The Issue of Human Spirituality - Essay Example

The Issue of Human Spirituality of Learning The Issue of Human Spirituality The question of human spirituality has always been of a special interest in various types of knowledge. Man is not just a body. Man is a unity of body and soul and at the same time each person is unique. This is largely due to the fact that everyone has his/her spirituality, which has distinctive features. Each area of knowledge offers its own interpretation of human spirituality focusing on some of its features. Meanings of Spirituality and Relevance Modern health care system focuses on human spirituality. At the same time, we must recognize the fact that to date there is no single definition of spirituality that creates additional difficulties for the application of this concept in the medical purposes. In particular, one of the definitions claims that “spirituality is a personal search for meaning and purpose in life, which may or may not be related to religion” (as cited in Reinert & Koenig, 2013, p. 2623). However, this understanding complicates the use of this concept in particular in psychology as there are patients that suffer from the lack of a sense of life caused as a result of depression and other psychological problems. In fact, this does not mean that they do not have spirituality. In this respect, modern health care and medicine consider spirituality in its close connection with the religious consciousness of man. It allows one to see that “spirituality is distinguished from other things - humanism, values, morals and mental health - by its connection to the transcendent” (Reinert & Koenig, 2013). The value of this definition is extremely important not only in the social, philosophical and religious context. Its value is extremely important in modern medical practice allowing physicians to regard the human soul as a source of spirituality. Prime Reality The issue of prime reality that determines the nature of the world around us is extremely important. In this regard, one can define two main approaches, namely, materialism and idealism. The first approach considers prime reality in the form of physical bodies and things for “the central premise of Materialism is that only matter is real (materialistic monism)” (Uebersax, 2013). In turn, idealism focuses on the spiritual nature of the reality of the human world. Everyone has the opportunity to choose for him/herself the approach that is consistent with his/her own basic ideas about the world. Religious people believe that prime reality is presented by God who embodies the universal spirituality. Human Person Definition One can define several definitions of the human person presented in philosophy, religion, and medicine in particular psychology. In general, philosophy understands the human person as the subject of cognitive activity that is able to obtain information about the outside world, and based on this information can make certain inferences. In turn, the religion considers the human person as a result of Gods will. God created the world and people, giving them not only the soul but also the body. The soul is extremely important because it determines human personhood. Finally, medicine treats the human person as a unity of physical and mental processes taking place in the human body. What happens at Death The issue of death is also extremely important as part of human existence. It is necessary to take into account the fact that there are different approaches to the question of the continued existence of man after his/her physical death. Atheists deny the life after death. For them, there is only what one can see, hear, touch, etc. In turn, believers argue the idea that the death of a man opens the way to eternal life full of joy and serenity. Epistemology Epistemology explores the question of understanding the world and the ways of obtaining reliable knowledge about it. In general, one can point out approaches such as an epistemological optimism, skepticism and agnosticism. Epistemological optimism believes that the study of the material world allows you to get accurate information about everything. In turn, skepticism expresses doubts about the possibility of obtaining reliable knowledge and offers a number of methods that should help a person gain true knowledge of the nature of things. Finally, agnosticism completely denies the possibility of obtaining accurate information about the world. To some extent, Immanuel Kant can be considered an agnostic because he was convinced that people can know only what suits their cognitive abilities, and therefore they never reveal the true reality as it is. What is Right or Wrong The question of what is right or wrong is considered within the framework of ethics. Ethics in turn may be represented in various forms. One can define absolute morality which insists on the idea that there are absolute ideas of good and evil. The act is either good or bad depending on whether it harms or benefits. Another approach called the ethics of relativism expresses the conviction that ethical values ​​cannot be absolute in nature and, therefore, peoples actions must be assessed according to their implications. Human History The meaning of human history can also be seen within different worldviews. In particular, the Christian worldview is considering human history as people’s coming to God. God gave people freedom because he wants them to make a choice in his favor freely and based on their own desires. In this regard, the historical events are considered as part of their religious significance for all people. Adam and Eve can be seen as the beginning of human history for they determined the continued existence of humanity (Collins, 2010). Conclusion As one can see the comprehension of human spirituality is a challenge. This is due to the fact that various worldviews offer their own understanding of the human spirituality in its connection with the meaning of life and life after death. In this regard, ethical and religious worldviews have practical value for the modern scientific disciplines because they give scientists a better understanding of the human soul. Thus, we can talk about an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human spirituality that promises to bring tangible benefits to the people. References Collins, C. J. (2010). Adam and Eve as historical people, and why it matters. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 62(3), 147-165. Reinert, K. G. & Koenig, H. G. (2013). Re-examining definitions of spirituality in nursing research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(12), 2622- 2634. Uebersax, J. S. (2013). What is Materialism? What is Idealism? John Uebersax Enterprises LLC. Retrieved from http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/pdf/What_is_Idealism.pdf Read More