Perception of Religious Brothers and Sisters and Lay Persons That Prayers Go Unanswered Is a Matter of Perceived Distance from God

Abstract

Background: Sometimes prayer life can be difficult even for very religious persons, who may experience phases of “spiritual dryness”, which may have a negative effect on their well-being. Methods: To address this topic, we analyzed three contrasting groups of persons (religious brothers and sisters (RBS), n = 273; Catholic lay persons (CLP), n = 716; other lay persons (OLP), n = 351) with standardized measures and investigated how often indicators of spiritual dryness were perceived within these groups and how the perception that private prayers go unanswered could be a result of this. Results: Spiritual dryness was highest in RBS compared to RLP and OLP. For RBS, perception of being “spiritually empty” was the best predictor of prayers going unanswered, indicating emotional/spiritual exhaustion, while in OLP, the perception that God is “distant” was the best predictor, indicating that, particularly in this (younger) group, spiritual doubt is of particular relevance. For CLP, feeling that God is distant, feeling abandoned by God, and feeling “spiritually empty” were similarly relevant predictors of feelings that prayers go unanswered. Conclusions: This knowledge may help psychologists/psychotherapists, pastoral workers, and spiritual advisors to differentiate the underlying causes of spiritual dryness (in terms of “discernment”) and thus support persons struggling with God, their faith, and life.

Perceived changes of specific attitudes, perceptions and behaviors during the Corona pandemic and their relation to wellbeing

“…Therefore, retreats in monastic contexts could be an option to consolidate faith or to make new experience with a different lifestyle. Such contacts would also facilitate talks with pastoral professionals when phases of religious struggles [ 32 , 33 ] or spiritual dryness [ 34 , 35 ] may affect a person’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Further consequences which could be drawn from these findings remain to be discussed and tested in the next waves of the COVID-1 pandemic.…”

Tumor Patients´ Perceived Changes of Specific Attitudes, Perceptions, and Behaviors Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relation to Reduced Wellbeing

“…For several patients, their faith was a resource to cope, and thus retreating in monastic contexts to sensitize for the topic of spirituality or consolidate faith might be an option. This would also allow talks with pastoral professionals when phases of religious struggles (22,23) or spiritual dryness (24,25) may affect patients´emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Here, patientsś piritual needs should be assessed to support them in the requirements they express (26)(27)(28)(29).…”

Perceptions of Spiritual Dryness in Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…One of the most important examples of such crises in the twenty-first century is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected societies in different ways. From the beginning of this pandemic, the moments of fear, pain, loneliness and the sense of imminent death have been experienced by patients and all those who are at risk, as well as anyone who perceives its dangers and adverse outcomes (Büntzel et al, 2020;Büssing et al, 2020aBüssing et al, , 2020bHeidari et al, 2020).…”

“…However, not all of these struggles are the indicators of psychopathologic disorder and do not necessarily require a psychological/psychiatric intervention. Some of these spiritual struggles refer to extrinsic factors (i.e., the religious community and their ethics and beliefs), to intrinsic causes (i.e., loss of meaning in life), and some to the relation with God, who is perceived as distant and non-responding (Exline et al 2013;Büssing et al, 2013Büssing et al, , 2020bBüssing et al, , 2021c. Therefore, the outcomes might be different, too.…”