GE 1 - UTS
Module 9
Student’s Name: BACUAL,SABRINA JADE N.
Course, Year & Section: BSCPE 1A Date Submitted: 11-07-25
Lesson 7: Supernaturals: Believe It or Not!
THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF SELF
I. Overview
Spiritual self is one of the four constituents of the self according to William James in his
book, The Principles of Psychology in 1890. The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner
subjective part of the self. It is the most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction
experienced when thinking of one’s ability to argue and discriminate, of one’s moral sensibility
and conscience, and of our unconquerable will is purer than all other sentiments of satisfaction.
The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may be seen through the experiences
of religion, its belief and practices. In the same manner, cultural rituals and ceremonies are
some manifestations of what people believe in. Moreover, seeking the meaning of life is a
journey that the spiritual self is on.
II. Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Identify various religious practices and beliefs;
2. Explain the practice of religion and the belief in the supernatural;
3. Understand the self in relation with religious beliefs;
4. Examine the varying views about the meaning of life; and
5. Explain ways of finding the meaning of life.
III. Discussion and
Self-Assessment
Activities (SAA)
The Practice of Religion
Does God really exist? From the point of view of an atheist, He does not exist. God is
dead and God is irrelevant. However, using reason and logic, one may be convinced that He
really exists by answering such questions as :Why does it seem like everything in the universe
is perfect?”, “Why are the distances between the Sun, Moon and Earth very exact?”, or “Why
does the human body seem to be perfectly designed from the brain up to the bones, blood, and
internal organs?”
With these questions, there has to be an ‘architect’ who constructed and designed all
these things in the universe. This supposition leads people to the idea of a God, or a supreme
being.
Religion introduces the concept of supreme beings (God, gods or goddesses) as cause
or reason of all phenomena. The traditional concept based on Judaism, Christianity and Islam
regards god as an independent being, the creator of the universe, and distinct from the
universe that this supreme being created. It is widely accepted that this god is the highest
being who shows concern for the suffering of humankind, the face of justice that manifests the
ultimate forms of rationality and morality. All agree that this supreme being is omnipotent (all-
powerful), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere at once). This god is also the
beginning and the end and the lawgiver. This god is regarded as the most merciful, most just,
most patient, and cannot be represented in any worldly form.
Anthony Wallace explained that religion is a set of rituals made to coordinate with the
goal of either obtaining or hindering changes in human condition and nature’s state. These
rituals or practices are usually justified by myths. Behind this definition lies a recognition that
when people are unable to fix serious, anxiety causing problems through technological or
organizational means, they resort to manipulation of supernatural or spiritual beings and
powers. This requires the performance of ritual which is seen as a basic expression of religion.
Wallace elaborated that a hallmark of religion is the belief in supernatural beings and forces.
Rebecca Stain works on the definition of religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and
practices that usually includes some or all of basic characteristics. These characteristics are:
1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods
2. A focus on the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling of reverence
and awe
3. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings
as well as physical beings and objects
4. The performance of ritual activities that involved the manipulation of sacred object
to communicate o supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events
5. The articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and other means
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social
control within a community; provide explanation for unknown and a sense of control
for individuals
An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of
religious beliefs lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice maybe influenced by the
society and its culture.
Religious Rituals
Ritual is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law.
Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known societies. It is thus
possible to view rituals as a way of defining or describing humans.
There are three fundamental characteristics of rituals according to Penner. Ritual has
the characteristics of:
1. A feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred
2. Dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the language of myth
3. Is symbolic in relation to its reference
The self can be described as a ritual being who exhibits a striking parallel between their
ritual and verbal behavior. Just as language is a system of symbols that is based upon arbitrary
rules. Ritual may be viewed as a system of symbolic acts that is based upon arbitrary rules.
Participation to rituals is expressions of religious beliefs.
Some World Religious Beliefs and Practices
There are different religions with different religious beliefs and practices. Some of the
major world religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Excerpt of some
religious beliefs and practices are found in the University of London’s Religion and Belief Guide
2017.
1. Buddhism
Beliefs
Buddhism believes that life is not a bed of roses. Instead, there are suffering, pain, and
frustrations. When people suffer, they want to experience the goodness of life and avoid
disappointments. It becomes a habit known as the reactive cycle of wanting and hating, like
and dislike, and craving and aversion. This reactive cycle can be broken through the practice of
mediation, acquiring more wisdom and deeper understanding, and acceptance of things as they
are.
Customs and Practices
There are two types of meditation practices: samatha and vipassana. Samatha is
practiced as mindfulness of breathing and development of loving-kindness. Vissapana practices
aim at developing insights into reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying Buddha’s teaching, the
Dharma. Through the reflection of Dharma, Buddhists can achieve a deeper understanding of
life. Buddhists believe in non-violence principle.
Some of the major Buddhist celebrations are Parinirvana day in February; Buddha day
(Wesak) in May; Dharma Day in July; Padmasambhava Day in October; and Sangha Day in
November.
2. Christianity
Beliefs
Christians believe in Trinitarian God. One God in three personas: God the Father
(Creator), God the Son (Savior) and God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer). Eternal life after death will
be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is, God the Son, who came into flesh, to
spread the Goods News of Salvation. He died on the Cross for the sin of the humanity but
resurrected from the death, so that anyone who believes in Him will be saved and have eternal
life. The Holy Bible is a selection of books, which is divided into two, the Old Testament and
New Testament.
Customs and Practices
Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Communion are practiced by Christian
churches. The Sacrament of Baptism symbolizes the birth in Christian World, while the
Sacrament of Communion is an act of remembrance of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love. Jesus
Christ teaching in unconditional love that is expressed in loving the poor, oppressed, and
outcast in the society.
Christmas and Resurrection (Easter) are the two major celebrations in Christianity.
Christmas, usually on December 25, commemorates the birth if Jesus Christ while Resurrection
Sunday (depends on the lunar calendar, sometime in March or April) celebrates the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from death.
3. Hinduism
Beliefs
Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs and religious groups; thus, there is
no single founder or leader. Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth,
governed by Karma. Karma is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the
past life was spent. Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and
its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived. Vedas are sacred
scriptures of Hindus. Mahabharata and Ramayana are two other important texts of the Hindus.
Customs and Practices
Diwali and Navrati are the most celebrated festivals of Hindus. Diwali is the Festival of
Lights while Navarti is the festival of nine nights, which celebrate the triumph of god over evil.
Hindus have set dates to honor articular manifestations of God.
4. Islam
Beliefs
Muslims believe in Allah, who is their “One God”. They believe in the unity and
universality of God. Muslims also have a strong sense of community or ‘unmah’ and an
awareness of their solidarity with all Muslims worldwide. Islam means ‘willing submission to
God’.
Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last and final prophet sent by God. Mohammed
was born in Mecca in 570 CE and received revelations from God through the Angel Gabriel over
a period of 23 years. The Holy Book of Islam is called the Quran, which was taught to be
recited in Arabic because any translation is seen as inadequate.
Customs and Beliefs
Muslims believe in the five pillars of Islam, which are the foundation of Muslim life:
a. Shahadah – statement of faith. “There is no God but the one true God and
Mohammed is His messenger.”
b. Salat – the prayer that is practiced five times a day
c. Zakat – the monetary offering for the benefit of the poor. It comprises the 2.5% of a
Muslim’s assets.
d. Hajj – the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims who can afford are asked to do the
pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
e. Sawm – the fasting. Muslims do fasting, from food, drink, and sexual act, during the
celebration of Ramadan. The fast is from dawn to sunset.
Two of the major festivals in Islam are Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha. Eidul-Fitr is the
celebration at the end of Ramadan, while Eidul-Adha is celebrated within the completion of the
Pilgrimage, the Hajj.
5. Judaism
Beliefs
The Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves
from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land through the leadership of Moses and later, Joshua.
Customs and Practices
There are five major festivals observes by the Jews:
a. Rosh Hashanah – the New Year
b. Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement
c. Pesach – Passover
d. Shavuot – Pentecost
e. Sukkot – Tabernacles. The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening at sunset and is
an important time when families gather for the Shabbat meal.
Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs are all part of the expression of the
spiritual self. What to believe and how to manifest the belief is entirely dependent on the
individual, to the self. A person might believe that there is a higher being, a supernatural being,
usually termed as God, but not necessarily wants to be affiliated or identified with a certain
religious group. Others may have religious practices which are perceived to be contrary to the
practices of other groups. Religious beliefs and practices, therefore, are formed relative to its
context and culture.
Rituals are patterns of behavior or practices that are related to the sacred. In
Catholicism, rituals are called sacraments.
Rite of Passage
Rite of Passage are rituals that mark important stages in an individual’s life cycle. In one
of anthropology’s classic works, French social scientist Arnold van Gennep analyzed the rites of
passage that help individuals through the crucial crises or major social transitions in their lives,
such as birth, puberty, marriage, parenthood, advancement to a higher class, occupational
specialization, and death. He found it useful to divide ceremonies for all of these life crises into
three stages, namely separation, transition, and incorporation. This sequence of stages is
something that takes place in many forms in all culture around the world.
Magic and Witchcraft
Anthropologists call the practice of compelling the supernatural forces to work or behave
in a specific way as magic. Spoken words (spells) and objects are key components of magic.
Magic may involve manipulation of the supernatural for good or for evil purposes.
Two of the main forms of magic are sorcery and witchcraft. These practices are
attempts to invoke the spirits to inflict harm against people. Although used interchangeably,
they are also distinguished from one another. Sorcery makes use of materials, objects and
medicines to invoke supernatural malevolence while witchcraft may accomplish the same ills by
means of thought and emotion alone. Suspected sorcerers and witches are usually feared
because of their ability to manipulate the supernatural to cause illness, injury, and even death.
Ask yourself:
What if we are just one of the species of animals bound to perish on a certain era?
Are we still willing to submit ourselves to a certain religion and norms of society, or will we live
our life according to what brings us happiness?
Finding and Creating Meaning in Life
Logotherapy
Another extensive study of self can be found in the works of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl.
Logotherapy is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl, who is considered the Father of
Logotherapy. The main belief of logotherapy is that “man’s primary motivational force is
search for meaning”. Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal meaning in life, whatever
the situation may be.
In logotherapy, meaning can be discovered by creating a work or doing a deed,
experiencing something or encountering someone and the attitude toward unavoidable
suffering. According to the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, it uses the philosophy of
optimism in the face of tragedy, where the people are capable of “turning suffering
into human achievement and accomplishment; deriving from guilt the opportunity
to change oneself for the better; and deriving from life’s transitoriness an incentive
to take responsible action.”
Basic Concepts of Franklian Psychology
The Franklian Psychology has the basic concepts. These are the following:
1. Life has meaning under all circumstances.
2. Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.
3. Freedom to find meaning.
Furthermore, Franklian Psychology aims to: 1) become aware of spiritual resources, 2)
make conscious spiritual resources, and 3) use “defiant power of the human spirit” and stand
up against adversity.
Logotherapy Assumptions
All psychotherapies make philosophical assumptions about the human persons that
cannot be proved with certainty. Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy states the assumptions
of logotherapy, which include the following:
1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind and spirit.
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable.
3. People have a will to meaning.
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning.
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be
meaningful.
6. The individual is unique.
In essence, all humans are unique with an entity of body, mind and spirit. We all go
through unique situations and are constantly looking to find meaning. We are free to do these
at all times in response to certain demands.
Frankl’s Source of Meaning
Popova (2017) discussed Viktor Frankl’s work. There are three possible sources of the
meaning of life: purposeful work, courage in the face of difficulty, and love.
1. Purposeful work. To find the meaning of life starts holding a future goal. Each individual
has each own future goal to achieve or a task to perform. That task or goal to fulfill
becomes the meaning of their life. Therefore, meaning of life is unique to every
individual.
2. Courage in the Face of Difficulty. A meaningful life is a life with suffering. Suffering is
inevitable part of life. To find meaning of life is to recognize suffering, pain, and death
as part of life and to have the courage to face these life difficulties.
3. Love. “The ultimate secret on the spiritual foundation of life is that love is salvation and
joy eternity.” The ultimate factor to find the meaning of life is love.
Ask yourself:
What if there is no life after death?
What if humans are just body without soul?
If these are not existing or real, will life have meaning?
IV. Summary/Key
Points
Religion has many functions such as providing sense of the world, strengthening norms
and identity, setting sanctions for individual behavior, and giving serenity in facing life
challenges.
Upon discovering the meaning of life, humans must prepare to face any type of
suffering. To deal with suffering, one has to undergo a change of attitude.
V. End of Module
Assessment (EMA)
Answer the following questions.
MAGIC 1. What is a set of rituals made to coordinate with the goal of either
obtaining or hindering changes in human condition and nature’s state?
RITUAL 2. What do you call the patterns of behavior or practices that are related
to the sacred?
BUDDHISM 3. What religion believes in the reactive cycle of wanting and hating?
CHRISTIANITY 4. What religion believes in a Trinitarian God?
ISLAM 5. What religion believes in Allah, who is their “One God”?
KARMA 6. What is the concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the
past life was spent?
WITCHCRAFT 7. It makes use of materials, objects and medicines to invoke
supernatural malevolence.
LOGOTHERAPHY 8. This concept believes that “man’s primary motivational force is
search for meaning”.
VIKTOR FRANKL [Link] is the father of Logotherapy?
LOVE 10. What is the ultimate factor to find the meaning of life?
VI. Looking Ahead
What is the meaning of your life? What do you live for?
For me, the meaning of life is to grow, learn, and change. I have a motto that you need to live fun, not long,
having this motto is like enjoying my own life. With ive been through, I learned a lot, grew,s and changed a lot. I
learned a lot of lessons with different people and in different situations. I live for my purpose, for the people
around me, and for the love that they’ll give to me. My life's meaning is achieving my goals, being a model to
others. And most importantly, becoming a better person.
VII. Self and Module
Evaluation
Rate your learning experience in using this module according to the following scale.
Put a check mark on your response.
4 – I learned a lot from this module.
3 – I learned just right.
2 – I still need guidance on certain topics.
1 – I did not understand anything.
VIII. References
Corpuz, R., Estoque, R. & Tabolado, C. (2019). Understanding the Self. Quezon City:
C&E Publishing, Inc.
Alata, E. J., Bernardo, N. C. Jr., Serafica, J. P. & Pawilen, R. A. (2019). Understanding
the Self, 1st Ed. Manila: Rex Book Store.