Spiritual Experiences

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, throughout history, pain has been used to connect with God and has served humanity in many constructive religious and social ways. The paper gives examples from various religious practices that describe the ways that pain is used to become closer to God. It also discusses how society today views this concept.

From the Paper:

"Glucklich believes that today's society has lost the capacity to understand why and how pain could be valuable for mystics and members of religious communities, and even for humanity as a whole (Post). Historians of religion have long acknowledged the ubiquitous presence of intentionally painful rituals and practices, and have used this awareness as a key to understanding religious experiences (Post). For society at large, acts such as the "excruciating rites of passage among Native Americans, or the Muslim who walks for weeks on pilgrimage to Mecca with bloodied bare feet," runs against what is considered normal and healthy (Post). The tendency to pathologize such actions is well documented, and Glucklich agrees that the line between religious experience and psychopathology can be a bit vague, however by appreciating the sacred pain in the religions of the world and acknowledging the insights of neuroscientific approaches to understanding pain, it is important to remain objective to the role of pain for the individual as well as for society as a whole (Post)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hansen, Suzy. "Sacred Pain." Retrieved December 12 2006 from: http://archive.salon.com/books/int/2001/11/26/glucklich/index.html?source=rss
• Pazola, Ron. "Sacred ground: what Native Americans believe." U.S. Catholic. February 1, 1994. Retrieved December 12 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• Post, Stephen G. "Sacred Pain: Hurting the Body for the Sake of the Soul." First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life. March 1, 2002. Retrieved December 12 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• Simeone, Lisa. "Analysis: Lessons for pain sufferers gleaned from the use of pain to reach religious enlightenment." Weekend Edition: National Public Radio. February 2, 2002. Retrieved December 12 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

More papers on Spiritual Experiences:

• Argumentative Essay # 150324 : "Literature of Spiritual Metaphysics"
• Term Paper # 104689 : "Spiritual Formation"
• Analytical Essay # 14719 : "Varieties Of Religious Experience" ( William James )"

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