Description

In modern times, people have come to view their spirituality as distinct from religion, though traditionally, this dichotomy didn’t exist; meaning, especially the meaning of suffering, was sought directly in light of their religious faith. Yet, in the majority of non-religious definitions of spirituality, meaning still plays a crucial role. It can be said that meaning is a conceptual bridge between religious faith, as found in spiritually integrated psychotherapy, existential counselling or a humanist approach. This article develops these concepts as it ventures through the existential horizon of the modern world and presents an existential-theological understanding of meaning as well as the process of spiritual longing and ends with research conclusions on the universal role of meaning in the therapeutic process as it relates to one’s spirituality.