THE SPIRITUAL SELF

CHAPTER 7
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER
AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. AND
THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD
YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. -PHILIPIANS 4: 6-7

REPORTERS:

HALASAN, ADRIAN IBANALES

GARCIA, DARRYL FOLLOSO

GONZALES, IVANLORD LLEDO

 SPIRITUAL BELIEF AND PRACTICE
PEOPLE GET REALLY PASSIONATE AND EMOTIONAL ABOUT TWO THINGS: POLITICS AND
RELIGION. THESE TOPICS ARE UNAVOIDABLE, AND PEOPLE OFTEN FEEL THE NEED TO
DEFEND THEIR VIEWS. IN THIS TOPIC, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL SIDE,
LOOKING AT IT FROM A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE TO SEE HOW IT SHAPES
WHO WE ARE.

EVERYONE HAS SPIRITUAL BELIEFS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR LIVES AND SET MORAL
STANDARDS. ASSESSING YOUR SPIRITUAL SELF INVOLVES LOOKING AT TWO THINGS: BELIEF
AND PRACTICE. BELIEF IS THE FOUNDATION, WHILE PRACTICE IS THE OBSERVABLE ACTION.
SOMETIMES, WHAT SOMEONE BELIEVES MAY NOT MATCH THEIR ACTIONS, CREATING A
CLASH. THE STRENGTH OF YOUR SPIRITUAL SELF DEPENDS ON HOW DEEPLY YOU BELIEVE
AND HOW CONSISTENT YOUR ACTIONS ARE WITH THOSE BELIEFS. IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE
MAY NEED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CHANGING THEIR ACTIONS OR ABANDONING THEIR
BELIEFS FOR CONSISTENCY.
FOR 2015, THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS STILL
OUTNUMBER OTHER MAJOR RELIGIONS.
HOWEVER. THE SAME STUDY PREDICTS THAT
FROM 2015 TO 2060, THE WORLD POPULATION
WILL INCREASE BY 32%. THIS WILL EFFECTIVELY
CHANGE THE RELIGIONS LANDSCAPE SINCE
THERE ARE MORE FERTILE AND YOUNGER
MUSLIMS WHICH ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE
BY 70%. COMPARED TO THE CHRISTIANS WHICH
IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE ONLY BY 34%.
AS A RESULT. ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH
CENTER PROJECTIONS, THE COUNT OF MUSLIMS
(3.0 BILLIONS OR 31% OF THE POPULATION) WILL
NEAR THE CHRISTIAN COUNT (3.1 BILLION, OR
32%) BY 2060.
BELIEF AND PRACTICES IN SUPERNATURAL BEING AND POWER

PEOPLE HAVE DEBATED WHETHER SUPERNATURAL THINGS LIKE GOD EXIST FOR A
LONG TIME. SOME WONDER IF GOD CAME FIRST OR IF THE IDEA OF GOD DID. IF GOD
CAME FIRST, IT MEANS BELIEVING IN CREATION. IF THE IDEA CAME FIRST, IT
SUGGESTS HUMANS MADE IT UP OUT OF FEAR OF THINGS THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
EITHER WAY, WHAT YOU BELIEVE CAN REALLY SHAPE WHO YOU ARE. IT BECOMES A
PART OF YOU, GUIDING HOW YOU MAKE MORAL DECISIONS AND WHAT ACTIONS YOU
TAKE.
WHEN PEOPLE MOVE TO A NEW PLACE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY THINK ABOUT
IS FINDING OTHERS WHO SHARE THEIR FAITH. THIS IS BECAUSE FAITH PLAYS A BIG
ROLE IN IMPORTANT LIFE DECISIONS AND GIVES A SENSE OF BELONGING AND
SAFETY. SOMETIMES, PEOPLE EVEN CHOOSE A PARTNER OF THE SAME FAITH OR
CONSIDER CONVERTING TO THEIR PARTNER'S RELIGION. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT SUCH DECISIONS, AS SEEN IN THE CASE OF PEOPLES TEMPLE
MEMBERS, CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
THE MEMBERS OF PEOPLES TEMPLE AT
JONESTOWN, COMMITTED A MASS
SUICIDE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN
ORDERED BY THE AMERICAN PREACHER
JIM JONES TO DRINK POISON.
 IDENTITY OF SPIRITUAL SELF

OUR SPIRITUAL IDENTITY IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND

PRACTICES. IN CHRISTIANITY, IT'S BELIEVED THAT HUMANS ARE CREATED IN GOD'S
IMAGE, WHILE IN BUDDHISM AND HINDUISM, THE GOAL IS TO REACH NIRVANA, FREEING
ONESELF FROM DESIRES AND SUFFERING. MUSLIMS, SURRENDERING TO ALLAH, FIND
GUIDANCE IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED. IN THE PHILIPPINES,
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES HAVE UNIQUE BELIEFS, WITH CHRISTIANITY BEING THE MOST
COMMON. FOR CHRISTIANS, FOLLOWING GOD IS PARAMOUNT, AS GOD IS SEEN AS THE
ALL-KNOWING AND ALL-GOOD ALPHA AND OMEGA. IN ISLAM, ALLAH IS THE CENTRAL
FIGURE, AND PRACTICES LIKE CONSUMING HALAL MEAT ARE GAINING POPULARITY.
PROTESTANTISM, INTRODUCED BY THE AMERICANS, EMPHASIZES SALVATION THROUGH
CHRIST JESUS AND THE NEED FOR A 'BORN-AGAIN' EXPERIENCE BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD
AND SAVIOR.
ANOTHER GROWING LOCAL CHURCH IS IGLESIA NI CRISTO, WHICH REJECTS THE HOLY TRINITY,
VIEWING GOD AS A SINGULAR BEING.
BUDDHISM, POSSIBLY BROUGHT BY CHINESE TRADERS IN THE 6TH-7TH CENTURY, LACKS A
PERSONAL GOD. INSTEAD, FOLLOWERS ADHERE TO THE PATH OF BUDDHA, THE ENLIGHTENED
ONE, PRACTICING WORSHIP AS A SIGN OF RESPECT RATHER THAN VENERATION.
 EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS BELIEFS
INDIGENOUS BELIEFS, OFTEN CHARACTERIZED AS ANIMISM, WERE THE ORIGINAL FORMS
OF WORSHIP BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS AND CONTINUE TODAY. THIS
INVOLVES WORSHIP OF INANIMATE OBJECTS LIKE TREES, PLANTS, THE SUN, AND THE SEA,
SOMETIMES ALL AT ONCE. IN RURAL AREAS, BELIEFS IN VARIOUS SPIRITS AND PRACTICES,
SURVIVING FROM PRE-COLONIAL TIMES, PERSIST. SPIRITUAL HEALERS, SUCH AS THE TAWO
IN BICOL, ARE PART OF THESE PRACTICES. THEY COMMUNICATE WITH INVISIBLE
CREATURES AND COEXIST WITH CHRISTIANITY, ADAPTING ANCIENT BELIEFS TO THE
IMPOSED RELIGION. SAINT WORSHIP IS ALSO A COMMON PRACTICE
SOME MUSLIMS INTEGRATE PRE-COLONIAL PRACTICES INTO THEIR FAITH, AS SEEN IN THE
BELIEF IN PAGALI, SPIRIT CROCODILES WHO WERE BELIEVED TO AID FIGHTERS DURING
REBELLIONS.
IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES, NOCTURNAL SUPERNATURAL BEINGS LIKE
ASWANG, MANGKUKULAM, TIKBALANG, TIKTIK, KAPRE, DWENDE, ETC., ARE PART OF
LOCAL BELIEFS. PEOPLE WITH STRONG FAITH MAY ALSO EMBRACE THESE SUPERSTITIONS,
DEMONSTRATING A COEXISTENCE OF RELIGIOUS AND SUPERNATURAL BELIEFS IN THEIR
LIVES.
 ANIMIST FOLKS BELIEVE
THAT HANGING COFFINS
ALONG MOUNTAIN'S
CREVICES WOULD BRING
THE DEAD CLOSER TO GODS.

HANGING COFFINS OF SAGADA (DUMAG, MARCO.,

2017)

PRAYERS IS A GENERAL PRACTICE IN
ALMOST ALL RELIGIONS.
THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION INVOLVES MORE THAN
JUST BELIEF AND IS OFTEN RESTRICTED TO AVOID
NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OTHERS. THIS INCLUDES
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES LIKE WORSHIP, RITES, RITUALS,
SACRIFICES, FIESTAS, TRANCES, DANCES,
MEDITATION, CELEBRATIONS, MATRIMONIAL AND
FUNERAL SERVICES, BAPTISMS, AND MORE,
DEPENDING ON CULTURAL TRADITIONS. THESE
ACTIVITIES BECOME RELIGIOUS PRACTICES WHEN
CONSIDERED SACRED BY PRACTITIONERS, AND WHAT
IS CATEGORIZED AS SACRED OR PROFANE VARIES
DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC RELIGION.
 SACRED AND PROFANE
IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SACRED AND
PROFANE CAN DEPEND ON THE CONTEXT. FOR INSTANCE, A NORMAL
WINE IS CONSIDERED PROFANE, BUT WHEN USED IN HOLY
COMMUNION AMONG CATHOLICS, IT BECOMES SACRED.
REGULATIONS IN MOST COUNTRIES AIM TO BALANCE RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM WITH LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN PRACTICES.
IN THE PHILIPPINES, CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS PROTECT THE
EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. A NOTABLE CASE INVOLVED
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES STUDENTS REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
FLAG CEREMONY DUE TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND THE SUPREME
COURT RULED IN THEIR FAVOR, CITING THE NEED FOR EXEMPTIONS
WHEN GENERAL LAWS CONFLICT WITH RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE.
THE PHILIPPINES RECOGNIZES DIVERSE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES,
EVEN DECLARING NATIONAL HOLIDAYS FOR MUSLIM
CELEBRATIONS, AS LONG AS THEY RESPECT OTHERS' RIGHTS.
FILIPINO RELIGIOUS PRACTICES ARE UNIQUE, OFTEN BLENDING
VARIOUS ELEMENTS FROM DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. DESPITE THIS
MIXTURE, FILIPINOS ARE DEEPLY RELIGIOUS, EVIDENT IN THEIR
INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY IN RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND
THE INCORPORATION OF RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE AND NAMES INTO
 CONCEPT OF DUNGAN - SPIRIT OR
SOUL
• THE CONCEPT OF THE SOUL, KNOWN AS 'DUNGAN,' HAS BEEN INTEGRAL
TO HUMAN THOUGHT THROUGHOUT HISTORY. EARLY GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS ELEVATED THE SOUL'S IMPORTANCE, CONSIDERING IT
THE TRUE ESSENCE OF A PERSON BEYOND THE PHYSICAL BODY. IN
VARIOUS RELIGIONS, SUCH AS CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM, AND ISLAM,
THE SOUL IS BELIEVED TO ENDURE BEYOND PHYSICAL DEATH, LEADING
TO ETERNAL LIFE OR REBIRTH.
• IN FILIPINO INDIGENOUS BELIEFS, ANIMISM VIEWS THE SOUL AS QUASI-
PHYSICAL, CAPABLE OF EXISTING OUTSIDE THE BODY DURING DREAMS
OR VISIONS. THE SOUL CAN BE TRANSFERRED, PERSIST AS A GHOST, AND
MAY REINCARNATE IN VARIOUS FORMS. THE 'BABAYLAN' PERSPECTIVE
INTRODUCES 'DUNGAN' AS A LIFE FORCE, ENERGY, AND ETHEREAL
ENTITY RESIDING IN THE BODY, PROVIDING LIFE ESSENCE. UNLIKE THE
WESTERN IDEA OF A SEPARATE ENTITY, 'DUNGAN' IS CONSIDERED A
SPIRIT WITH ITS OWN WILL, PRESENT FROM BIRTH AND CHOSEN BY THE
BODY. THE 'DUNGAN' CAN LEAVE THE BODY DURING SLEEP, ENSURING A
SAFE RETURN AND MAINTAINING THE HOST'S WELL-BEING. THIS
INDIGENOUS UNDERSTANDING CONTRASTS WITH THE WIDELY HELD
 RITUALS AND
CEREMONIES

• TAOISM'S SELF-MUTILATION RITUALS DURING THE VEGETARIAN

FESTIVAL
• CHRISTIAN WEDDING CEREMONY
• FINGER-CUTTING RITUAL AMONG THE DANI TRIBE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
• BUDDHIST WOMAN BURNING INCENSE IN THAILAND
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES: WHY DO WE DO
THEM?
HUMAN BEINGS OFTEN ENGAGE IN RITUALS, REPEATING PATTERNS IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES, EVEN INCORPORATING RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN SOME CASES.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SHOWS THE EXISTENCE OF RITUALS FOR OVER
100,000 YEARS ACROSS VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND RELIGIONS. DESPITE
CHALLENGES AND CLAIMS OF IRRATIONALITY, RELIGIOUS RITUALS PERSIST, AND
STUDIES SUGGEST THEIR MAIN BENEFIT IS PROMOTING COOPERATION WITHIN A
SOCIAL GROUP.
1. RITUALS SERVE AS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION, EXPRESSING COMMITMENT
TO THE GROUP'S VALUES AND IDEALS PUBLICLY. PARTICIPATION BECOMES A
PUBLIC DECLARATION OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
2. RITUALS ASSURE THE SOCIETY THAT PARTICIPANTS WILL CONTRIBUTE AND
NOT BE 'FREERIDERS.' THE HIGH DEMANDS OF SOME RELIGIOUS RITUALS,
SUCH AS FASTING OR PRAYER, MAKE THEM DIFFICULT TO FAKE, SIGNALING
TRUSTWORTHINESS. FAMILIARITY WITH RITUALS DEEPENS BONDS AMONG
MEMBERS, ENSURING STABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE IN RELIGIOUS RITUALS LEAD TO INCREASED
COOPERATION, CONTRIBUTING TO THE SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS OF THE RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY. ANTHROPOLOGISTS SUGGEST THAT RITUALS ARE A CRITICAL
FEATURE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURAL UNIVERSALITY AND SUCCESS OF
RELIGIONS.
 RELIGION, MAGIC, AND WITCHCRAFT
CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOLOGISTS DEBATE WHETHER MAGIC SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A PART OF
RELIGION. SOME, LIKE EDWARD TYLER, ARGUE THAT MAGIC LACKS THE INVOLVEMENT OF SPIRITS,
DIFFERENTIATING IT FROM RELIGION. JAMES FRAZER AND EMILE DURKHEIM SUGGEST THAT MAGIC
PRECEDES RELIGION, WITH THE FORMER FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND WANTS, WHILE THE LATTER
SEES RELIGIOUS RITUALS INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY. IN THIS CONTEXT, MAGIC REFERS TO METHODS
INTERACTING WITH THE SUPERNATURAL FOR SPECIFIC OUTCOMES, NOT THE MODERN CONCEPT OF ILLUSION.
CONSIDERING MAGIC IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR SPIRITUAL SELF, INDIVIDUALS FACING UNCERTAINTY, LIKE AN
IMPENDING EXAM, MAY CHOOSE DIFFERENT APPROACHES:
A. RELIGIOUS - SEEKING THE HELP OF GOD OR A DEITY THROUGH PRAYER, SACRIFICE, OR RELIGIOUS
RITUALS TO MANIPULATE THE EXAM RESULT.
B. MAGICAL - DIRECTLY CONTROLLING THE SITUATION BY CONNECTING TO THE SUPERNATURAL, WITHOUT
INVOLVING GODS OR SPIRITS. MAGIC IS OFTEN USED IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS.
PEOPLE OFTEN DEVELOP MAGICAL RITUALS ASSOCIATING SPECIFIC ACTIONS WITH SUCCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, A
STUDENT MAY HAVE A RITUAL BEFORE EXAMS, BELIEVING THAT OMITTING ANY STEP WILL RESULT IN
FAILURE. THIS BEHAVIOR STEMS FROM THE BELIEF THAT REPLICATING THE SAME ACTIONS WILL LEAD TO THE
SAME SUCCESS. GAMBLERS ALSO ENGAGE IN MAGICAL RITUALS, ATTRIBUTING FAILURE TO ERRORS IN THEIR
PERFORMANCE OR COUNTER-MAGIC BY OTHERS.
WITCHCRAFT IS DISTINCT FROM SORCERY AND IS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AN
INNATE ABILITY TO DO EVIL, OFTEN LINKED TO IMMORAL AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR LIKE GREED, VENGEANCE,
AND ENVY. UNLIKE SORCERY, WITCHCRAFT DOESN'T NECESSARILY INVOLVE RITUALS OR MAGIC; IT SIMPLY
REQUIRES SOMEONE WILLING EVIL ON ANOTHER PERSON. TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN BUT
PRACTICED BY MEN AS WELL, WITCHCRAFT IS OFTEN LINKED TO THE DEVIL IN RELIGIOUS CONTEXTS.
BRANDING SOMEONE AS A WITCH CAN BE DANGEROUS, AS THEY ARE OFTEN BLAMED FOR MISFORTUNES IN A
COMMUNITY. IN THE PHILIPPINES, THERE IS A BLENDING OF SCIENCE, RELIGION, MAGIC, AND WITCHCRAFT IN THE
CONCEPT OF ONE'S SPIRITUAL SELF. WHILE SOME MAY MIX THESE ELEMENTS, OTHERS CLEARLY DELINEATE THEM,
NOT ALLOWING WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC TO INFLUENCE THEIR DECISION-MAKING ALONGSIDE RELIGION.
FINDING AND CREATING MEANING. WHY SHOULD I
CONTINUE TO LIVE? WHAT CAN I GIVE LIFE?
THREE WAYS OF DISCOVERING THE MEANING OF
LIFE.
THE SEARCH FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE CAN BE
CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IN THE REALM OF OUR
SPIRITUAL SELF, WHERE INTANGIBILITY ADDS
COMPLEXITY. PEOPLE MAY TURN TO RELIGION,
MAGIC, OR EVEN WITCHCRAFT IN THIS QUEST.
PSYCHIATRIST VICTOR FRANKL, WHO SURVIVED A
CONCENTRATION CAMP, INTRODUCED LOGOTHERAPY,
SUGGESTING THREE WAYS TO DISCOVER LIFE'S
MEANING:
1. CREATING A WORK OR DOING A DEED: FINDING VALUE IN
OUR ACTIONS, WHETHER AS A SCIENTIST DISCOVERING A
CURE OR A FATHER CARING FOR HIS SON, CREATES
MEANING.
2. EXPERIENCING SOMETHING OR ENCOUNTERING
SOMEONE: MEANING CAN BE DERIVED FROM POSITIVE
EXPERIENCES LIKE LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, AND ENCOUNTERS
WITH GOODNESS, TRUTH, BEAUTY, NATURE, OR CULTURE.
3. ATTITUDE TOWARDS UNAVOIDABLE SUFFERING: EVEN IN
SUFFERING, ONE CAN FIND MEANING BY TRANSFORMING IT
INTO TRIUMPH. THIS INVOLVES SEEING SUFFERING AS A
SACRIFICE WITH A PURPOSE, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY
INDIVIDUALS LIKE NICK VUJICIC, BORN WITHOUT LIMBS
BUT AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER TODAY.
THE KEY TAKEAWAY IS THAT MEANING CAN BE FOUND IN
EVERY SITUATION, EMPHASIZING THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO
DERIVE PURPOSE FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES.
**UNIT SUMMARY:**
BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL BEINGS IS AMONG HUMANITY'S OLDEST BELIEFS, OFTEN
SOUGHT FOR EXPLANATIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING MISFORTUNES. SPIRITUALITY IS
INTRICATELY LINKED TO OUR BELIEF SYSTEMS, WHETHER ROOTED IN RELIGION, MAGIC,
OR WITCHCRAFT. THESE AVENUES ARE OFTEN EXPLORED FOR SURVIVAL AND SHAPE
OUR SELF-DEFINITION, INFLUENCING THE CHOICES WE MAKE. VIKTOR FRANKL'S
PERSPECTIVE ENCOURAGES US NOT TO ASK ABOUT LIFE'S MEANING BUT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT LIFE IS ASKING US: WHAT MEANING DO WE GIVE TO LIFE?
KEY TERMS:
• LOGOTHERAPY:
DEVELOPED BY VIKTOR FRANKL, FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S SEARCH FOR MEANING IN LIFE. IDENTIFYING
MEANING BECOMES A POWERFUL MOTIVATION FOR SURVIVAL AND CONTINUED LIFE.

• MAGIC:
METHODS INVOLVING SUPERNATURAL INTERACTIONS TO BRING ABOUT SPECIFIC OUTCOMES.

• SOUL:
ALSO REFERRED TO AS SPIRIT, THE ASPECT OF HUMAN BEINGS BELIEVED TO PERSIST EVEN AFTER DEATH.

• RELIGION:
AN ORGANIZED GROUP SHARING COMMON BELIEFS AND ENGAGING IN THE SAME RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL RITUALS.

• RITUAL:
A PATTERNED, RECURRING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.

• RELIGIOUS RITUALS:
RITUALS INVOLVING THE MANIPULATION OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS, SUCH AS PRAYERS, OFFERINGS, AND READINGS OF
SACRED LITERATURE.

• WITCHCRAFT:
INVOLVES ENGAGING IN ACTIONS WITH HARMFUL INTENT OR DOING SOMETHING CONSIDERED EVIL.