Three Dimensional Spirituality
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
I am more and more convinced that when someone gets deep into prayer life, they live a three dimensional spirituality marked by an inward journey towards the self; an upward journey towards God, and an outward journey towards others and the rest of creation.
This, I think, is also the central theme of the gospel text of today. Which is the first of the commandments? There are two firsts, and the second is tied up with the first “You must love the Lord your God… You must love your neighbour… as yourself.”
Which is the first of the commandments?
It is said that at the time of Jesus the rabbis could count up to 613 commandments contained in the Law: 365 were prohibitive or “proscriptive” (don’t do this!) and 248 were prescriptive (do […]
Well-being and religious commitment amongst South African and Kenyan students.
Fadiji, A.W., Khumalo, I., & Selvam, S.G. (2023). The well-being correlates of religious commitment amongst South African and Kenyan students. South African Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463231199960
Religious commitment is a prominent feature in the lives of many students in Africa. The present study investigated the well-being correlates (emotional well-being, social contribution, and depression) of religious commitment, and compared them across sex. A cross-sectional sample of 471 students from South Africa and Kenya (men = 244; women = 227; with an average age of 22.8 years) completed the Religious Commitment Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, Social Well-being Scale, and Mental Health Continuum Short-Form. Structural equation modelling in Mplus was used to estimate direct effects of religious commitment on emotional well-being, social contribution and depression, and comparison across sex. The results showed significant direct effects, attesting to the association […]
IPPA Spirituality and Meaning Practitioner Award 2023 to Rev Dr Sahaya G. Selvam
International Association of Positive Psychology (IPPA) Spirituality and Meaning Practitioner Award 2023
Rev. Dr Sahaya G. Selvam’s Contributions to Spirituality, Meaning and Wellbeing in Africa
Religion, spirituality, meaning, and wellbeing define Rev. Dr Sahaya Selvam’s work/ministry as a Catholic priest and as a psychologist, originally from India, now serving in religious and academic contexts in East Africa, particularly among the youth.
To him, besides the categories of religion and spirituality, there is also a possibility for religious-spirituality (Selvam, 2013). Positive psychology provides a theoretical and methodological framework for his academic research and to develop and delivery interventions in the context of religious-spirituality. Character strengths (CS), including purpose and meaning, act as mediators in the relationship between a spirituality and wellbeing. In his PhD work, he explored CS as mediators in the relationship between […]