Research

9 pages, 220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Christian Responses to Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy and Potential Religious and Spiritual Experiences

by Brian Claude Macallan

Religions 2023, 14(10), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14101312 - 19 Oct 2023

Viewed by 3246

This paper explores Christian responses to religious and spiritual experiences (RSEs) associated with psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT). It addresses the challenges of defining and understanding spiritual and religious experiences and examines the theological implications of PAT-induced RSEs. It highlights the growing acceptance of PAT [...] Read more.

This paper explores Christian responses to religious and spiritual experiences (RSEs) associated with psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT). It addresses the challenges of defining and understanding spiritual and religious experiences and examines the theological implications of PAT-induced RSEs. It highlights the growing acceptance of PAT as a therapeutic approach and its potential benefits for mental health. It also discusses the occurrence of RSEs in individuals undergoing such therapy. In response to these experiences, I propose four possible Christian perspectives: viewing RSEs as illusions, perceiving them as inherently evil, considering them as encounters with the Christian God, or acknowledging their reality while recognizing their broader occurrence beyond the Christian tradition. The paper emphasizes the importance of active dialog and collective responses within the Christian community to avoid hindering individuals seeking mental health relief through PAT. By engaging with these theological questions, Christians can navigate the complexities and potential benefits of RSEs in the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

11 pages, 979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religious Diversity Predicts Religions’ Population Growth in Tighter (vs. Looser) Cultures: A Study of Personality & Self-Reported Religion across 111 Countries

by Ibrahim Senay

Religions 2023, 14(9), 1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14091126 - 01 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1003

Abstract

It is unclear whether religious affiliations and non-affiliations might grow differently in specific cultural environments populated by individuals with a particular personality profile, or how religious diversity in society might influence such growth. In the present study, mixed-effects analyses of moderated mediation conducted [...] Read more.

It is unclear whether religious affiliations and non-affiliations might grow differently in specific cultural environments populated by individuals with a particular personality profile, or how religious diversity in society might influence such growth. In the present study, mixed-effects analyses of moderated mediation conducted on online data collected from 111 countries (Valid N = 52) and across 4270 individuals (Valid N = 3632) showed that personality factors (Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness) could predict religiously affiliated populations growing faster between the years 2000 and 2015 in tighter (vs. looser) countries, which strictly impose social norms and have a low tolerance for deviant behaviors. This finding suggests that religious affiliations and non-affiliations might grow together in moderately tight–loose countries, supporting religious–secular pluralism. Moreover, the faster growth of religions in tighter cultures was stronger in countries ranking higher on the Religious Diversity Index (RDI), showing that all varieties of religions and faiths might become useful in tighter cultures for keeping an interest in religion alive among individuals with distinct personality profiles while ensuring the pervasiveness of social norms in society, toward furthering multi-religious pluralism and the growth of religious affiliations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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10 pages, 510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religiosity and Sexual Satisfaction in Middle Age: The Moderating Role of Nonconformity

by Justyna Mróz, Kinga Kaleta, Ryszarda Ewa Bernacka, Karol Kubrak, Małgorzata Weryszko and Edyta Charzyńska

Religions 2023, 14(3), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14030377 - 13 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1461

Abstract

The period of middle adulthood presents people with self-actualization challenges related, among others, to their religious beliefs and sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between religiosity, nonconformity and sexual satisfaction, as well as to examine whether nonconformity [...] Read more.

The period of middle adulthood presents people with self-actualization challenges related, among others, to their religious beliefs and sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between religiosity, nonconformity and sexual satisfaction, as well as to examine whether nonconformity moderates the relationship between religiosity and sexual satisfaction in middle adulthood. The following questionnaires were used: the Religious Meaning System Questionnaire, the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Creative Behavior Questionnaire CBQIII. A series of regression analyses using Hayes PROCESS macro was run to test the models in a sample of 667 middle adults aged between 35 and 55 (M = 42.62; SD = 5.37). The analyses revealed significant relationships between the variables. The religious meaning system showed negative correlations with both nonconformity and sexual satisfaction, whereas nonconformity was positively correlated with sexual satisfaction. An interaction effect of religiosity and nonconformity on sexual satisfaction, when controlling for gender and age, was also demonstrated. More specifically, religiosity was negatively related to sexual satisfaction in individuals with a high level of nonconformity. By contrast, for low and average levels of nonconformity, the relationship between religiosity and sexual satisfaction was insignificant. The results suggest that religiosity may interact with nonconformity when predicting the intensity of sexual satisfaction of middle adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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10 pages, 601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bond with God as a Moderator of the Relationship between Prayer and Stress of Chilean Students

by Marcin Wnuk

Religions 2023, 14(3), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14030345 - 06 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1481

Abstract

Prayer is a spiritual coping method that can be effective both in extraordinary, life-threatening circumstances and in ordinary, stressful situations. To be beneficial, it requires a bond with God or the divine based on trust and faith. The purpose of this study was [...] Read more.

Prayer is a spiritual coping method that can be effective both in extraordinary, life-threatening circumstances and in ordinary, stressful situations. To be beneficial, it requires a bond with God or the divine based on trust and faith. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediated moderation model in which spiritual experiences moderate the link between prayer and stress, which in turn, is negatively related to the subjective well-being of Chilean students. The study’s participants were 177 students from Chile. The following tools were used: Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, two measures regarding the quality of life and negative feelings from the World Health Organization Quality of Life—BREF, one tool verifying stress from the National Health Interview Survey and one-item scale in reference to frequency of praying. This study confirmed the mechanism underpinning the relationship between prayer and subjective well-being, as well as the benefits of a bond with God and the harmful role of stress in this relationship. When students more frequently felt God’s love and direction, prayer was negatively related to stress, which in turn, negatively predicted subjective well-being. For students with a poor bond with God and fewer spiritual experiences, prayer was positively linked with stress. This study confirms the benefits of a close, trusting bond with God or the divine and the detrimental effects of lacking a positive connection with God on students’ stress when students used prayer as a coping method. The practical implications of this study are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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9 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religious Engagement and Successful Aging among Korean Older Adults

by Sukkyung You and Minkyung Kwon

Religions 2023, 14(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020184 - 30 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1300

Abstract

The rate of aging is growing faster than ever. The global society must prepare adequate measures to support this imminent change. Following this social trend, research has been conducted on the quality of life of the aging population in a different fields, including [...] Read more.

The rate of aging is growing faster than ever. The global society must prepare adequate measures to support this imminent change. Following this social trend, research has been conducted on the quality of life of the aging population in a different fields, including gerontology. Since the idea of successful aging was conceptualised, research on the quality of life of older adults has been actively conducted. The current study aims to contribute to the aging research field by adding a factor (religious engagement) to Rowe and Kahn’s model. We utilized the longitudinal design to examine the longstanding effect of demographic, physical, social, psychological, and religious factors on life satisfaction among older Korean adults (N = 4013). Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to understand how these factors influence older adults’ life satisfaction in a nationally representative sample. Study findings indicated (a) after controlling for demographic background, all subdimensions of physical, social, psychological, and religious factors exerted a significant effect on later life satisfaction; (b) the final model showed that highly educated, regular exercise, frequent meeting with friends and family, less depressed, feeling less lonely, and higher religious engagement ultimately affected the subsequent life satisfaction of Korean older adults; (c) among different variables, psychological health and religious engagement were found to be crucial factors. The findings confirm the explanatory power of successful aging theory while providing empirical evidence that religious engagement may be an additional factor contributing to enhancing the life satisfaction of older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

11 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Relationship between Centrality of Religiosity, Instrumental Harm, and Impartial Beneficence through the Lens of Moral Foundations

by Mariola Paruzel-Czachura and Edyta Charzyńska

Religions 2022, 13(12), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13121215 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

A growing body of work suggests that religiosity is typically associated with deontological or non-utilitarian moral judgments. However, recent conceptualizations of utilitarian psychology show that instrumental harm is just one (negative) dimension of utilitarianism. In the new two-dimensional model of utilitarian psychology, impartial [...] Read more.

A growing body of work suggests that religiosity is typically associated with deontological or non-utilitarian moral judgments. However, recent conceptualizations of utilitarian psychology show that instrumental harm is just one (negative) dimension of utilitarianism. In the new two-dimensional model of utilitarian psychology, impartial beneficence is the second (positive) dimension of utilitarianism. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between the centrality of religiosity and utilitarianism (its two dimensions) among adults (N = 401). We also examined whether five moral foundations serve as mediators of this relationship. We found that religiosity was directly and indirectly (through the care foundation) related to impartial beneficence. Although the direct effect of religiosity on instrumental harm was insignificant, we found two indirect effects through purity and authority foundations. The results suggest that the relationship between religiosity and utilitarianism is more complex than previously assumed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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14 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Preference and Religious Beliefs: A Case in China

by Dao Zhou

Religions 2022, 13(11), 1072; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13111072 - 07 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1526

Abstract

Risk preference theory states that religiosity positively correlates with risk aversion. Based on data from the 2018 wave of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study tested risk preference theory in the Chinese mainland. A binary logistic regression model was used to [...] Read more.

Risk preference theory states that religiosity positively correlates with risk aversion. Based on data from the 2018 wave of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study tested risk preference theory in the Chinese mainland. A binary logistic regression model was used to empirically test the relationship between risk preference and religious belief. At the same time, a robustness test was carried out using the propensity score-matching method and other datasets, and multinomial logistic regression was conducted to explore the heterogeneity of the relationship between risk preference and religious belief. The results showed that risk-seeking people are more likely to have religious beliefs. The importance of the study lies in the extension of risk preference theory to consideration of religious regulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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18 pages, 799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model of the Relationship of Religiosity and Happiness of Multiple Sclerosis Patients from Poland: The Role of Mediating and Moderating Variables

by Marcin Wnuk, Maciej Wilski, Małgorzata Szcześniak, Halina Bartosik-Psujek, Katarzyna Kapica-Topczewska, Joanna Tarasiuk, Agata Czarnowska, Alina Kułakowska, Beata Zakrzewska-Pniewska, Waldemar Brola, Marek Żak, Piotr Sobolewski, Natalia Morawiec, Monika Adamczyk-Sowa, Adam Stępień, Marcin Ratajczak, Anna Ratajczak, Jacek Zaborski, Katarzyna Kubicka-Bączyk, Roman Ryszard Szałachowski, Zdzisław Kroplewski, Beata Lech, Adam Perenc, Małgorzata Popiel and Andrzej Potemkowski Show full author list Hide full author list

Religions 2022, 13(9), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13090862 - 15 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

Religiosity and spirituality can be both beneficial and harmful to happiness. It depends on its operationalization and the measures of religiosity and sociodemographics used, together with cultural and psychosocial factors, still not comprehensively explored. This topic is especially important for religious-affiliated chronic patients [...] Read more.

Religiosity and spirituality can be both beneficial and harmful to happiness. It depends on its operationalization and the measures of religiosity and sociodemographics used, together with cultural and psychosocial factors, still not comprehensively explored. This topic is especially important for religious-affiliated chronic patients such as those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Religion can deliver a sense of meaning, direction, and purpose in life and be an additional source of support to cope with the stress and limitations connected with the disease. The aim of the present study was to verify whether religiosity, directly and indirectly, through finding meaning in life, is related to one’s level of happiness and whether gender, the drinking of alcohol, financial status, and age are moderators in this relationship. In sum, 600 patients from Poland who suffered from multiple sclerosis were included in the study. Firstly, some gender differences were noticed. In women, religiosity was both directly and indirectly, through finding significance, positively related to happiness. Secondly, it was found that in women, the direct effect of age on happiness was generally negative but was positively affected by religiosity; however, among men, age was not correlated with happiness. In the group of women, religiosity and a lower propensity to drink alcohol in an interactive way explained happiness. Thirdly, both in men and women, financial status positively correlated with happiness, but in the group of wealthy men only, religiosity was negatively related to happiness. In conclusion, religion was found to show a positive correlation with the happiness of Roman Catholic multiple sclerosis patients from Poland. In this group of patients, religious involvement can be suggested and implemented as a factor positively related to happiness, with the one exception regarding wealthy men. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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12 pages, 384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Optimism and Abstinence in the Mechanism Underlying the Indirect Links of Religious and Spiritual Involvement with the Happiness of Alcoholics Anonymous from Poland

by Marcin Wnuk

Religions 2022, 13(9), 853; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13090853 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1849

Abstract

Religiosity and spirituality are important factors for recovery of alcohol-addicted individuals. Previous studies have given some suggestions about the spiritual mechanism that influences the wellbeing of representatives of this group. The purpose of this research was to examine whether religious practices and spiritual [...] Read more.

Religiosity and spirituality are important factors for recovery of alcohol-addicted individuals. Previous studies have given some suggestions about the spiritual mechanism that influences the wellbeing of representatives of this group. The purpose of this research was to examine whether religious practices and spiritual experiences are indirectly related, through optimism and duration of abstinence, to the happiness of alcohol-dependent individuals participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The study had a cross-sectional design; path analysis in structural equation modeling was used. The sample consisted of 115 AA participants in Poland. The Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) was used in the study, along with questionnaires surveying three indicators of happiness—desire for life, passion for life, and evaluation of current happiness—along with four further measures—optimism, length of abstinence, frequency of prayer, and frequency of Mass attendance. Confirmed indirect relationship between spiritual experiences and happiness through optimism and the abstinence duration and indirect links between religious practices and happiness. Among AA participants, religious practices were positively related to spiritual growth, which via longer abstinence and higher levels of optimism, were indirectly related to improved happiness. The research results indicate a beneficial role played by religious practices and spiritual experiences in AA participants, associated with their happiness and relevant variables such as optimism and abstinence duration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Meaning of Religiosity in Life)

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