the spiritual aspect is equally important as the two precedents.
Highlighting the mind-body-spirit connection, the spiritual self is an ongoing,
personal life journey, contextualized by the belief in a higher being, culture, relationships,
nature, and the discovery of meaning in one’s life.
There are several definitions that have been formulated regarding spirituality.
Puchalski (2014), spirituality is the aspect of the self that is associated to an
individual’s process of seeking and expressing meaning and how he or she is connected to
the self, to others, to the moment and to everything else that composes his/her
environment, including the sacred and significant.
Beauregard and O’Leary (2007), spirituality is any
experience that is thought to bring the experiencer in contact with
the divine; it is not just any experience that feels meaningful.
Sinnott (2002), spirituality is also posited as the indivudual’s
personal relation to the sacred or transcendent, a relation that then
informs other relationships and the meaning of one’s own life.
Myers and his colleagues (2000), spirituality is the “personal
and private beliefs that transcend the material aspects of life and
give a deep sense of wholeness, connectedness, and openness to the
infinite.”
What do these definitions have in common with regard to spirituality?
1. Spirituality talks about meaning and purpose that go beyond the physical realities of
life. Going through development, people are inevitably programmed to make
realizations about life, and those insights are not always about observable phenomena
or environmental experiences.
2. Spirituality is focused on a person’s connections to different aspects of his/her
existence: to other people, to nature, and to sacredness and divinity. In the pursuit of
and applying meaning to one’s life, relationships are created and sustained not only
with people but with other life forms or with a higher being.
3. Spirituality talks about the sacred and transcendent. It is a general belief that in this
vast universe, there is a force higher than the self.
 It can’t be denied that religion and spirituality is closely related. Although not
separate from one another, spirituality is much more profound than religion.

Religiosity Religiosity is defined as the adherence to a belief system and

practices associated with a tradition in which there is
agreement about what is believed and practiced.

Religion is communal

Beliefs and practices are within religious groups, and religious

commitment, conservatism, and skepticism are manifested.

Through rituals, people attempt to influence things that they

think are beyond their control.

Spirituality spirituality is individual

spiritual attributes include the need for spiritual quest,

ecumenical worldviews, compassion, service, and inner
peace.
concerns an aspect of the divine and supernatural but is
often times limited to the individual, with no need for any
formal organization

a person can possess spirituality even his/she does not

subscribe to any religion.

Role of Religion in Society

 To explain things  To provide support
 To establish order  Socializes people
 To justify things  Vehicle for passage into a different
domain

Religious Diversity
Religious diversity is the fact that there are significant differences in religious belief
and practice. It has always been recognized by people outside the smallest and most
isolated communities.
It is given that religious belief and practices are varied. The increasing availability of
information and the ability to exchange views through the use of modern technological
communications had been an avenue for people to ponder deeply into the notion of
religious diversity. Briefly, religious pluralist approaches religious diversity by stating that
one religion is good as any other. I contrast, religious exclusivists claimed that only one
religion is uniquely valuable. The religious inclusivists claimed by attempting direct a
middle path and agrees with the pluralists that other religious practices have a religious
value.

Religious Pluralism

A theory of religious pluralism says that all religions of some kind are the same in
some valuable respect(s). While this is compatible with some religion being the best in
some other respect(s), the theorists using this label have in mind that many religions are
equal regarding the central value(s) of religion.
John Hick, a religious pluralism advocate, developed an approach to religious
diversity through pluralism, believing that despite the differences among religions, in at
least one crucial respect all are fundamentally similar. He urges all religious adherents to
reject the view that their own religion is superior to all others. This as to the consideration
that all each religion can be viewed as offering path to salvation.
Hick also said that pluralism is divided into two:
1. Division of Facts:
a. no more religious tradition satisfies our criteria better any other
b. we have no ground for epistemically privileging the experience of
one tradition over those another
c. all the major tradition seems equally productive of “saints’’, men
and women who embody the “ethical ideal’’ common to all the
great traditions of love/compassion.
2. Profession of Faith:
- religion is not a purely human projection but involves a response
to a transcendent reality.

Exclusivism
 Religious exclusivism promotes the doctrine that a particular faith or group will
attain salvation while believers that do not share this faith will not attain blessing
associated with such state. In its more extreme form, exclusivism preaches that only the
followers of one religion or sect will reach heaven, nirvana, eternal bliss, liberation while
others will be doomed to eternal damnation.
Christian exclusivist James Borland contends that there are marked contrasts
between Christianity and the other world religions. These contrasts are based on the very
different concepts of God, the nature of humanity, the function and role of Jesus Christ, and
the way of salvation. For Borland, non-Christians can be saved only through hearing and
believing Christian gospel. Further he asserted that Christian gospel is the power of God for
everyone to reach salvation, who believes, regardless of race, culture, sex, or any other
differences.

Inclusivism
Inclusivist affirm that God is present and working in among all the religions, even
though God is most clearly in one religion, they only differ or conflict arise only on the
means of obtaining salvation/liberation.
Roman Catholic theologian Karl Rahner defines inclusivism as the belief that God is
present in Non-Christian religions. Rahner is advocates the concept of anonymous
Christian by which s understood as a person who practices Christian values or ideologies,
but who personally neither knows the Christ of the bible nor has converted to biblical
Christianity. Anonymous Christian is a Christian through faith, hope and love while not yet
a Christian at the social level (ritualistic sorts of membership).

Do you believe in a God or in a

Supreme creator? Do you pray? How?

Types of Prayers (Dasal o Panalangin)

 Fasting (Pag-aayuno)  Attending mass (Pagmimisa)
 Healing (Panggagamot)  Praying a novena (Pagnonobena)
 Offering (Pag-aalay)  Praying the rosary (Pagrorosaryo)
 “Panalanging walang patid”  Carrying the Cross (Pagpasan ng
 Meditation krus)
  Curifixion (Pagpapako sa krus)

Spirit (“Kaluluwa”), Self (“Pagkatao”) and “Loob”

 The concept of “Loob” is important to the study of “Pagkatao” (“Self”) and
“Kaluluwa” (Spirit)
 Ileto defined Loob as the innermost part of the self, the true meaning of self and the
location of the central most important aspect of the individual.
 Loob is a concept that has to do with relations. It is described as the relation of one
individual with his/her co-human being (relasyon ng isang tao sa kanyang kapwa).
This is why majority of the words that has to do with “kapwa” or “pakikipagkapwa”
is associated with the word “loob” like “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude), “sama ng
loob” (ill feeling/will), “kusang loob” (free will), and “kagandahang loob” (good will).
These 3 concepts are inseparable
In the study of spirituality, spirituality cannot be separated from
1. Filipino self (Pagkataong Pilipino)
2. Where “katawan” and “kaluluwa” are connected/interconnected
3. and there is “loob” at “labas”

In olden times, the unity of “kaluluwa” and “katawan” leads to kaginhawahan,

although this is contrary to the teachings of Christianity where kaginhawahan is attained
only in the afterlife. In our culture, “kaginhawaan” in life may be attained without the
separation of “kaluluwa” and “katawan.”

Spirituality and Questions about One’s Purpose in Life and Identity

Renewal of Faith as one Ages (Life Span)
Synthetic Conventional Stage
 Because the individual now has the capacity for “operational thinking” faith may now
synthesize or bring together different beliefs, information and values in order that the
person may have a stable identity.
  However, there is really no critical analysis of the information and values, and there is
heavy reliance on authority.  It is the desire of human beings to have close relations
with God.
Individuative – Reflective Stage
 The beginnings of questioning/challenging previously held beliefs. (For example, “If
God is kind, why is there suffering in the world?”).
 Developed regard for God as friend and ally.
 Desire by humans for a God that values him/her, accepts him/her as himself/herself
and a God that brings light to one’s sense of purpose in life.
 They themselves and no longer authority chooses their world view.

Three Stages of Transition and Transformation

1. Ending - saying goodbye to beliefs held from childhood.

2. Neutral Zone - conflicted internally from the abandonment of one’s self to embracing
a new one. From the old “ako” (I/me) to the new “ako” (I/me). One reason why a
teenager undergoes crisis is that sometimes he/she is not aware that he/she is
undergoing a kind of spiritual awakening. There is sometimes full of hate, boredom,
rebellion and sadness.

3. New Beginning - through trustworthy friends, an individual discovers not only

himself/herself but also God who may be trusted and may serve as companion
throughout life.
 Let’s apply your learning! Module 3: Unpacking the Self
Lesson 1: The Spiritual Self

Name: ___________________________________ Year and Section: __________________

Instruction: Answer the following questions. Write your answers in the given space.
1. Can a person be spiritual without being religious? Explain your answer and provide
support.
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2. What do you consider more important – religion or spirituality?
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Additional Activity Module 3: Unpacking the Self

Lesson 1: The Spiritual Self

My Spiritual Self
Looking back and reflecting on your life, how were you when you were a teenager
and how was your faith? What did you think of God? Of religion? Of the Church? How do
you think it influenced your spiritual self?