Understanding spirituality in modern times

By Ma Kyung-hee

In recent decades, there has been growing evidence that spirituality contributes to individual and community well-being, especially in relevance to cross-cultural healthcare research and clinical practice. To a lesser extent, this trend involving spirituality has also been observed in Korea with discussions around promoting holistic human development and respecting diversity in society.

Spirituality is a broad and complex concept. But in short, it is associated with our core values, purpose and meaning in life, harmonious interconnectedness and self-transcendence. Spirituality contributes to inner peace, growth, support, adaptation and good health. Globally, spirituality is considered a universal human quality, present in our thoughts, feelings and actions. Additionally, as an integrating force, it brings wholeness to the person by amalgamating old and new experiences and fosters resilience and optimism in stressful times. Spirituality is integral to optimal human health and development.

For spirituality, exactitude and consensus over a single universal definition remain elusive. Some scholars use the terms "spirituality" and "religiousness" interchangeably, and some as conflicting concepts (i.e., the former is more personally constructed with a focus on experience, whereas the latter has to do with institutional beliefs and practices within a community of adherents). Spirituality and religiousness are, however, quite similar: both involve searching for the sacred, valuing connectedness, seeking existential answers and are culturally and socially unique in practice. Here, this article will use "spirituality" to encompass "religiousness" because some countries although not having religious freedom have practiced spirituality as a part of their cultures. "Spirituality" is more comprehensive and inclusive.

Many have used spirituality as an effective coping strategy. As Robert A. Emmons puts it, spirituality provides individuals with goals oriented to the sacred. Spiritual goals intrinsically motivate people to pursue more meaningful and fulfilling lives. Emmons elaborates that in times of crisis, spiritual strivings seek concrete forms of coping, such as practicing prayer, reading scriptures, exercising mindfulness/meditation, seeking support and collaborating with a higher power. Spiritual strivings within a person's spiritual goal system will increase self-determination, commitment and potentiality, and in turn, improve health outcomes.

Empirical evidence suggests that spiritual coping is particularly helpful to socially marginalized groups. When confronted with overpowering challenges, they reframe their situations by placing their life experiences in a broader and more meaningful context through deep self-reflection. This process may increase self-acceptance and self-efficacy making suffering more endurable. Furthermore, their newly developed self-knowledge can empower them. That is, spiritual people cope with difficulties by attempting to solve the problem and seeking social support.

More often than not, in Korea, faith-based organizations, predominately composed of volunteers from local churches and temples, aid ethnic minorities in making successful transitions to Korean society. The mission of such organizations is to proselytize newcomers in a non-aggressive manner by showing them selfless love in action through various outreach programs. Sometimes Christians evangelize too aggressively, as their ultimate concern is the salvation of souls, not just the saving of lives, resulting in limited positive effects. Because spirituality is closely tied to core values and ways of living, aggressive evangelism is mischaracterized as oppressive. Christian faith-based organizations certainly contribute to increasing a sense of connectedness, but aggressive evangelization clashing with ethnic minorities' cultural/religious nuances risks alienating non-Koreans. Faith-based agencies serving ethnic minorities in Korea urgently need to self-assess their practices and re-tool.

Spirituality is often seen as private and subjective, located outside of the therapeutic context. But incorporating spirituality into mental health services is likely good for clients. Generally, clients bring to mental health practitioners issues that have spiritual resonance and the practitioners are compelled to deal with them. However, many mental health practitioners feel ill-equipped to properly explore spirituality with clients for either legal or religious reasons. The mental health practitioner community in Korea must train practitioners to address and use spirituality as a tool for healing and recovery.

Edward R. Canda claims that spirituality is essentially a diversity issue and that spiritual diversity goes beyond mere tolerance of spiritual differences among people by purposefully seeking to understand the unique characteristics of spiritual diversity and seeing such diversity as an asset in society. To truly accept spiritual diversity, individuals must be keenly aware of their own spiritual journey and value system.

Spirituality is about a journey of self-discovery that involves healing and affirming sacred connections among us. It is our responsibility to recognize and nurture this interconnectedness through non-judgmental attitudes.

Ma Kyung-hee (kyungheem@daum.net) is an editor and researcher specializing in mental health.