People in all culture seek out meaning beyond the material usually within the context of religious practice, but when longstanding religious traditions are found to be unfulfilling, marked changes in belief and practice may come about.
In the eighteenth century the Great Awakening heralds the emergence of Baptist revivalism throughout the American colonies, as the traditional churches of Europe came to be seen as lifeless and impersonal.
In the midst of another transformation, the emergence of spirituality as a way for many people to meet their need for a meaningful life.
This development has been intertwined with evolving models of mental function and psychotherapy.
And since mind and brain are not related, it will also be considered in light of emerging research that sheds light on the neurophysiology that underlies spiritual experiences.
Large majority (84%) of Americans believe that prayer for others can have a positive effect on their recovery from illness.
Many of the “disorders” that psychiatry has described in its lexicon would be considered by these people to reflect a spiritual deficit a much as a problem in the mental health profession’s domain.
Spirituality
