MODULE UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

CHAPTER 5: THE SPIRITUAL SELF

Objectives:
a.) Identify various religions and practices.
b.) Understand self in relation with religious beliefs.
c.) Explain ways of finding the meaning of life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7
Every individual, has a spiritual belief and practice that
create a pattern in their lives and set the standard for one’s
morality. One’s belief will not be necessarily reflected in the action
of that person and sooner or later, the person will have to choose
between the two, either to abandon the belief or to change one’s
way in order for it to be consistent with the belief. The strength of
the spiritual self is determined by the depth of that person’s belief.
One’s identity of spiritual self-tied to the center of their religion and worship:
CHRISTIANS – firmly believes in the man was created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)
For them, everything else is immaterial for as long as we follow God. He is the all-knowing, all-
good, Alpha and Omega. He is also God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
BUDDHISM AND HINDUISM – man’s goal is to reach Nirvana, that is – the removal of desires
and sufferings.
MUSLIMS – the name Muslims itself means one who surrenders and submits to Allah and his
laws. Their God is the Allah; He was the one who showed Mohammed, the founding prophet,
the message. Jesus is not considered as the Messiah, but one of his prophets who was shown
one of the gospels
– Taurah, (Quran 4:171)
THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
-It is a restricted more than belief as it will affect other people.
-It includes worship, rites, rituals, sacrifices, fiestas, trances, and etc. also includes dances,
meditations, celebration, matrimonial, and etc. as provided by human culture which is
considered as sacred by the practitioners depending in the belief.

Example: Normal wine/ wine & Incense sticks

- In Philippines, constitutional provision have been written to ensure that the exercise of
religious freedom will be honored.
Example: The case of Ebralinag Etal vs. Superintendent of Schools of Cebu. And
Victoriano vs. Elizalde rope workers union.

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RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Roman Catholic Christianity 80.6
2. Islam 5.6%
3. Evangelical Protestant Christians Affiliated 2.7%
4. Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine Church Of Christ) 2.5%
5. Buddhists indigenous Beliefs other Christians,
Atheists and Others 8.6%
PROTESTANTISM - Introduced by the Americans
- Salvation through Christ Jesus was deeply emphasized and one must be born again
and accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior.
IGLESIA NI CRISTO - Local Church that has grown exponentially in the past few years
-It believes that God is not the Holy Trinity but a singular being.

BUDDHISM - Believed that is found it’s way here during 6th – 7th century.
-Might have been brought by Chinese traders.
-There is no personal God but one should follow the path of Buddha—the enlightened one.
-Worship is done as a sign of respect rather than veneration.
INDIGENOUS BELIEFS - Often characterized as ANIMISM.
-Inanimate objects may be worshipped like trees, plants, sun, sea or it could be all of them at the
same time.
SPIRITUAL HEALERS -It is believed they use the spirits to diagnose and cure the sick.
TAWO of Bicol - Invisible creatures that thought to cause a wide range of illnesses and the only
person who can communicate with them would be the faith healer or ALBUKARU.
PAGALI of MOROS -Nocturnal, supernatural beings found in different regions of the Philippines
• Aswang • Mangkukulam • Tikbalang • Kapre • Dwende

THE CONCEPT OF DUNGAN – SPIRIT AND SOUL

The idea of soul is permeated the consciousness of human beings as soon as humans started
to speculate on what is the nature of man. In fact, some artifacts have shown us that even
during pre-historic times there are some sort of concepts regarding soul or spirit. Early Greek
philosophers, namely Socrates and Plato (The Republic, 381 BC) have elevated the everything,
the body and all physical facilities and the only thing left would be his soul. This soul will survive
the death of the body and that would be the real self.

DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF SOUL OF SOME ETHNIC GROUP IN THE PHILIPPINES

AMINISM – is a belief of our ancestors that souls are quasi-physical and can exist outside the
body (in dreams and in vision)
Point of view of the BABAYLAN

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Basic Concepts of Franklian Psychology

Viktor E. Frankl was one of Europe’s leading psychiatrists and one of the most modern thinkers
in the world. During and partly because of his suffering in concentration camps, Frankl validated
a revolutionary approach to psychotherapy known as Logotherapy. At the core of this theory is
the belief that man’s primary motivational force is search for meaning and the work of the
logotherapist centers on helping the patient find personal meaning in life, however dismal the
circumstances maybe. He is the father of the Logotherapy, an existential analysis.

Franklian Philosophy
* The belief in a healthy core is the basis of Franklian Psychotherapy.
* The principal goal is to help the person become aware of the resources of their healthy core
and to help them use these resources.
* Life does not owe you happiness, it offers you meaning.

Basic Concepts of Franklian Psychology

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

Assumptions of Franklian Psychology

* The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind, and spirit.
* Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable.
* People have a will to meaning.
* People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning.
* Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be meaningful.
* The individual is unique.

Aims of Franklian Psychotherapy

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

Franklian Philosophical Questions

* How do we find meaning?
* How do we know when suffering is unavoidable and meaningless?
* How do we find the meaning of the moment in situations of value conflicts?

To know more about Spiritual Self, please click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHm0twGjKaY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okJ3KQ4S-ts

Alata, Castillo, et. al, Understanding The Self. Rex Book Store: 2018
http://www.logotherapyinstitute.org/About_Viktor_Frankl.html

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