Is religion good for you?

Using a similar approach to measure overall attitudes toward religion, the survey finds no clear consensus across western europe about the personal and social value of religion. In eight countries, attitudes toward religion are, on balance, more positive than negative. But attitudes toward religion lean negative in four countries and are divided in three countries. The survey asked respondents whether they agree with two positive statements about religion and two negative ones. More western europeans disagree than agree with the two positive statements – “religion helps me choose between right and wrong” and “religion gives meaning and purpose to my life .

By reverend joseph a. Tetlow, sj what is spirituality? how is it connected with ecological concerns? spirituality can be approached in various ways. Some approach it as the wholehearted living of christian faith,creed, moral code, and worship. Some consider spirituality as humanity’s innate reaching for self-transcendence and for ultimate meaning. Some insist that spirituality must include a god-centered struggle for justice. But for almost everyone, spirituality implies a direct relationship with god. The experience of a desire for a direct relationship with god is hardly new. However, it can be confused with other experiences. Experiencing holy rites and believing truths can be religion; doing good and keeping laws can be morality; yearning for absolutes, for transcendence, can be noble humanism.

How can I find meaning in life?

You can think about spirituality in different ways. There are no rules to being spiritual. One way of thinking about it is, the meaning and purpose that you look for in your life. It can give you a sense of your own worth and value. This can also help you to find a sense of hope. It can help to feel support at times of loss and suffering. Spiritual practices could be things like the following. Belonging to a faith community. Meditation and prayer. Mindfulness is based on meditation and it’s usually available on the nhs. Living by a set of rules that you set for yourself.

Spirituality means different things to different people. For example, it can be about searching for meaning and purpose in life. Or it can mean finding the best relationship with ourselves, others, society or nature. For some people spirituality might involve religion, but it's not the same as religious beliefs. Spiritual issues can affect everyone – people do not need to be religious to have spiritual needs.

Every person has spirituality. Whatever moves or expresses your spirit or inner energy is part of your spirituality. In some senses your spirituality is expressed in every aspect of your personal and public life. It is just part of who you are – woven into and expressed through every thought, feeling, and action. There are many definitions of spirituality. Any of them can be helpful in understanding this important yet mysterious part of life. Ultimately, none of them captures the whole reality, but what becomes clear is that spirituality has these core elements: finding or making some kind of meaning in your life:.

Why do people believe in God?

Dr. Ravi p. Bhatia – transcend media service most people are religious and follow their religion truthfully and faithfully in their lives. Most important of the religions are christianity — both protestant and catholic; islam with highest number of muslims living in indonesia. Another important and popular faith is buddhism (termed after gautam buddha) that is widespread in many parts of the world — india, tibet, nepal, sri lanka, cambodia, vietnam, laos etc. The principal buddhist leader is known as dalai lama who lives in north india, bordering tibet. Then we have various forms of hinduism of india, nepal and some other neighbouring countries.

Thirty years ago albert nolan wrote jesus before christianity , a classic about the political context of jesus' mission. In this stirring paperback, he looks at jesus' spirituality and its relevance to our times. The author is a dominican priest from south africa. He outlines the signs of our times — the hunger for spirituality, the crisis of individualism, globalization, and developments in science after einstein — to accentuate why we need the radical freedom of jesus. Nolan writes poignantly about the mysticism of the man from nazareth — his experience of union with god as abba — and how it was connected to his prophetic mission.

The meaning of spirituality has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. [note 1] traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape of man", [note 2] oriented at "the image of god " as exemplified by the founders and sacred texts of the religions of the world. The term was used within early christianity to refer to a life oriented toward the holy spirit and broadened during the late middle ages to include mental aspects of life. In modern times, the term both spread to other religious traditions and broadened to refer to a wider range of experience, including a range of esoteric traditions and religious traditions.

The problem with many of us is that we approach and perceive spirituality in a different way. To some extent we have been influenced by the culture and trends of the world, which emphasize public success, social recognition in the workplace, and the image one projects in relationships. But spirituality is not focused so much on public success as in private and inner development. Private devotion is something intensely personal— consuming our souls in moments of devotion when one meets one’s creator and is confronted by his demands. It does not focus on success; it focuses on faithfulness. It does not seek to be served but seeks to serve.

Development of the meaning of spirituality [ edit ]

Bright blessings and welcome to the ancient order of druids in america! the aoda is a traditional druid order rooted in the druid revival movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We walk a path of nature spirituality and inner transformation founded on personal experience and reconnection with the living earth. Our work offers an opportunity for modern people to experience the teachings and practices of druidry in today’s world. Aoda understands druidry as a path of nature spirituality and inner transformation founded on personal experience rather than dogmatic belief. It welcomes people of all national origins, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, races, genders, abilities, and affiliations with other druidic and spiritual traditions.

Traditional spirituality [ edit ]

When jordan booker, 22, found himself dealing with anxiety and overthinking, meditation proved a powerful salve. The activity offered the university of houston junior spiritual benefits he hadn't found while growing up in a christian family. Two years ago, booker started a monday meditation group on campus, eager to see whether the activity might be similarly helpful for others. Before long, dozens of other young people were joining him for weekly "meditation monday" sessions to reflect on their lives and find inner peace. “we're starting to see that there's not just one way to have spirituality," booker said. Across the united states, teenagers and young adults are increasingly expanding or redefining their spiritual practices around non-traditionally religious activities rather than around a single institution or faith system, according to a recent survey.