Preliminary study of religious, spiritual and mystical experiences. Thematic analysis of Poles adult’s narratives
Marta Magdalena Boczkowska, Mariusz Zięba
Current Issues in Personality Psychology October 6, 2016 DOI: 10.5114/cipp.2016.61484 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong 74 adult Poles, personal religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences shape narrative identity. Key themes from narrative interviews include awareness of God's presence or protection, peak experiences, oneness with nature and the world, and a sense of closeness with a deceased person. The study provides specific information on how these experiences are understood and integrated into personal life stories.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | Adult Poles |
| Keywords | Personal religious Narratives |
| Key finding | Personal religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences among adult Poles center on awareness of God's presence, peak experiences, oneness with nature, and contact with the deceased, influencing narrative identity. |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine narratives of the personal religious, spiritual and mystical experiences of adult Poles (N = 74) and their impact on narrative identity. The method for collecting qualitative data about individual understandings and spiritual, religious and mystical experiences was the narrative interview, developed on the basis of the Life Story Interview. During the analysis, the following key topics were identified: awareness of the presence/protection of God, a peak experience, the awareness of oneness with nature and the world, and a sense of closeness/contact with a person who has died. This study provides specific information on the spiritual, religious and mystical experiences of the investigated group of Poles.