Conceptualizing Religion and Spirituality: Points of Commonality, Points of Departure

Abstract

Psychologists' emerging interest in spirituality and religion as well as the relevance of each phenomenon to issues of psychological importance requires an understanding of the fundamental characteristics of each construct. On the basis of both historical considerations and a limited but growing empirical literature, we caution against viewing spirituality and religiousness as incompatible and suggest that the common tendency to polarize the terms simply as individual vs. institutional or ′good′ vs. ′bad′ is not fruitful for future research. Also cautioning against the use of restrictive, narrow definitions or overly broad definitions that can rob either construct of its distinctive characteristics, we propose a set of criteria that recognizes the constructs' conceptual similarities and dissimilarities. Rather than trying to force new and likely unsuccessful definitions, we offer these criteria as benchmarks for judging the value of existing definitions.

"Spirituality" as Privatized Experience-Oriented Religion

“…In a multi-author article (Hill et al 2000), "Conceptualizing Religion and Spirituality," in which also Pargament and Hood are among the co-authors, we find further assertions that religion and spirituality are the same. The authors define both spirituality and religion in exactly the same words, namely as "the feelings, thoughts, experiences, and behaviors that arise from a search for the sacred" (Hill et al 2000, 66).…”

Quality of life and well‐being of people receiving haemodialysis treatment in Scotland: A cross‐sectional survey

“…Many people equate religion with spirituality, or use the words inter-changeably (Gorsuch and Walker, 2006), while others believe that equating spirituality and religion or using them inter-changeably is not valid (Scott, 2006). Hill et al (2000) argue that spirituality is subsumed by religion, but some see religion as only one dimension of spirituality (Estanek, 2006). Tanyi (2002) agrees that spirituality is the search for meaning, adhering to religion and balancing energy or basic trust.…”

“…Research proposes that all spiritual experiences cannot be considered equal with this premise based on varying depths of "consciousness" (Rosado, 2000). With researchers stating that spirituality develops across the individual"s lifespan (Hill et al, 2000), it remains to be seen whether an individual"s deeper stages of conceptual complexity translates into an experience of spirituality that is also more complex in nature (Reich, 2000).…”

Effects of Age on Spiritual Well-being and Homonegativity: Religious Identity and Practices Among LGB Persons in Portugal

“…For some people these terms have the same meaning or are overlapping concepts, while for others they are vastly different (Anandarajah, 2008;Hill et al, 2000;Hill & Pargament, 2003;Hodge, Bonifas & Chou, 2010;Nelson, 2009). Therefore, simplistic distinctions should be avoided and definitions that focus on only one aspect of religion or spirituality may be inadequate (Nelson, 2009).…”

“…This includes, for example, increased psychological well-being (Levin, Markides & Ray, 1996), lower suicide rates (Corrêa, Moreira-Almeida, Menezes et al, 2010), reduction in depressive symptomatology (Ellison, 1995), and stronger social support systems and coping strategies when dealing with stress and illness, including terminal illness (Averson, 2006;Beit-Hallahmi & Argyle, 1997;Corey, 2006;Corrêa, et al, 2010;Curlin, Lawrence, Odell et al, 2007;Hill, Pargament, Hood et al 2000;Koenig, 2004Koenig, , 2009Mueller et al, 2001;Nelson, 2009). Although this may be true for most of the population, it may not be the case for specific groups.…”