Transpersonal Transformative Experiences: Spiritual and Secular
NeuroQuantology 2018 DOI: 10.14704/nq.2018.16.10.1912 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Filipinos who reported having had a life-changing experience |
| Measures | Casto Spirituality Scoring System |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Argues that transpersonal and spiritual experiences are not synonymous, because a person can report a transpersonal experience with little or no spiritual content. Using the Casto Spirituality Scoring System on 25 interviews, the authors report that the system can classify reported transformative experiences as spiritual or secular. |
Abstract
Transpersonal experiences transcend one’s usual self-identity, and may transform a person’s life. In this study, 25 on-line interviews were conducted with Filipinos who responded positively when asked if they had ever had a “life-changing experience.†The Casto Spirituality Scoring System was used to determine which of these could be considered “spiritual†in nature and which could be considered “secular.†The results provide a means of determining which reported transpersonal transformative experiences would fall into each category. From this perspective, “transpersonal†and “spiritual†are not synonyms, as someone can report a transpersonal experience that has little or no spiritual content.