How to Discern Healthy and Unhealthy Forms of Spirituality

Send us Fan MailIn this week’s show our topic is healthy and unhealthy forms of spirituality. In my most personal episode so far I share my experiences as a Chaplain or pastoral care provider. In my work in hospitals and hospices I often come across healthy and unhealthy forms of spirituality. One factor that is often discussed in Pastoral Care Education is hopefulness as a measuring rod for someone’s spiritual and emotional health. The way we manage our emotional responses has a lot to do with our spiritual balance and health.During this show we explore the communal origin of religion which comes from the act of binding together, collecting and solidifying and internalizing a deep inner essence of who we are in relation to tradition and others. Part of spiritual growth is to know which beliefs are unassailable or embedded and which are assailable or we are able to reflect on them. Religion is often described as an organized set of beliefs and reflecting about them is what separates the religious/devout from cult-members and fanatics.J. Miller defines Religion as the common factors that frame our behavior, which are part of a collective worldview which are shared with a group of people. According to the book Spirituality and End of Life Care: Spirituality concerns itself with the transcendental, existential and experiential. Which are the aspects of our humanity that bring about meaning in our lives.Support the showMystic-Skeptic Radio produces programs such as Uncensored & Raiders of the Unknown. Some of the ongoing series are: Anti-Semitism Rising & Jesus The Israelite (all available on our YouTube channels). In the past 11 seasons we have featured academics (Amy Jill Levine) , presidential candidates( Howie Hawkins), Commentators (Jay Michaelson) , Advocates (Vanessa Guillen), Scholars(John Dominic Crossan) and Holistic Healers (Rosemary Gladstar). We have taken deep dives on the topics of human trafficking, ancient civilizations, demonology and the occult, social movements, controversial topics and many of the current affairs affecting our society. Join us as as we explore the mystic-skeptic mind space…