Existential Theory and Our Search for Spirituality

摘要

Throughout the course of Western history, science, religion, philosophy, psychology, and counseling have struggled to find common ground and opportunities for integration. Existential theory may begin to bridge humanity's search for spirituality and psychological wellbeing. Due to it's foundation in philosophy and the search for meaning, existentialism is uniquely suited to this task. It is our search for meaning, truth, and the I-thou experience that facilitates movement from the cognitive realm to the spiritual, transcending traditional psychotherapeutic rhetoric through a greater awareness of universal truths (Tomer, Eliason, & Wong, 200828. Tomer, A., Eliason, G. and Wong, P., eds. 2008. Existential and spiritual issues in death attitudes, New York, NY: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates/Taylor & Francis Group. View all references; Eliason, Hanley, & Leventis, 20077. Eliason, G., Hanley, C. and Leventis, M. 2007. “Integrating spirituality, religion, and pastoral care in counseling”. In The counselor's companion: What every beginning counselor needs to know, Edited by: Gregoire, J. and C. Jungers, C. 658-674. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. View all references; 20016. Eliason, G., Hanley, C. and Leventis, M. 2001. The role of spirituality: Four theoretical orientations. Pastoral Psychology, 50(2): 77-91. [CrossRef]View all references, Eliason, 20005. Eliason, G. 2000. “Spirituality and counseling of the older adult”. In Death attitudes and the older adult, Edited by: Tomer, A. 241-256. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis. View all references).View full textDownload full textKEYWORDSSpirituality, counseling, existentialismRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19349631003730068