Taxonomy of Spiritual Experiences
Diane Wind Wardell, Joan C. Engebretson
Journal of Religion and Health June 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-006-9021-1 via Springer Nature
Summary
A taxonomic analysis of data from a group of healers revealed a structural model of spiritual experience with three domains: circumstances (setting, situation, timing), manifestation (modes of awareness and phenomena), and interpretation (personal meaning and congruence with social norms). The examples reflected the healers' orientation. The authors suggest the taxonomy may assist clinical assessment and call for further research on its applicability to other religious or spiritual orientations.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Group of healers |
| Keywords | Spiritual experience Taxonomy Qualitative analysis Noetic Ecstatic |
| Key finding | Spiritual experience can be structured into three domains: circumstances, manifestation, and interpretation. |
Abstract
Spiritual experiences are often associated with health crises, with little information about the structure of the experience. A taxonomic analysis was conducted on data from a group of healers, unveiling a structural model of spiritual experience comprised of three domains: circumstances, manifestation and interpretation. Circumstances included the aspects of setting, situation, and timing. Manifestation incorporated the modes of awareness and the phenomena of the experience. Components of interpretation included personal meaning and congruence with social norms. The examples reflected the orientation of the study population. Further research could examine the applicability of the taxonomy to other religious or spiritual orientations and may assist in clinical assessment of spiritual experiences.