Religious and

Spiritual
Struggles
MARCH 29, 2022
Motivational Activity

CODE - 7124 0186

OBJECTIVES:
a. Define the spirituality, religion and
spiritual issues/struggles;
b. Analyze the types of religious/spiritual
struggles
c. Value the importance of knowing
spiritual issues/struggles
RELIGION

- the belief in and worship of a superhuman

controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
SPIRITUALITY
• the quality of being concerned with the human
spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical
things.
• "the shift in priorities allows us to embrace our
spirituality in a more profound way"
SPIRITUAL ISSUES/ STRUGGLES

defined as tensions, strains, and conflicts in relation

to what people hold sacred
Three General Categories

1. supernatural struggles involving perceptions of deities

or demonic/evil forces;
Three General Categories

2. intrapsychic struggles that reflect strains and tensions

about religious/spiritual beliefs, moral issues, and
ultimate meaning;
Three General Categories

3. interpersonal struggles that involve conflicts with

other people about religious/spiritual issues.
General Religious/Spiritual Struggles
Factor
Divine

Anger or disappointment with God, and feeling

punished, abandoned, or unloved by God.

Sample item: Felt angry at God.

Demonic

Worries that problems are caused by the devil or evil

spirits, and feelings of being attacked or tormented by
the devil.

Sample item: Felt attacked by the devil or by evil spirits.

Doubt-related

Feeling confused about religious/spiritual beliefs, and

feeling troubled by doubts or questions about
religious/spiritual.

Sample item: Felt troubled by doubts or questions about

religion/spirituality.
Moral

Tensions and guilt about not living up to one’s higher

standards and wrestling with attempts to follow moral
principles.

Sample item: Felt guilt for not living up to my moral standards.

Struggles of ultimate meaning

Concerns that life may not really matter, and questions

about whether one’s own life has deeper meaning.

Sample item: Questioned whether my life will really make any difference
in the world.
Interpersonal

Conflicts with other people and institutions about sacred

issues, anger at organized religion, and feeling hurt,
mistreated or offended by others in relation to
religion/spirituality.

Sample item: Felt as though others were looking down on me because of my

religious/spiritual beliefs.
 In the last 25 years, religious/spiritual struggles have begun to receive
attention from researchers and practitioners. This growing body of work
indicates that religious/spiritual struggles are an important part of human
experience, one that holds significant implications for health and well-
being.
Closure Activity

CODE - 7563 7499

As for God, his way
is perfect: The
LORD’s word is
flawless; he shields
all who take refuge
in him. Yelena B. Alvarez
Psalm 18:30 G9 & G10 Guidance
Coordinator
Lagundi-CCL National High
School