The Role of Spirituality in Understanding the Unknown
I subscribe to several psychological news and discovery newsletters to stay current with the constant flow of new discoveries applicable to human well-being. We, as humans, have dissected life into tiny, definable bits. We can track the path of activity from body and brain regions. Some ancient philosophies have died in the face of refuting evidence, while other discoveries, amazingly, have proven correct. The sparse and fragmented knowledge from millenniums long gone left the curios minds of our ancestors crying for meanings that science couldn’t provide. Spiritual practices filled these crevices of the unknown, granted security, and calmed nerves.
We are an inquisitive species. Our drive for knowledge serves us well. We are driven to discover. However, new knowledge isn’t always welcomed. Scientists and thinkers were routinely rebuked, censored, and even murdered for rocking the boat, by teaching alternatives to culturally accepted beliefs.
Religions formed to reassure anxious people, giving purpose, and providing spiritual purposes to explain the unexplainable. Many practices customary in a religion provided hope and security. Religions, often dwelling in the unknown, attracted leaders that used their influence for evil, conspiring men manipulated, controlled, and subjugated entire nations and empires. In the name of religion, murders, rapes and enslavements have dotted our human history.
Key Definition:
Spirituality is a psychological concept that involves seeking meaning and purpose in life, as well as exploring the connection between oneself and the larger universe. It often encompasses feelings of transcendence, inner peace, and a sense of interconnectedness with others and the world around us.
Losing Spirituality Through Structure
Instead of the intended spiritual practice to bridge the gap between the known and unknown, many belief systems integrated human bias, projecting their fear of others on unknown higher powers, to justify evil, and limit enlightenment. The use of spiritual explanations, when abused, widens the gap rather than resolve our fears.
Leo Buscaglia, pioneering figure in the self-help movement focused on personal fulfillment, wrote:
“More and more we appear to be losing the joy in spontaneity and the wonder in spirituality. We seem to have become alienated from the fact that we are all part of everything and everyone, and we have retreated into egocentricity and provincialism” (Buscaglia, 1986).
Today, in the age of science, we still need spiritual practices. The more we discover, the more we realize we don’t know. We need hope and faith to guide us through a murky unknown future. We need reassurance that our wisdom is applicable in predicting how actions will benefit or harm our development. In the fog of unknowns, we need practices that soothe our systems, recharges our resolves, and prepares our souls for the courageous journey of living.
Spirituality and Organized Religion
Can we be non-religious, or even atheist, and still enjoy spirituality?
Spirituality is concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. Spirituality extends the confined borders of self, reaching further into the universe and seeing life through a much wider lens. Religion aptly provides this dimension of living; but many practices outside of religion also tend to our souls and nourish the entire being, transcending physical knowns and giving depth to our existence.
“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
Spiritual Practices
We need spiritual practices to reduce the anxiety of living. Life can be stressful. We can only pine over what needs to be done, what could have been done, and what we are doing for so long. Our thoughts eventually lose usefulness, and quickly begin to agitate rather than resolve.
Spiritual practices also can be complex and structured. Religions offer very complex spiritual practices. Among the religious, we find many that overlook spirituality. They attend church, they serve, but neglect the spiritual elements of worship—wider meaning and deeper purpose. It is not uncommon for church groups to get lost in disrupting pettiness or destructive bias. We can find structured spirituality in meditation, exercise, or hobbies. Each capable of providing a spiritual escape.
A recent study, although the methods are highly suspect, suggested yoga, contrary to its touted benefits, encouraged more judgment. Attendees were found to be more critical of other yoga practitioners immediately following a class. Perhaps, just normal humanity. We tend to be more critical of others just after confined contact whether it be an exercise class, a board meeting, or a bible study. But the opportunity for spirituality still exists.
“We have a world that is searching for answers, that is searching for a way back to spirituality.”
~Moira Kelly
Beyond Structure and Rules
In Yoga, a practitioner that moves beyond the poses, feels the air entering and escaping their bodies, the warmth of stimulated muscle fibers, and elevated heart beats gains the benefits of spiritual practice. They enjoy a ninety-minute escape from wanderings of the mind, regain a sense of purpose, and a belonging to a greater universe.
Deeper spirituality extends beyond lonely practices of escape. Our spirituality should be integrative and permeating of all that is in life. Life itself, when viewed with breathtaking awe, creates momentary rushes of spirituality.
Ksenija Napan wrote this about spirituality:
Spirituality is a pillar of well-being. We don’t escape into an imaginary world of fantasy, but a respectful acknowledgement of the unknown, saying ‘yes,’ to life with all its twists and tangles. We balance psychological health, and constructive action; but also, a healthy, ‘yes,’ to the unknowns, faithfully submitting to those things we will never know (Napan, 2002).
Spirituality is the glue holding many aspects of our life together. It creates whole person wellness, fusing the mind and body together in a magnificent and wonderful way.
Eckhart Tolle explains it this way:
As a spiritually mature person, we are not lost in the highness of our own consciousness, but intimately connected to the whole. If our religious practices (or yoga class), encourage biases and harsh judgments, we are missing the most important aspect—spirituality. Instead of standing in awe of our insignificance in a much larger universe, we are separating and defining the self as special and isolated. True spirituality engenders more contributions to the world, less egotistical comparisons, and more peaceful acceptance of the world for what it is (Tolle, 2006).
The Void of the Unknown
The world is far too complex for their be an answer to every question. Much of meaning lies beyond our veil of understanding. Buscaglia instructs:
“Some of us are unable to live without answers. The void is too totally frightening, too devastating. So we must create answers for ourselves. Others choose to live without answers.”
Buscaglia explains that this mode of living doesn’t require asking questions, instead they are “living into answers” (Buscaglia, 1986).
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), leading psychiatrist and expert on existential analysis and meaning, wrote:
“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him” (Frankl, 2006).
Research strongly associates having purpose with longer, happier, and wealthier lives (Pfund et al., 2024).
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, wrote:
“Becoming an active, conscious part of the evolutionary process is the best way to give meaning to our lives at the present point in time, and to enjoy each moment along the way” (Csikszentmihalyi, 2009).
Instead of drifting in a purposeless existence, hoping that after death we discover the mass of meaning that explains the unknown, we should live with meaning. In a few hours, a seven year-old and Three year-old are coming over to my house to spend time with their papa. I am not sure if life provides any moments of meaning greater than this.
Associated Concepts
- Flow State: This refers to a mental state of complete absorption in an activity, where one is fully immersed and focused. This state is characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
- Savoring Life: This is the mindful appreciation and enjoyment of everyday moments, fostering gratitude and well-being. It involves various techniques, such as basking, thanksgiving, marveling, and luxuriating, leading to improved mental and physical health.
- Orientations for Happiness: This refers to cultivating a mindset and approach that prioritizes finding joy, fulfillment, and contentment in various aspects of life. We can find joy through anticipation of the future, pleasure in the moment, and delighting in the past.
- Existential Funk: This refers to a period in life where events, often traumatic, create doubt and confusion, accompanied by a distinct impression that life lacks meaning.
- Logotherapy: This is a form of psychotherapy developed by Viktor Frankl, which focuses on finding personal meaning in life and responsibility to live that meaning. It is based on the premise that striving to find meaning in life is the primary, most powerful motivating and driving force in humans.
- Meaning of Life: This refers to the drive to find an underlying existential explanation for our existence.
- Self-Actualization: Abraham Maslow’s concept of self-actualization, which refers to the realization of one’s potential and the pursuit of personal growth, examines the ultimate level of flourishing and well-being.
A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic
As we navigate the intricate tapestry of life, the interplay between spirituality and our quest for understanding becomes increasingly evident. The role of spirituality in bridging the gap between what is known and unknown offers us solace amid uncertainty. Just as my greatest moments arise from stepping away from structured living to immerse myself in nature’s simplicity, so too do we find deeper meaning when we embrace spiritual practices. This connection serves not only to calm our anxious minds but also to remind us that despite our thirst for knowledge, there exists a profound wonder in accepting the mysteries of existence.
Ultimately, engaging with spirituality allows us to transcend beyond mere intellectual pursuits into a realm where awe and interconnectedness flourish. In recognizing that life’s most precious experiences often lie outside rigid structures—whether it be through meditation, communion with nature, or simply being present—we inspire ourselves to cultivate a sense of purpose and harmony within our lives. As Leo Buscaglia poignantly noted, losing sight of this joy can lead us down paths devoid of fulfillment; thus, let us embark on this courageous journey together—embracing hope and faith as guiding lights illuminating both our individual paths and the collective human experience.
Last updated: December 6, 2025
References:
Buscaglia, Leo F. (1986). Personhood: The Art of Being Fully Human. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN-10: 9780449901991
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Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2009). The Evolving Self: Psychology for the Third Millennium. HarperCollins; Reprint edition. ISBN-10: 0062842587
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Frankl, Viktor E. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press; 1st edition. ISBN-10: 0807014273; APA Record: 1992-98457-000
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Napan, Ksenija (2002). Being, Loving and Contributing. In Mary Nash & Bruce Stewart (Eds.), Spirituality and Social Care: Contributing to Personal and Community Well-Being. London: Jessica Kingsley. ISBN: 184310024X
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Pfund, G., Olaru, G., Allemand, M., & Hill, P. (2024). Purposeful and Purposeless Aging: Structural Issues for Sense of Purpose and Their Implications for Predicting Life Outcomes. Developmental Psychology, 60(1), 75-93. DOI: 10.1037/dev0001633
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Tolle, Eckhart (2006). A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Penguin Life; Reprint edition. ISBN-10: 0452289963
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