scholarly journals PSYCHOLOGY AND SPIRITUAL LIFE. THE WAY FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL TO SPIRITUAL STATES

Author(s):  
Ion Croitoru
Keyword(s):  
2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-126
Author(s):  
IAN JAMES KIDD

AbstractThis article argues for a cross-culturally pluralistic conception of spiritual exemplarity. Three main modes of exemplarity are identified, distinguished by their underlying aspirations, which I label ‘allegiance’, ‘enlightened insight’, and ‘emulation’. After challenging some attempts to privilege the modes of exemplarity characteristic of theistic religions, I argue that perhaps the fullest example of the aspiration to emulation is the form of Daoism presented in The Book of Zhuāngzǐ. I conclude that what one finds across different cultures and traditions is a plurality of modes of spiritual exemplarity that should be acknowledge and explored, rather than given more reductive analyses that narrow our sense of the variety of ways of living a spiritual life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-59
Author(s):  
Ioan CHIRILĂ ◽  
◽  
Stelian PAȘCA-TUȘA

Saint Symeon is one of the most representative Eastern theologians and mystics. His speech on God and the knowledge of heavenly realities through direct, unmitigated experience would gain him the title of “the New Theologian”, which, until him, had only belonged to Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus. Therefore, his writings have greatly influenced the Christian East. Saint Symeon has been perceived as a renewer of the tradition of spiritual life and a restorer of the lost or rather neglected spiritual life. In this study, we aim to highlight his experiences in which he partook of the sight of divine light. These mystical episodes marked his life and decisively influenced the way he related to God and to the spiritual life to which Christians must adhere. We will first present these experiences of heavenly light from a chronological point of view, starting with those from the period when he was a layman and culminating with those from Saint Mamas Monastery. Our main aim is to see how each of these mystical experiences has marked his spiritual evolution. We will see that these experiences have helped Saint Symeon reach deeper within the mystery of communion to the One Who is Light and Who is calling everyone to be like Him.


2019 ◽  
pp. 153-154
Author(s):  
Mykola Obushnyi

In the context of decentralization of state administration and expansion of powers of local authorities in Ukraine, the ability of, on the one hand, the leadership of the state and, on the other, regional managers, to find compromise solutions taking into account the specifics of each region and state interests becomes important. The monograph is devoted to clarifying the specifics of such an important area in the spiritual life of Ukrainians in Galicia - state-church relations and the problems that arise in the way of their solution in the context of decentralization. The research problem posed by the authors is generally revealed at the level of requirements for this type of work and will be useful to all who are not indifferent to the study of ethno-religious relations in Ukraine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Thi Yen

Language is often considered to be the summary of all the experiences of a nation and its cultural heritage. Every nation has its own language and such language reflects the values and characteristics that exist in such society and in such culture. In the negative meanings of Korean comparative proverbs, the environment, the form and the capacity of the animals are related to the bad, difficult, and unfavorable situations; the ugliness and no harmony, inadequacy; the foolishness, limited capacity and little value, etc. The comparative proverbs with zodiac signs clearly reflect the negative aspects in the material and spiritual life, worldview, outlook on life, and the values of the Korean people. The connection with Vietnamese language also shows the close similarities and the unique features of the way of thinking, the language expression as well as the culture of the two nations of Korea and Vietnam.     


Author(s):  
George Pattison

Is the devout life a form of mysticism? Noting recent trends in the discussion of mysticism it is concluded that it is ‘mystical’ only if this is not confused with an experientially oriented spirituality or negative theology. Revisiting the relationship between will and affection, it is argued that the annihilation of the self opens the way for a spiritual life marked by dynamic movement and openness, in contrast to a claustrophobic self defined by volitional necessity. Although preferring silence, the devout authors believe devotion is set in motion by a divine call, but in post-Christian society, the motive power of basic life-choices is widely regarded as either ‘life’ or the internalized voices of society. How could a call from God be possible and how would one know it to be from God? These questions end Part 1 of the enquiry and set the stage for Part 2, The Rhetorics of the Word.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-65
Author(s):  
Piotr Bortkiewicz

This article presents the way of purification the human soul which allows it to enter a newstage of interior spiritual life. Such a purification requires from the soul great love for God anddisdain for itself. It is a very demanding way to make, but such an effort is worth being made,as it guarantees the experience of God and His love.


1994 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. McNeill

Endeavors to answer how psychotherapists and counselors can help lesbian and gay clients tap into their own spiritual depths and how therapists and counselors can make their own spiritual life available as a healing resource for clients. Sketches the history of gays and lesbians and notes their contributions in the area of spiritual leadership. Identifies some of the difficult theological and ecclesiological forces which frequently stand in the way of authentic expressions of gay and lesbian growth in spiritual matters, and indicates ways in which the spiritual life of a counselor may represent a key factor in allowing the spirit to grow in the lives of gay and lesbians persons.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-57
Author(s):  
Luhut P Lumban Gaol

The wickedness of the Israelites has always been an inseparable spotlight from the Old Testament, and this can be described as a cycle of circles that keep turning. But the struggle in describing the wickedness of the Israelites is with the marriage in Hosea, where this marriage is unusual and violates the customary norms of the Israelites. Traditionally and religiously this is clearly not allowed, because Hosea was a figure who had an important role in the spiritual life of the Israelites at that time. This book stands in stark contrast to the rest of the OT books, where Hosea's marriage is a matter of debate for interpreters. There are several interpreters who explain that this is only an allegory and also exists as a fact. It is hard to accept to see this as real action, but it is also difficult to get rid of this fact if you look at and explain the book. In fact, this debate is still ongoing today, with various views and assumptions against which to measure the justification of this view. But what needs to be understood is how we look at it from a different perspective, namely the context of the situation at that time in relation to the way God described the depravity of the Israelites, and also the basis of God's anger against His people. It may be contrary to our understanding of God's personality, but also we should not speculate about the verses in the book. In this discussion, we will try to explain through a textual approach (exposition) to see the picture of Hosea and Gomer 's marriage.AbstrakKejahahatan bangsa Israel selalu menjadi sorotan yang tidak pernah terlepas dari kitab Perjanjian Lama, dan ini dapat digambarkan sebagai siklus lingkaran yang terus berputar. Tetapi yang menjadi pergumulan dalam menggambarkan tentang kejahatan bangsa Israel adalah dengan pernikahan yang ada dalam kitab Hosea, dimana pernikahan ini yang tidak lazim dan melanggar norma kebiasaan bangsa Israel. Secara tradisi dan agama jelas hal ini tidak diperbolehkan, sebab Hosea adalah sebagai tokoh yang memiliki peran penting dalam kehidupan kerohanian bangsa Israel pada masa itu. Kitab ini sebagai sikap yang sangat bertolak belakang dengan seluruh kitab PL, dimana perkawinan Hosea ini menjadi perdebatan para penafsir. Ada beberapa penafsir yang menjelaskan bahwa hal ini hanya bersifat alegori dan ada juga sebagai fakta. Memang sulit diterima untuk melihat hal ini sebagai tindakan yang nyata, tetapi juga sulit untuk menghilangkan kenyataan ini jika melihat dan penjelasan kitab tersebut. Pada kenyataannya perdebatan ini masih terus berjalan sampai sekarang, dengan berbagai pandangan dan asumsi yang menjadi tolak ukur pembenaran pandangan tersebut. Tetapi yang perlu dipahami adalah bagaimana kita melihat dari sudat pandang yang berbeda, yaitu konteks situasi pada masa itu berkaitan dengan cara Allah menggambarkan kebobrokan bangsa Israel, dan juga dasar kemarahan Allah pada umat-Nya. Mungkin saja ini bertolak belakang dengan pemahaman kita berhubungan dengan kepribadian Allah, tetapi juga kita tidak boleh berspekulasi mengenai ayat dalam kitab tersebut. Dalam pembahasan ini akan mencoba menjelaskan melalui pendekatan teks (eksposisi) untuk melihat gambaran pernikahan Hosea dan Gomer. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021(42) (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Wieczorek ◽  

According to Patocka, man is subjectivity set in a specific historical context. To understand man, we must get to know his inner world and his Lebenswelt. Patocka describes the following forms of Lebenswelt: a nonhistorical period, a prehistorical period and history proper, which begins with the “spiritual shock”. The question about the decadence of the scientific and technical civilization suggests that last-mentioned period is nearing its end. Continuing Patocka's thought, the author proposes to introduce the fourth, i.e., the post-historic period, and identifies its characteristics. The central problem is the way in which the inner tension between corporality and spirituality is experienced by the contemporary man. In the author's opinion, it is this relationship, which is marked by an excessive interest in corporeality and a simultaneous reeva- luation of spiritual life understood in the perspective of reductionism, that most clearly distinguishes the post-historic times from the earlier epochs in history.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-113
Author(s):  
Monica Ruset-Oancă

In this paper, I intend to present the way in which the Biblical stories and medieval legends are re-written in the episode of the Miraculous Ship in La Queste del Saint Graal, and to identify several characteristics of this vessel, considered ideal for the questers’ preparation for the ecstatic life in the presence of the Grail. The multi-layered symbolism of this miraculous self-moving ship is constantly enriched with new connotations, and from being a sacred place that offers the successful knights the opportunity to meditate on their spiritual life before reaching Sarras and the Holy Grail, it may also be regarded as a connector between the Old-Testament legends, Christian traditions and Arthurian lore. In addition, the focus of the story shifts from Arthurian adventures to the creation of a story of origin and Galahad is presented not only as the quintessential Arthurian knight, but also the rightful heir of mythical ancestors. More importantly, analysing the way in which some medieval texts are recycled in this fragment, the reader is astonished to find a very progressive re-writing of the well-known literary tradition, as it reveals a very appreciative portrayal of women’s agency and a tolerant attitude towards Jews (represented by Solomon). Both these aspects differ not only from the biblical perspective or dogmatic theories, but also from other 13th-century legends. Moreover, this inclusive approach to non-Christians is unique in the economy of La Queste.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document