The Primary Element Of A Spiritual Experience

By Stephanie Reed


One, if not the most important element when looking to create a spiritual or religious experience is that of focus. Religion often requires continued study of the bible and other biblical texts. Spirituality, being content and process, often requires the individual be focused on body, mind and spirit. Once the individual is focused, it can be much easier to achieve and maintain a spiritual experience.

Other differences between a spiritual and religious experience involve belief systems, format and structure. For example, individuals identifying as religious are most likely going to be avid churchgoers. Whereas, those identifying as spiritual can often be found at meetings or rituals put on by a number of non-profit organizations. In either case, those attending church services, meetings or rituals are most likely going to have some aspect of a spiritual or religious experience.

While some may find it hard to separate religiousness from spirituality, philosophers and theorists have shown it can be done. In most cases, these individuals agree that organized religion deals with issues related to a church building, congregation, minister, deacons, Sunday school teachers, choir, conductors and other leaders. Whereas, spirituality can be experienced by believers and non-believers while also being found in and outside church walls.

In some cases, there are churches in which religion and spirituality can be seen, felt and heard at every service. While, there are other churches which simply go through the same ritualistic process each time people gather. Yet, it is often those who celebrate outside the church and church walls who often proclaim having had the most magical, mystical or spiritual of these experiences overall.

Gendlin has provided one of the best definitions for spirituality to date. In this definition, it is believed that spirituality is content and process. As such, there is a physical and emotional aspect to the overall experience. When the physical body reacts to the emotional response, then the body creates an overall release of negative emotions, energies and thoughts.

Spirituality can be viewed as the overall belief system of the individual with or without religious ideology. While some believe spirituality can be felt, others believe it is more a way of life. Emotional or physical, the overall well being which comes from this type experience can often be beneficial to good health and well being throughout life.

An emotional response can be brought about due to happiness and joy, sadness or sorrow. Some of the deepest of these experiences have often been felt due to the loss of a loved one, the loss of a pet or having to move away from friends at an early age. Others, when children are born, graduate, get married or move away. Whether a new couple, a new home, a new baby or a lost loved one, all can be considered spiritual or religious experiences.

While some therapists and others have chosen to use spirituality during treatment, others have rejected the idea as an invalid approach. For those who do use religion and spirituality, its important to remember and adhere to client provider privilege when it comes to religious identity as well as others. Otherwise, should the religious or spiritual identity of a client be released without permission, the provider, client and others may be seeing one another in a courtroom rather than an office.




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