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"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881 - 1955), French Jesuit, paleontologist, biologist, and philosopher.
Spirituality........A single word yet with many definitions due to the fact that it may comprise several aspects of human existence. Spirituality is often linked to the human spirit thus it is considered as a superior component for human existence [1]. Furthermore, it is recognized as one of the basic components of health and well-being and as a basic dimension of wellness along with others such as occupational, physical, emotional, social and intellectual [2].
The term spirituality refers to a sense of purpose, a sense of 'connectedness' - to self, others, nature or 'God'. It is used to describe a quest for wholeness, for hope or harmony ,a belief in a higher being or beings, some level of transcendence, or the sense that there is more to life than the material or practical, and those activities that give meaning and value to people's lives [3]. Thus, spirituality fulfills the needs of the person associated with the meaning of life, illness, crisis and death. It gives the person a sense of security and leads the person through their daily routine. It provides psychological and social support, especially in homogeneous populations. It is a resource to raise strength and support in order the individual to meet life's demands and crises [4,5].
The relation between spirituality and health is documented since antiquity. For centuries, the therapist and the religious leader was often the same person, thus the same person was caring for the body and spirit [6]. For many people, spirituality and religion are important dimensions...