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The Spiritual Dimension of Coping: Theoretical and Practical Considerations

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International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Religion and Education ((IHRE,volume 3))

Abstract

In this chapter, I suggest that religion is designed first and foremost to facilitate spirituality—that is, to help people achieve spiritual goals. Building on this premise, I maintain that attempts to understand religion in purely biological, psychological, or social terms can provide, at best, an incomplete picture and, at worst, a distorted view of religious life. In this chapter, I present a model for understanding spirituality as a natural and normal part of life. I then examine the spiritual dimension of coping with life stressors within the context of this larger model of spirituality. I conclude the chapter with a discussion of the practical implications of spiritual coping.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, 43403, Bowling Green, OH, USA

    Kenneth I. Pargament

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  1. Kenneth I. Pargament
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Correspondence to Kenneth I. Pargament .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National School of Religious Education, Australian Catholic University, 1200 Mair St, Ballarat Campus, 3350, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Marian de Souza

  2. Warwick Inst. Education, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, UK

    Leslie J. Francis

  3. School of Education Studies, Dublin City University, Dublin, Glasnevin, Ireland

    James O’Higgins-Norman

  4. School of Child & Youth Care, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Daniel Scott

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Pargament, K.I. (2009). The Spiritual Dimension of Coping: Theoretical and Practical Considerations. In: de Souza, M., Francis, L.J., O’Higgins-Norman, J., Scott, D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_12

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