Human health is a circumstance and state of physical, mental and social comfort where there is the nonexistence of disease or other irregular conditions (Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health 2002), while spirit is the capability of a person to understand and desire more than the socio-historical, vital, and functional aspects of life, an ability to go beyond. Spirituality is a real and typical method of living human life on all planes (Garvey 1995). Spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus. It signifies “breath of life”. It is a way of living and experiencing that comes through understanding of an inspirational dimension. It is illustrated by certain identifiable values in regard to personality, others, nature, life, and anything one considers to be the Supreme.Spirituality is a variedly faceted paradigm. It is made up of major parts that can develop within the therapeutic and spiritual relationship. These are: a transcendental aspect or going beyond; significance and principle of life; goal in life; holiness of life; demanding facts of standards; selflessness; optimism; awareness of the dreadful; and outgrowth of spirituality (Elkins et al 1988). Spirituality as a concept is largely a manifestation of persons’ manners, less the customary secular or sect significance. This would mean that human behavior is ideal by way of reliable sorts of spiritual deeds. It is impressive other than the personality that can really be felt. It is a wish to personalize this existence into a divinity. It is to have a privileged relationship with it, conversing by way of entreaty (Hardy 1979).
Spirituality as a structured creed of faith is religion on the other hand. It is a systematize doctrine of rendering obedience and adoration of God or the supernatural. It is doing reverence to an accepted and recognized ultimate reality or deity (The Merriam Webster Dictionary 2004). Religion is a cult a configuration of belief and custom. It is through which men’s spirituality is communicated with the hope to gain understanding of that which is at the back of the world of their daily living. Typically it focuses on a Supreme or absolute. It is thought of by some believers as divinity.
Religion manifests itself in a number of chief traditions. It can be categorized as monotheism. It is a branch from ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These are religions of basically Indian origin. They are Hinduism, Theravada (southern) Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The Far Eastern religions are called Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Mahayana (northern) Buddhism. Besides, ethnic religions associated to varied cultures of minorities sometimes referred to as “primitive” or prehistoric consist of the aboriginal religions. These are of Africa, Polynesia, Aboriginals in Australia and the North American Indians.
Religious sentiments naturally imply a sense of the sacred, of wonder, and of the unknown. A large amount of its intense moments may be brought to mind by the numinous experience of a holy being. Numinous as is coined by Rudolf Otto a 20th century German historian of religion, from numen is the Latin word for spirit. Imperative too in many stages of religion is the mystical search for imminence and the realization of the Supreme Being within the believer. Together, the wisdom of reliance and confidence on an external authority and the pursuit for meaning within involve an understanding of spiritual union with what is sacred and supreme. Such knowledge provides the believers vigor in dealing with the more significant situations of life. A great deal of religious formal proceedings is intended at being in touch with the Supreme in authority that significantly rules human lives.
To a large extent consideration has been given by sociologist and others to forecasters and operatives’ explanation of religion consisting of theories embracing the idea that religion evolve from peripheral social and psychological values and thus lend a hand to keep a society together. Religion, morals, and society according to the French sociologist Emile Durkheim, represent a triangle of power in which the deities are in effect social values given tangible shape. An analogous theory is that of psychoanalytic hypothesis about the origin of the father figure in religion by Sigmund Freud. God is projected from out of juvenile understanding through the mechanism of authoritarianism and the insensible.
An alternative serviceable approach to religion is to see how it accomplishes something in managing inadequate state of affairs. Men are challenge with mysterious and intimidating circumstances and occurrences, such as death and the appalling, that in some way disregard their diagnostic, expressive, and ethical or principled supremacy. Taken to the margins of their comprehension, viewpoint, lucid actions, and jurisdiction of their surroundings some certainly are relieved by the customary and cultural religions in coping with such existential crises. In the same way, it is real that religion of a certain kind gets by with the flaws of nature. It gives support to the continued existence of particular personality types. It is more of a criterion of usefulness than the beginning of a distinct conviction.
Recently, the issue of the relation of religion and science has captured the latest innovation in psychiatric therapy (Encyclopedia Americana International 2002). Modern methods of psychotherapy showed a greater awareness of traditionally religious spiritual techniques, such as meditation and yoga (Smart 1984). Religion as spiritual knowledge then has had profound impact on psychotherapy to induce radical transformation of the personality as illustrated by the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous Programs. It is a therapy of programs that is of spiritual awakening that serves as a guide for recovery and abstinence (Plotnik 1999). It is founded upon spirituality. Since its advent in 1935, it is continuously employed.
AA was established by a Wall Street stock broker Bill W. and a surgeon from Akron Ohio, Dr. Bob. It is widespread with members numbering to about 2 million, and 98,000 groups. It is thus broadly conventional as a part of management therapy in the United States of America (Halgin and Whitbourne 2007). The spirit of AA attitude is its 12 steps program to revival. It highlights candor, resistance, and chronicle making or journal keeping by recount as vital.
The subsequent part of AA is the faithful accessibility of an alternative associate who can make available support in the course of the therapy, especially when the desire to imbibe turn out to be overwhelming. Twenty four hours attendants for telephone assistance are on hand to facilitate continuity of teamwork or collaboration. It is the spiritual factor that is the most important constituent within the AA society. The AA practice varies significantly from one member to another.
There are numbers of members who draw insights from presence at congregations and there are members who gain strength of conviction from faithfulness to the spiritual philosophy. The primary method that AA cultivates from the standpoint of awareness is that alcohol dependence or alcoholism is a disorder that inhibits the victims from self restrain. In the event that alcoholic does give way to the lure of alcohol ingestion, it is understood and taken as a natural progression. The subsequent view of AA is that alcoholics are by no means medicated; they are however getting better or getting back their strength. The aspiration of the AA management is complete self-denial from drinking alcohol. In concurrence to the AA philosophy, a single sip is sufficient stimulus to drive the alcoholic into its old ways.
Near the beginning of 1950s, a subsidiary was created for the family and acquaintances of alcoholics. It was named Al-Anon, to set it apart from AA. This program offer collaboration with people who are close to alcoholics and need assistance to handle the dilemmas alcoholism brings about in their habitats. Soon after, Alateen was organized for teenagers whose lives have been touch by alcoholism in the family.
In addition, another category for adult children of alcoholics was organized. It centered on the psychological problems that are the consequences of growing up in a family with an alcoholic parent. Currently 30,000 Al-Anon and Alateen groups exist in 112 countries. Countless patrons acknowledge AA for their abstemiousness.
Moreover, advocates of AA alluded to its bright achievements. Assuming correct journals, it would reflect the association as the most promising and effective method to managing alcohol dependence. The history of AA showed an average extent of self-denial to somewhat more than 4 years, with 29 percent having been temperate for over 5 years, 38 percent from 1 to 5 years, and 33 percent for less than a year.
An up to date review established that AA membership initiated subsequent reduction in alcoholism and related problems. The dual psychiatric disorders do not necessarily alter the relationship between AA involvement and alcohol problems (Halgin and Whitbourne 2007).
The present study aims to test the validity of the hypothesis that chances are high that spirituality positively affects human health, with health as dependent variable over the independent variable which is spirituality by comprehensively looking through archive defining spirituality and religion from the point of view of human existence and its application to management for alcoholism, an alcoholic person’s problem involving addiction to alcohol for having been drinking heavily over a long period resulting to intense cravings for alcohol and a consequential social, personal and financial downturn (Plotnik 1999).
Method
Participants
Members of Alcoholic Anonymous as chronicled in the latest edition of the book Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Perspectives on Psychological disorders by Halgin, R. and Whitbourne S. 2007.
Apparatus
A 2007 edition book of Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Perspectives on Psychological Disorders by Halgin, R. and Whitbourne S., and nine other books of various titles, authorship and edition rendering topics relevant to spiritual and religious effects on human health.
Procedure
The varied articles from ten different sources were read and journalized for analyses as to the text that reveals relevant articles congruent to the issue to be resolved. Moreover, the 12 step tabulated program as illustrated below were considered.
Although Alcoholic Anonymous is not a religious ceremony, participants who are members were individually and initially asked to state their names and say the words “ I am an alcoholic”, then step : 1.) first, ask to recognize that the alcoholic is powerless over alcohol because the belief of control over drinking ensures defeat by it. The alcoholics moved from arrogance and pride to humility; 2.) Alcoholics were then encouraged to believe that a higher power can restore them to sanity and next; in step 3.) To decide to turn their lives over to the care of the higher power of God as we understand him; 4.) Made a search and fearless moral inventory of oneself; 5.) Admitted to god, to oneself and to another human being the exact nature of one’s wrong; 6.) Readiness to have God remove all defects of character; 7.) Humbly asked God to remove one’s shortcomings; 8.) Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all; 9.) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others; 10.) Continued to make moral inventory and when wrong was committed it was admitted promptly; 11.) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve one’s conscious contact with God as one understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and to carry that out; and 12.) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of the aforementioned steps, one tried to carry the message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all affairs.
Members were invited to attend free Group meetings as often as they wish. Meetings will be held at random. Some meetings will be open to interested non-members who do not have any drinking problem, but, there will be meetings that will be limited to members only. During special speaker’s meeting, there will be a formal structured program of ceremonies like an inspirational reading from AA publication to begin, then, recovering alcoholics will be scheduled to talk about their own lives and how they were adversely affected by drinking before they became members of AA. They will then relate how their lives were changed via the AA program to achieve sobriety. The program will then end with a prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference” (Jung 200).
Results
Human health is a circumstance and state of physical, mental and social comfort where there is the nonexistence of disease or other irregular conditions.
Spirit is the capability of a person to understand and desire more than the socio-historical, vital, and functional aspects of life, an ability to go beyond.
Spirituality is a real and typical method of living human life on all planes.
Spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus. It signifies “breath of life”. It is a way of living and experiencing that comes through understanding of an inspirational dimension. It is illustrated by certain identifiable values in regard to personality, others, nature, life, and anything one considers to be the Supreme.
Spirituality is a variedly faceted paradigm. It is made up of nine major parts that can develop within the therapeutic and spiritual relationship. These are: a transcendental aspect or going beyond; significance and principle of life; goal in life; holiness of life; demanding facts of standards; selflessness; optimism; awareness of the dreadful; and outgrowth of spirituality.
Spirituality as a concept is largely a manifestation of persons’ manners, less the customary secular or sect significance. This would mean that human behavior is ideal by way of reliable sorts of spiritual deeds. It is impressive other than the personality that can really be felt. It is a wish to personalize this existence into a divinity. It is to have a privileged relationship with it, conversing by way of entreaty.
Spirituality as a structured creed of faith is religion on the other hand. It is a systematize doctrine of rendering obedience and adoration of God or the supernatural. It is doing reverence to an accepted and recognized ultimate reality or deity.
Religion is a cult a configuration of belief and custom. It is through which men’s spirituality is communicated with the hope to gain understanding of that which is at the back of the world of their daily living. Typically it focuses on a Supreme or absolute. It is thought of by some believers as divinity.
Religion manifests itself in a number of chief traditions. It can be categorized as monotheism. It is a branch from ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These are religions of basically Indian origin. They are Hinduism, Theravada (southern) Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The Far Eastern religions are called Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Mahayana (northern) Buddhism. Besides, ethnic religions associated to varied cultures of minorities sometimes referred to as “primitive” or prehistoric consist of the aboriginal religions. These are of Africa, Polynesia, Aboriginals in Australia and the North American Indians.
Religious sentiments naturally imply a sense of the sacred, of wonder, and of the unknown. A large amount of its intense moments may be brought to mind by the numinous experience of a holy being. Numinous as is coined by Rudolf Otto a 20th century German historian of religion, from numen is the Latin word for spirit.
Imperative too in many stages of religion is the mystical search for imminence and the realization of the Supreme Being within the believer. Together, the wisdom of reliance and confidence on an external authority and the pursuit for meaning within involve an understanding of spiritual union with what is sacred and supreme. Such knowledge provides the believers vigor in dealing with the more significant situations of life. A great deal of religious formal proceedings is intended at being in touch with the Supreme in authority that significantly rules human lives.
To a large extent consideration has been given by sociologist and others to forecasters and operatives’ explanation of religion consisting of theories embracing the idea that religion evolve from peripheral social and psychological values and thus lend a hand to keep a society together. Religion, morals, and society according to the French sociologist Emile Durkheim, represent a triangle of power in which the deities are in effect social values given tangible shape.
An analogous theory is that of psychoanalytic hypothesis about the origin of the father figure in religion by Sigmund Freud. God is projected from out of juvenile understanding through the mechanism of authoritarianism and the insensible.
An alternative serviceable approach to religion is to see how it accomplishes something in managing inadequate state of affairs. Men are challenge with mysterious and intimidating circumstances and occurrences, such as death and the appalling, that in some way disregard their diagnostic, expressive, and ethical or principled supremacy. Taken to the margins of their comprehension, viewpoint, lucid actions, and jurisdiction of their surroundings some certainly are relieved by the customary and cultural religions in coping with such existential crises. In the same way, it is real that religion of a certain kind gets by with the flaws of nature. It gives support to the continued existence of particular personality types. It is more of a criterion of usefulness than the beginning of a distinct conviction.
Recently, the issue of the relation of religion and science has captured the latest innovation in psychiatric therapy.
Modern methods of psychotherapy showed a greater awareness of traditionally religious spiritual techniques, such as meditation and yoga.
Religion as spiritual knowledge has had profound impact on psychotherapy to bring about radical transformation of the personality.
The traditional Alcoholics Anonymous Programs illustrates the impact of religion and spiritual knowledge on alcoholism problem. It is a therapy of programs that is of spiritual awakening that serves as a guide for recovery and abstinence. It is founded upon spirituality. Since its advent in 1935, it is continuously employed. AA was established by a Wall Street stock broker Bill W. and a surgeon from Akron Ohio, Dr. Bob. It is widespread with members numbering to about 2 million, and 98,000 groups. It is thus broadly conventional as a part of management therapy in the United States of America. The spirit of AA attitude is its 12 steps program to revival. Alcoholic Anonymous is not a religious ceremony, participants who are members were individually and initially asked to state their names and say the words “ I am an alcoholic”, then step : 1.) first, ask to recognize that the alcoholic is powerless over alcohol because the belief of control over drinking ensures defeat by it. The alcoholics moved from arrogance and pride to humility; 2.) Alcoholics were then encouraged to believe that a higher power can restore them to sanity and next; in step 3.) To decide to turn their lives over to the care of the higher power of God as we understand him; 4.) Made a search and fearless moral inventory of oneself; 5.) Admitted to god, to oneself and to another human being the exact nature of one’s wrong; 6.) Readiness to have God remove all defects of character; 7.) Humbly asked God to remove one’s shortcomings; 8.) Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all; 9.) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others; 10.) Continued to make moral inventory and when wrong was committed it was admitted promptly; 11.) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve one’s conscious contact with God as one understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and to carry that out; and 12.) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of the aforementioned steps, one tried to carry the message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all affairs.
Members were invited to attend free Group meetings as often as they wish. Meetings will be held at random. Some meetings will be open to interested non-members who do not have any drinking problem, but, there will be meetings that will be limited to members only. During special speaker’s meeting, there will be a formal structured program of ceremonies like an inspirational reading from AA publication to begin, then, recovering alcoholics will be scheduled to talk about their own lives and how they were adversely affected by drinking before they became members of AA. They will then relate how their lives were changed via the AA program to achieve sobriety. The program will then end with a prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.
It highlights candor, resistance, and chronicle making or journal keeping by recount as vital. The subsequent part of AA is the faithful accessibility of an alternative associate who can make available support in the course of the therapy, especially when the desire to imbibe turn out to be overwhelming. Twenty four hours attendants for telephone assistance are on hand to facilitate continuity of teamwork or collaboration. It is the spiritual factor that is the most important constituent within the AA society. The AA practice varies significantly from one member to another. There are numbers of members who draw insights from presence at congregations and there are members who gain strength of conviction from faithfulness to the spiritual philosophy. The primary method that AA cultivates from the standpoint of awareness is that alcohol dependence or alcoholism is a disorder that inhibits the victims from self restrain. In the event that alcoholic does give way to the lure of alcohol ingestion, it is understood and taken as a natural progression. The subsequent view of AA is that alcoholics are by no means medicated; they are however getting better or getting back their strength. The aspiration of the AA management is complete self-denial from drinking alcohol. In concurrence to the AA philosophy, a single sip is sufficient stimulus to drive the alcoholic into its old ways. Near the beginning of 1950s, a subsidiary was created for the family and acquaintances of alcoholics. It was named Al-Anon, to set it apart from AA. This program offer collaboration with people who are close to alcoholics and need assistance to handle the dilemmas alcoholism brings about in their habitats. Soon after, Alateen was organized for teenagers whose lives have been touch by alcoholism in the family. In addition, another category for adult children of alcoholics was organized. It centered on the psychological problems that are the consequences of growing up in a family with an alcoholic parent. Currently 30,000 Al-Anon and Alateen groups exist in 112 countries. Countless patrons acknowledge AA for their abstemiousness. Moreover, advocates of AA alluded to its bright achievements. Assuming correct journals, it would reflect the association as the most promising and effective method to managing alcohol dependence. The history of AA showed an average extent of self-denial to somewhat more than 4 years, with 29 percent having been temperate for over 5 years, 38 percent from 1 to 5 years, and 33 percent for less than a year. An up to date review established that AA membership initiated subsequent reduction in alcoholism and related problems. The dual psychiatric disorders do not necessarily alter the relationship between AA involvement and alcohol problems.
Discussion
Human health is a circumstance and state of physical, mental and social comfort where there is the nonexistence of disease or other irregular conditions is positively affected by spirituality as a structured creed of faith in religion and it being a systematize doctrine of rendering obedience and adoration of God or the supernatural, doing reverence to an accepted and recognized ultimate reality or deity. Spirituality as a concept is a manifestation of a human manner, less the customary secular or sect significance. This would mean that human behavior is ideal by way of reliable sorts of spiritual deeds. Spirituality is a variedly faceted paradigm made up of major parts that can develop within the therapeutic and spiritual relationship. These are: a transcendental aspect or going beyond; significance and principle of life; goal in life; holiness of life; demanding facts of standards; selflessness; optimism; awareness of the dreadful; and outgrowth of spirituality. Religion as a cult a is a configuration of beliefs and customs through which men’s spirituality is communicated with the hope of gaining understanding of that which is at the back of the world of their daily living. Religion manifests itself in a number of chief traditions categorized as monotheism. It is a branch from ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These are religions of basically Indian origin. They are Hinduism, Theravada (southern) Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The Far Eastern religions are called Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Mahayana (northern) Buddhism. Besides, ethnic religions associated to varied cultures of minorities sometimes referred to as “primitive” or prehistoric consist of the aboriginal religions. These are of Africa, Polynesia, Aboriginals in Australia and the North American Indians. Typically it focuses on a Supreme or absolute. It is thought of by some believers as divinity. To a large extent consideration has been given by sociologist and others to forecasters and operatives’ explanation of religion consisting of theories embracing the idea that religion evolved from peripheral social and psychological values and thus lend a hand to keep a society together. Religion, morals, and society according to the French sociologist Emile Durkheim, represent a triangle of power in which the deities are in effect social values given tangible shape.
An analogous theory is that of psychoanalytic hypothesis about the origin of the father figure in religion by Sigmund Freud. God is projected from out of juvenile understanding through the mechanism of authoritarianism and the insensible. An alternative serviceable approach to religion is to see how it accomplishes something in managing inadequate state of affairs. Men are challenge with mysterious and intimidating circumstances and occurrences, such as death and the appalling, that in some way disregard their diagnostic, expressive, and ethical or principled supremacy. Taken to the margins of their comprehension, viewpoint, lucid actions, and jurisdiction of their surroundings some certainly are relieved by the customary and cultural religions in coping with such existential crises. In the same way, it is real that religion of a certain kind gets by with the flaws of nature. It gives support to the continued existence of particular personality types. It is more of a criterion of usefulness than the beginning of a distinct conviction. Religion as spiritual knowledge has had overwhelmingly influenced psychotherapy to bring essential transformation and makeover of the personality. Psychotherapy as a tool encompasses a broad number of methods of healing mental and emotional disorders by psychological techniques rather than by physical means. The traditional Alcoholics Anonymous Programs exemplifies the bearing of religion and spiritual knowledge on alcoholism problem. It is a therapy of programs that is of spiritual awakening that serves as a guide for recovery and abstinence. It is founded upon spirituality. Since its advent in 1935, it is continuously employed. It is widespread with members numbering to about 2 million, and 98,000 groups. It is thus broadly conventional as a part of management therapy in the United States of America. The spirit of AA attitude is its 12 steps program to revival. From the elements involved in the program AA has to a great extent resemblance with a cognitive-behavioral approach. AA persuade alcoholics to keep away from blaming oneself in the event of stoppage and to expand survival options, like those features communal with the expectancy model to enhance the product of AA. In the same way, AA gives confidence to the individual to exercise coping skills that is based upon looking for outside support rather than being contained. Assuming correct journals, the AA association 12 step programs is the most promising and effective method to managing alcohol dependence. The history of AA showed an average extent of self-denial to somewhat more than 4 years, with 29 percent having been temperate for over 5 years, 38 percent from 1 to 5 years, and 33 percent for less than a year. An up to date review established that AA membership initiated subsequent reduction in alcoholism and related problems. Spirituality then, positively affects human health as revealed by spirituality and religion from the point of view of human existence and its application to management for alcoholism, an alcoholic person’s problem involving addiction to alcohol for having been drinking heavily over a long period resulting to intense cravings for alcohol and a consequential social, personal and financial downturn.
References
Elkins, D. N. et. al. (1988). Towards a Humanistic-Phenomenological Spirituality. Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
Encyclopedia Americana: International Edition (vol. 23). 2002. Encyclopedia Americana Corporations.
Garvey, W. (1995). Van Kaam’s: Formation Science Formative Spirituality and Religious Education in Asia. Phil.: De La Salle University.
Halgin, R. P., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2007). Abnormal Psychology: Clinical Perspectives on Psychological Disorders. New York: McGraw Hill.
Hardy, A. (1979). The Spiritual Nature of Man. Oxford: Clarendon.
Jung, J. (2001). Psychology of Alcohol and Other Drugs: A Research Perspective. U. S. A.: Sage Publications, Inc.
Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health (4th ed.). (2002). Singapore: Elsever.
Plotnik, R. (1999). Introduction to Psychology (5th ed.). U. S. A.:ITP.
Smart, N. (1984). The Religious Experience Of Mankind (3rd ed.). Scribner.
The Merriam Webster Dictionary (New ed.). (2004). U.S.A.:MWI.
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