Cultures And Spiritual Beliefs

ANSWERS

Material, social, cultural, and spiritual factors contribute to human health. We are physical beings with material requirements such as nutritious food, clean air and water, adequate shelter, physical activity, and sleep. We are social beings who require families, friends, and communities to thrive. We are cultural beings — of all species, and we are the only ones who require cultures to make life worthwhile. Moreover, we are spiritual beings who are psychically connected to our surroundings.

Language, knowledge, beliefs, assumptions, and values shape how we see the world and our place in it; give meaning to our experience; and are passed down through individuals, groups, and generations. Spirituality is deeply intuitive, but not always consciously expressed, a sense of connectedness to our surroundings. Religion, an institutionalized belief system and ritual worship that usually revolves around a supernatural god or gods, is its most common cultural representation.

Although some aspects of this relationship are debatable, religious belief and practice improve health and well-being. According to the psychological literature, well-being benefits stem from religion’s social support, existential meaning, a sense of purpose, coherent belief system, and moral code. All of these things can be found in other places, albeit more difficultly; religions “package” many of the ingredients of health and happiness to make them more accessible to people.

Overall, happiness stems from being connected and engaged and caught up in a web of relationships and interests. This gives people’s lives meaning. Many of the sources of happiness are interconnected; the relationships between sources and happiness are frequently reciprocal, and one source can compensate, at least partially, for the absence of another.

People can find meaning in their lives on various levels.

Jobs, family, friends, interests, and desires are all close to their personal lives. Many people today find meaning in pursuing personal objectives. There is also a sense of belonging to a nation or ethnic group and to a community. Spiritual meaning exists at the most fundamental, transcendent level. Spirituality is the broadest and most profound form of connectedness. It is the most subtle and thus easily corrupted, but it may also be the most powerful. It is the only type of meaning that transcends people’s circumstances, social situations, and material worlds and thus can sustain them through the trials and tribulations of mortal existence.

QUESTION

Cultures And Spiritual Beliefs

Diverse cultures and spiritual beliefs have different views on dying. From a global perspective, developed and undeveloped countries may experience death differently because of resources and communication. For example, Opioids for pain control may not be available in underdeveloped nations. Or some patients may not be able to express their needs.What is your understanding of the relationship between cultural values, beliefs, and practices and the death expectations of members of different sub-cultural and ethnic groups?

1. Answer the question below:
   • What are your insights relating to death, dying, grief and loss?
2. Then, interview a classmate, friend or family member question. Ask the following questions:
   • What are your philosophical beliefs, cultural practices, and traditions about death and bereavement?
   • If they are immigrants, how are aspects of American culture and the family’s native culture represented?
3. Discuss both your answer and their responses together.
4. Write a summary of the discussion:
   • What were the similarities and differences between you and your classmate, friend or family member. (Include examples)
   • Which are characteristics of the individual family, and which reflect cultural values?