The Cathars became a major movement, while having some influence in the Rhineland, Northern Italy and Northern France the movement was strongest in southern France (especially the Languedoc region) and northern Italy. By the 12th century the Cathar popular movement had gained a substantial following in urbanized southern France.
The dualistic…[Read more]

“Experience has shown pastoral caregivers that individuals do seem to cope better if they can “actualize” their spiritual experiences in times of crisis.”
A substantial amount of interest in spiritual experiences recently appears to be from a re-emergence of interest from the (unofficial) pastoral school of thought in psychology. For ins…[Read more]

“Experience has shown pastoral caregivers that individuals do seem to cope better if they can “actualize” their spiritual experiences in times of crisis.”
A substantial amount of interest in spiritual experiences recently appears to be from a re-emergence of interest from the (unofficial) pastoral school of thought in psychology. For ins…[Read more]

1. Motivation: Spiritual beliefs as a Drive or Motivation.
When you talk to “spiritual people” – spiritual beliefs are not just a motivation but a very profound source of inspiration and a powerful drive. In contrast spirituality as a motivation is conspicuously absent from much of academia proper. Beginning in 2017, I did substantial research.…[Read more]

1. Motivation: Spiritual beliefs as a Drive or Motivation.
When you talk to “spiritual people” – spiritual beliefs are not just a motivation but a very profound source of inspiration and a powerful drive. In contrast spirituality as a motivation is conspicuously absent from much of academia proper. Beginning in 2017, I did substantial research.…[Read more]

In Ingela Visuri’s study of autistic spiritual experiences, what struck me is the very distinct character of the autistics’ experiences. In Ingela Visuri’s words, “unexplainable sensory experiences” – invisible touch, invisible presence (i.e. bodies), and even imaginary friends. It would stand to reason that since this peculiar type of…[Read more]

In Ingela Visuri’s study of autistic spiritual experiences, what struck me is the very distinct character of the autistics’ experiences. In Ingela Visuri’s words, “unexplainable sensory experiences” – invisible touch, invisible presence (i.e. bodies), and even imaginary friends. It would stand to reason that since this peculiar type of…[Read more]

A pesar de que ya el clásico de Cicerón sobre la amistad enfatizaba cuántos daño podría producirse al considerarla “como compañera de los vicios” en vez de “ayudante de las virtudes”, en realidad el concepto medieval de las malas amistades, dejando al margen el significado de ‘amistad’ como ‘tratado’ o ‘confederación’, se explica mejor en términ…[Read more]

The Four Primary Drives: The Need for Meaning, the Need to Belong, the Need for Ideology, and the Spiritual Drive
Religious beliefs are primarily created and generated by four very basic and fundamental “Needs” or “Drives.” From a rather practical and pragmatic approach, in general, religions could be said to involve meaning or purpose, others…[Read more]