Motivation and Religion

1066 Words3 Pages

Motivation and Religion

According to Dr. David Elkins, "Contemplation, meditation, prayer, rituals and other spiritual practices have the power to release the "life force" in the deepest levels of the human psyche, levels that secular interventions cannot

reach" (Elkins 1999). Spirituality may not just about one person healing. It may be about the look of wonder on a child's face or the love we feel for a family member. It could also be about finding the place that attaches one person to another. It's about seeing the sacred in our lives and opening the door to a life of passion and depth or even strength and power. There is no right or wrong answer. To each their own, but there must be something that motivates each and every person to religion and/or spirituality. As a religious and spiritual person, I have purely internal motivations for what I do and why I do it. What I want to research is what motivates people in general to seek spirituality and/or religion.

Religion could very well fulfill a need for affiliation. Would one person become a Christian, just to say that they are a Christian? Christianity is a world-recognized religion. Is it possible that one would become a Christian to feel a part of such a large group? Christianity has many aspects and standards that have to be upheld. Would someone become and Christian, uphold all standards, and become a devout follower, just to fulfill a need for affiliation?

Another reason for turning to religion could very well possibly be for an internalization of values. This would be maybe an instance of inter-faith marriages or relationships. Someone who is Jewish, could marry someone who is Christian, and one of the individuals could take on the religion of...

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... make the motives evident and easy to identify. This study suggests that the data complied here may be useful for both tying together existing lines of research and/or generating new lines of research in the future.

Bibliography:

References

Elkins, David N. (1999, September). Spirituality. Psychology Today volume. 32, Number 5. 45-48.

Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. (1992). Leaders and Followers. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.

Maslow, Abraham H. (1970). Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences. New York, New York: Penguin Books.

Olt, Russell. (1956). An Approach to the Psychology of Religion. Boston, MA: The Christopher Publishing House.

Peck, M. Scott. (1978). The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc.

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