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The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor

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A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 August 2020) | Viewed by 42340

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Gina Magyar-Russell

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Guest Editor

Psychology Department, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
Interests: psychological and spiritual adjustment following adverse life events; religious and spiritual struggles; sacred moments; desecration; spiritually integrated psychotherapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Religion and spirituality (R/S) have historically been, and remain more so than ever, an incredibly powerful force in the world. R/S’s far-reaching influence ranges from national and global affairs to intimate matters in the daily lives of individuals. An important area of inquiry in the study of R/S involves cases in which people experience pain, anger, fear, doubt, or confusion related to their religious and spiritual beliefs, experiences, and practices. More specifically, religious and spiritual struggles refer to distress or conflict in the religious or spiritual realm (Exline, 2013).
The purpose of this Special Issue is to bring together the work of scholars, researchers, and clinicians in a collection of papers that expands the current body of theoretical and empirical knowledge about religious and spiritual struggles. For this issue, I invite original research papers, reviews, meta-analyses, theoretical papers, and case studies from interdisciplinary perspectives to stimulate thoughtful conversations about when, why, and how religious and spiritual struggles impact people’s lives. Example paper topics include but are not limited to:

Roots and origins of religious and spiritual struggles from different traditions, cultures, and world views;
Different types of religious and spiritual struggles;
Measuring and assessing religious and spiritual struggles;
Religious and spiritual struggles among different populations;
Links and indicators of religious and spiritual struggles with mental health, physical health, distress, well-being, meaning, and growth;
Interventions to address religious and spiritual struggles.

Ultimately, the ability to make meaningful and long-lasting contributions to the study of religious and spiritual struggles requires interdisciplinary discourse and scholarship to enable greater insight, awareness, knowledge, and skills for healthy resolution to some of the most fundamental challenges of human existence.

Prof. Gina Magyar-Russell
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

religious and spiritual struggle
religious and spiritual interventions

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 150 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Introduction to the Special Issue: The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor

by Gina Magyar-Russell

Religions 2021, 12(1), 53; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel12010053 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1487

Abstract

Religious and spiritual (r/s) struggles are relatively common human experiences and refer to pain, anger, fear, doubt, or confusion related to religious and spiritual beliefs, experiences, and practices (Exline 2013; Pargament et al [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

Research

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20 pages, 977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spiritual Crisis as a Unique Causal Predictor of Emotional and Characterological Impairment in Atheists and Agnostics: Numinous Motivations as Universal Psychological Qualities

by Ralph L. Piedmont, Jesse Fox and Marion E. Toscano

Religions 2020, 11(11), 551; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11110551 - 24 Oct 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2593

Abstract

While there is a tremendous literature documenting the positive value of religious and spiritual (R/S) constructs on an array of psychosocial outcomes (e.g., health, resilience, coping ability), Spiritual Crisis (SC) reflects the negative side of the numinous in a way that stresses the value and importance of R/S constructs for psychological functioning. This study examined whether numinous constructs are more relevant to theists or represent universal psychological qualities. Using an MTurk-based sample comprising both theists and atheists (N = 1399; 800 women and 595 men, four gave no response), the predictive ability of SC on both affective and characterological distress was examined using both regression and SEM analyses. The results indicated that both theists and atheists understood the numinous in similar ways and that scores on SC were of equal incremental predictiveness for both groups. SEM analyses supported the causal model that understood SC to be a unique and independent (from the personality domains of the Five-Factor Model) predictor of these clinical outcomes. These findings stress the value of the numinous for understanding all clients and that psychological assessment needs to systematically address numinous constructs in order to ensure comprehensive treatment of psychological impairment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

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22 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Let Him Who Is without Sin Cast the First Stone: Religious Struggle among Persons Convicted of Sexually Offending

by Theresa M. Robertson, Gina M. Magyar-Russell and Ralph L. Piedmont

Religions 2020, 11(11), 546; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11110546 - 23 Oct 2020

Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Religiousness and spirituality have been identified as important factors in promoting desistance from sexual offending and as helpful coping resources with negative psychological consequences related to public registration. However, the potential mental health benefits, and detriments, of religiousness and spirituality for persons convicted of sexually offending have not been widely examined. Given the moral implications of their behavior and stigmatization by society, including from religious and spiritual communities, this study aimed to examine levels of religious struggle and their associations with symptoms of mental health among 30 men on the Maryland Sex Offense Registry. Relative to the normative sample, the mean level of spiritual transcendence, constructive perceptions of spirituality that develop within social, cultural, and educational contexts, was significantly lower within this sample. Conversely, religious struggle mean scores indicated that the men in this sample experienced significantly greater difficulties relative to God and their faith community. Greater levels of religious struggle were significantly related to higher neuroticism, greater self-reported shame, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness, as well as lower levels of self-compassion. Based on these preliminary findings, religious struggles may adversely influence the mental health of persons convicted of sexually offending. More research is needed to gain a better understanding of the associations between religiousness, spirituality, and mental health in this population. Future directions for research and clinical implications for mental health providers, including spiritually informed treatment approaches with persons convicted of sexually offending, are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

16 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spiritual Struggles of Nones and ‘Spiritual but Not Religious’ (SBNRs)

by Linda Mercadante

Religions 2020, 11(10), 513; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11100513 - 10 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5445

Abstract

Spiritual struggles are a distinct problem which have implications for psychological, social, emotional and physical health. They are not unique to religious persons; instead both the religiously unaffiliated (Nones) and those who call themselves “Spiritual but not Religious,” (SBNR) have struggles with existential issues common to all humans, and which can be identified as “spiritual”. Nones are a very diverse group and different types of Nones struggle differently. This qualitative study, based on interviews in North America with over 100 Nones, particularly SBNRs, explains the types of spiritual struggles, with many examples and illustrative quotes. Nones’ key struggles are in the areas of Self and Self-in-Relation. This is a vastly under-researched topic which will only grow in importance, given the rapid and continuing rise of the None population. The topic is of concern to social scientists, but is equally important for psychologists, counselors, medical personnel, chaplains and others in the helping professions given that Nones will come to them for assistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

18 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Open-Ended and Closed-Ended Measures of Religious/Spiritual Struggles: A Mixed-Methods Study

by Joshua A. Wilt, Joyce T. Takahashi, Peter Jeong, Julie J. Exline and Kenneth I. Pargament

Religions 2020, 11(10), 505; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11100505 - 01 Oct 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2927

Abstract

Religious and spiritual struggles are typically assessed by self-report scales using closed-ended items, yet nascent research suggests that using open-ended interviews and prompts may complement and advance assessment and theories. In the current mixed-methods study, undergraduate participants (N = 976) completed open-ended descriptions of their religious and spiritual struggles, the Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (RSS), and a quantitative measure of religious belief salience. Qualitative description showed that the themes emerging from open-ended descriptions generally fell within the broad domains of the RSS though some descriptions reflected more contextualized struggles. Scores derived from the open-ended responses to assess RSS domains achieved evidence of reliability, and quantitative correlational analyses provided support for convergent and discriminant validity with the RSS. Correlations revealed a mix of similar and divergent associations between methods of assessing religious and spiritual struggles and religious belief salience. Open-ended descriptions of religious and spiritual struggles may yield reliable and valid information that is related to but distinct from assessments relying on closed-ended items. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

11 pages, 273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychospiritual Developmental Risk Factors for Moral Injury

by Timothy J. Usset, Erika Gray, Brandon J. Griffin, Joseph M. Currier, Marek S. Kopacz, John H. Wilhelm and J. Irene Harris

Religions 2020, 11(10), 484; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11100484 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3526

Abstract

There is increasing theoretical, clinical, and empirical support for the hypothesis that psychospiritual development, and more specifically, postconventional religious reasoning, may be related to moral injury. In this study, we assessed the contributions of exposure to potentially morally injurious events, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and psychospiritual development to moral injury symptoms in a sample of military veterans (N = 212). Psychospiritual development was measured as four dimensions, based on Wulff’s theory juxtaposing conventional vs. postconventional levels of religious reasoning, with decisions to be an adherent or a disaffiliate of faith. After controlling for exposure to potentially morally injurious events and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms, veterans who were conventional disaffiliates reported higher scores on the Moral Injury Questionnaire than conventional adherents, postconventional adherents, or postconventional disaffiliates. We conclude that the role of psychospiritual development offers a theoretical approach to moral injury that invites collaboration between social scientists, philosophers, theologians, and medical professionals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

20 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of Self-Reported Growth Following Religious and Spiritual Struggles: Exploring the Role of Wholeness

by Allison C. Hart, Kenneth I. Pargament, Joshua B. Grubbs, Julie J. Exline and Joshua A. Wilt

Religions 2020, 11(9), 445; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11090445 - 30 Aug 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3349

Abstract

Religious and spiritual (r/s) struggles have been robustly linked to negative outcomes, such as greater psychological distress, reduced well-being, and difficulty finding meaning in life. R/s struggles, however, do not inevitably lead to decline. Many people report post-traumatic and spiritual growth through their r/s struggles, even though correlational studies linking r/s struggles to perceptions of growth have produced mixed results. How do we make sense of this overall pattern of findings? Perhaps growth following r/s struggles occurs under certain conditions. Prior conceptual work by Pargament suggests that specific aspects of one’s orienting system (i.e., the confluence of r/s, dispositional, and psychosocial factors which help guide people in their search for significance and purpose) may play a pivotal role in predicting growth or decline in the wake of an r/s struggle. In the present empirical study, we expected to find that among r/s strugglers, those with orienting systems marked by greater wholeness would be more likely to report growth and less decline. Four dimensions of greater wholeness (purposiveness, breadth and depth, life affirmation, cohesiveness) were measured by the presence of meaning in one’s life, self-control, universality, optimism, compassion, openness to change while tolerating doubt, and a collaborative problem-solving relationship with God. We tested these hypotheses using data from a cross-sectional study (N = 1162) of undergraduates at three universities. Results generally supported our hypotheses, with a few exceptions. Greater wholeness was associated with reports of more growth and less decline after an r/s struggle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

17 pages, 254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religious/Spiritual Struggles and Spiritual Resilience in Marginalised Older Adults

by Holly Nelson-Becker and Michael Thomas

Religions 2020, 11(9), 431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11090431 - 23 Aug 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4256

Abstract

Spiritual and religious struggles emerge in times where life meaning is unclear, has changed or is challenged. Resilience has been addressed in terms of psychological, social, emotional and physical capacity or competence related to struggle. However, there is a relatively sparse literature defining and addressing spiritual resilience, both what it is and how it is demonstrated. This is especially true of the oppressive and marginalised experiences of diverse older persons. This paper asks how older persons have responded to life challenge and spiritual struggle through spiritually resilient responses. It provides a foundation for the discussion of spiritual resilience in older people through examples from two different community studies: 55 LGBQ older dyads across several nations, and 75 older Black and Jewish persons residing in Chicago, IL. The first study highlights same-sex couples, discussing the complex relationship of sexuality and religion and how resilience is achieved. The second study addresses religious/spiritual struggle using a life course perspective to note where spiritual resilience has been an outcome. Spiritual resilience is at the heart of posttraumatic and stress-related growth and often emerges through a process of lived transformation leading to greater self-awareness and self-understanding in a revised construction of identity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

17 pages, 265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catholic Family Ties: Sustaining and Supporting HIV-Positive Canadian Gay Men’s Faith, Mental Health, and Wellbeing

by Renato M. Liboro

Religions 2020, 11(8), 391; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11080391 - 30 Jul 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3093

Abstract

Research has documented that sexual minorities and people living with HIV/AIDS have successfully used religious coping to help them overcome life challenges related to their sexual orientation and HIV status, including religious struggles surrounding their faith brought about by stigma and discrimination that have historically been promoted by organized religion. Research has also documented how sexual minorities and people living with HIV/AIDS have utilized family support as a vital resource for effectively coping with life challenges associated with homophobia, heterosexism, and HIV stigma, which have historically been perpetuated in certain family and faith dynamics. The aim of the community-engaged, qualitative study described in this article was to examine the synergistic effects of religious coping and family support, particularly in the context of Catholic family ties, as a unified mechanism for supporting HIV-positive gay men in the face of religious struggles and other life challenges. Confidential, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine HIV-positive, gay men from the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, to obtain their perspectives on how and why their Catholic family ties have helped support them through their religious struggles and other life challenges. Utilizing a modified Grounded Theory approach, interview data were collected and analyzed until data saturation was achieved. The findings and lessons learned from the study’s analysis are discussed in this article, which elaborates on the unique synergy of religious coping and family support as interconnected mechanisms that could be of significant value for supporting HIV-positive gay men experiencing religious struggles and other life challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

14 pages, 875 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Religious Struggle and Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Religious Support and Meaning Making

by Beata Zarzycka, Anna Tychmanowicz and Dariusz Krok

Religions 2020, 11(3), 149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11030149 - 24 Mar 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5218 | Correction

Abstract

Although a variety of studies have found robust links between religious/spiritual (r/s) struggle and poorer well-being, only a few have examined the means by which r/s struggle affects mental well-being. The present paper aims to examine religious support and meaning making as mediators of the relationship between r/s struggle and well-being. The study included 226 adults, 108 women and 118 men, aged between 17 and 78 years. We applied the Religious and Spiritual Struggle Scale, Religious Support Scale, Meaning Making Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale. The results demonstrated that both religious support and meaning making were mediators in the relationship between r/s struggles and well-being. During moral or demonic struggles, many people reportedly feel supported by their religion, make meaning based on these positive religious experiences, and in turn experience greater well-being. Conversely, during divine, ultimate meaning, and interpersonal struggles people may feel like God does not support them, which may lead to difficulties reframing their religious experience, and adversely influence well-being. The findings from this study underscore the multifaceted character of r/s struggle: during different types of r/s struggle people may feel that religion is a source of support for them or, by contrast, they may feel deprived of religious support, which can lead to an increase or decrease of well-being, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)

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Review

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8 pages, 191 KiB

Open AccessReview

Clericalism Contributes to Religious, Spiritual, and Behavioral Struggles among Catholic Priests

by Thomas G. Plante

Religions 2020, 11(5), 217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel11050217 - 28 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5059

Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church has received a remarkable amount of press attention regarding clerical perpetrated sexual abuse with child victims as well as other clerical behavioral scandals in recent years. Much has been reported in both the popular and professional press about the various aspects and elements of priestly formation and ministry that might contribute to behavioral problems among clerics. Additionally, much has also been written and discussed about the challenging religious, spiritual, and behavioral struggles among clerics when clerical misbehavior significantly contradicts expected behavior in terms of sexual, behavioral, and relational ethics. Since Catholic priests are dedicated to chastity, obedience, and, among religious order clerics, poverty, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike expect and demand highly virtuous behavior from these men that they believe should be beyond reproach. Clericalism contributes to the gap between expected and actual behavior and creates an environment and culture where problem behavior and struggles are too often ignored. This article seeks to unpack some of the challenging dynamics of clericalism and demonstrate how it negatively contributes to religious, spiritual, moral, and behavioral struggles among Catholic clerics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Study of Religious and Spiritual Struggles: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor)