CHAPTER 6

The Spiritual Self

Introduction

• In this unit, we will concentrate more on the

religious/spiritual side and try to look at it from a
cultural and histo/societal point of view to
determine its impact in the definition of self.
• Every individual has spiritual beliefs and
practice that create a pattern in their lives and
set the standard for one's morality. The
assessment of spiritual self, is a bit tricky.
• Two things should be considered, the two
characterization of one's faith which are the
BELIEFS AND PRACTICE.
Belief and Practices
 When we say beliefs, this sets the foundation for
one's action. This is not readily recognizable
unless one declares one's faith or we can clearly
see it from the action of the religious practitioner.
 The religious practices, is the action which
manifest the belief of the person. This is easier to
weight because it is observable. The practices of
belief is regulated as this will affect the society
and the rights of the other people.
 In some cases, the beliefs and practices are
consistent.
Belief and Practices
 The spiritual self will be united in its belief and
practices that one's beliefs is echoed by one's action.
 However, in a lot cases these two will collide and
clash. One's belief will not be necessarily
reflected in the action of that person and sooner
or later, the person will have to choose between
the two, either to abandon the belief pr to change
one's way in order for it to be consistent with the
belief.
 The strength of the spiritual self is determined by
the depth pf that person's belief.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
• Debates on the existence of supernatural has persisted
ages. There are questions which came first, God or the
Idea of God?
• If God – we believe in the Creation
• If the Idea of God – we believe that the idea of
God is a creation of man born out of fear of the
unknown and unintelligible.
• Whatever the answer, this belief will direct a
person and serves as the guide for moral
decisions and actions.
Pop-up question
 If you are not a member of a religious groups or
you do not agree with any religious beliefs, what
are the things you would do differently? Identify
at least three acts.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
 For Christian
 They belief is that man was created in the
image of God according to the book of Genesis
1:27
 God would be he most common beliefs in the
Philippines. Everything else is immaterial for
as long as we follow God. He is the all-
knowing, all-good, Alpha and Omega.
 God is also the God the Father, God the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
 We also believe that God have been born of
virgin mother-Mary
Christianity
Christianity originated from Judaism
about 30 CE.
Christians believe that Jesus was a
Messiah, or savior
Sent by God to bring eternal life to
anyone who would follow him. Jesus
accepted the Ten Commandments and
also preached equality of man before
God. The sacred text of Christianity is
the Bible. Although the Romans
originally felt threatened by the
Christians, and therefore allowed
Jesus to be crucified, Christianity
eventually became the official religion
of the Roman Empire.
Islam
Islam originated in
Muslim
the Middle East
worshippers
around 622 CE
follow
with the Prophet,
scriptures
Muhammad.
called the
Muhammad was
Quran, or
born in Mecca and
Koran. The
traveled to Medina
collection of
in a journey called
Islamic laws is
the hijra, that
also known as
became the
the Sharia.
founding of Islam.
 Five Pillars of Islam

1. Faith in one God, Allah—monotheism

2. Five times daily prayer toward Mecca
3. Help for the poor
4. Fasting during the holy month of
Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage to holy city of Mecca
Spread of Islam--In the 150 years following the death
of Muhammad, Islam spread through trade, missionaries
and conquest into Asia and Africa.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
 Islam
 The name Muslim means one who surrender
and submits to ALLAH and his Laws
 Islam is the second largest religion in the
Philippines. Their God is ALLAH, he was the
one who showed Mohammed, the founding
Prophet, the Message.
 Jesus is not considered as the Messiah, but as
one of the prophets who was shown one of the
gospel – Taurah (Quran 4:17)
 They also belief to have been born of virgin
mother-Mary.
 Hallal or permissible meat is under the
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
• Protestant
 They are introduced to us by the
Americans. Salvation through Christ
Jesus was deeply emphasized and one
must be born again and accept Jesus
Christ as the Lord and Savior.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
Iglesia ni Cristo
 They believe that God is not the Holy Trinity
but a Singular BEING.
Buddhism
 They came from Chinese traders. To them
there is no personal god but one should follow
the path of Buddha-the enlighten one. Worship
is done as a sign of respect rather that
devotion.
Buddhism
• Buddhism was
founded by
Siddhartha Gautama
in northern India
around 560 BCE.
• Gautama was born
into a wealthy Hindu
family, but renounced
his wealth to seek
spiritual
enlightenment.
~Buddhism spread
through cultural
diffusion to
eastern Asia,
including China,
Thailand, Korea
and Japan.
~In other areas,
Buddhism was
adapted and took
on new forms.
Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths.

1. All life is 3. The way to

suffering. eliminate suffering
is to eliminate
desire.

2. Suffering is
caused by desire for 4. Following the
things that are Eightfold path will
illusions. help people to
overcome desire.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
 Indigenous belief are often characterized as
ANIMISM. This belief was form of worship before
the Spaniard came here in the Philippines and
they continue to be practice today.
 They worship inanimate objects lie tree,
plants, sun, and sea.
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
 The rural areas in the Philippines
 They believe in the kinds of spirit and
practices are also pervasive
 They believe in the FAITH HEALER and they
are one of Jose Rizal's greatest rival in practice
of medicine Dapitan.
 Faith healer is believed to use spirit to
diagnose and cure the sick.
 Example: faith healer in Bicol called

“Albukaru”
Belief and Practices in Supernatural
Being and Power
 Nocturnal, Supernatural beings found in different
regions in the Philippines are:
 Aswang, mangkukulam, tikbalang, tiktik,
kapre, dewende etc.
 Beliefs in these creatures can be seen in how
some people would embrace them as part of
their lives.
 It is not unusual to see people with strong
faith adhering to superstitious belief as well.
Pop-up question
 Ask your classmate at least 3 different spiritual
beliefs that they have. Compare them with your
own beliefs.
The practice of Religion
• Religious practices may include worship, rites,
rituals, sacrifices, fiestas and enchantment or
spells. It also includes dances, meditation,
celebration, matrimonial, funeral, baptism
services or other depend on the culture of human
being.
 A normal wine might be considered as profane
but when use for the Holy Communion among
Catholics, then it becomes sacred.
 The Incense stick may just be a decorative but
when use for offering to the God, then it
became sacred.
The practice of Religion
● But sometimes there is disagreement or problems
when it comes to religious practices. For example
the case of student from Cebu.
● A group of student belong to Jehova's

witnesses refused to salute the flag on the

ground that this is against their religion. Their
teacher warned them but still the refused. The
student were invoking their rights to exercise
their religions, reasoning that the salute to the
flag is seen as an idolatrous act which is
against their religions.
Spirit or Soul
Spirit or Soul
Spirit or Soul
●Animism, a belief that natural objects have
souls, is the oldest religion in the
Philippines. It is practiced by indigenous
peoples in the mountains of Luzon. Female
shamans in the Philippines lick the blood
from daggers they personally had thrust
into a pig before telling the future.
●The Babaylan were wise women of the

Philippines, healers and priestesses who

were demonized and often killed as witches
by Spanish invaders after 1521.
Spirit or Soul
Siquijor (15 miles from Demabguete on the island of
Negros by ferry) is an island province famous for its
witches and faith healers and nice deserted beaches.
A number of shaman, mananambals (good and evil
witches and warlocks) and sorcerers are said to live
in Sant Antonio. The “bad side” sorcerers use voodoo
potions, spider and poisonous snake agents and
powerful plants to help people seeking revenge
against others. The “good side” sorcerers are basically
herbalists who use traditional medicine, oil
massages, chants and prayers to help people feel
better or overcome problems or diseases.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Why do we do
them?
 Many rituals and potions involve the use
of lighting teeth, tooth-shaped pieces of
basalt that are said to appear at the base
of trees struck by lightning.
 Wooden amulets often have sweet, earthy-
smelling herbs mixed with lightning teeth.
 Gayuma love potions work if you apply it
to the forehead of the person you are
hoping to woo. Some concoction have more
than a hundred herbs.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Why do we do
them?
 Rituals are a forms of communication
which signifies commitment to other
members of the group. “I identify with the
group and I believe in what the group
stands for”
 It gives assurance that they will not be
freeriders. It tells the society that the
person will do their share of the work by
sacrificing. Example: the Muslim fasting
during the month of Ramadan
3 Ways to Find Meaning in Life
Victor Frankl discover the meaning in life in three
different ways:
(1) by creating a work or doing a deed;
 (2) by experiencing something or encountering
someone like experiencing positive things like
goodness, truth, beauty and being loved; and
 (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable
suffering" and that "everything can be taken from
a man but one thing: the last of the human
freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given
set of circumstances".
Pop-up question
 How do you find meaning in life? What do you
think about Frankl’s model for how people can
find meaning through actions, connections, and
suffering? How can you work to increase your
meaningful actions, meaningful connections, and
courage in the face of suffering?