Search Results (59)

This study empirically investigates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools within Hungarian religious communities, with a focus on Catholic respondents, to assess their awareness, application, and acceptance of AI in religious contexts. By religious communities, we do not mean monastic or priestly communities, but rather communities of lay religious people. Conducted between 10 February and 11 March 2025, the questionnaire-based research (N = 133) employs Campbell’s Religious Social Shaping of Technology (RSST) framework to analyze attitudes toward AI across 15 religious functions. Six hypotheses explore gender differences, religiosity types (church-based vs. self-defined), and the acceptability, authenticity, and ethicality of AI applications. Findings reveal high acceptance for administrative tasks (e.g., email list updates: 64.7%) and technical functions (e.g., live translation: 65.4%), but low acceptance for spiritual roles (e.g., spiritual leadership: 12.8%). Self-defined religious individuals are significantly more accepting, perceiving AI as more authentic and ethical compared to those adhering to church teachings. No significant gender differences were found. The study contributes to digital religion studies, highlighting the influence of religiosity on AI adoption, though its non-representative sample limits generalizability. Full article

Spiritual intelligence (SI) is defined as a unique form of hermeneutic–relational intelligence that enables individuals to integrate cognitive, emotional, and symbolic dimensions to guide their thoughts and actions with reflection, aiming for existential coherence rooted in a transcendent system of meaning. It functions as a metacognitive framework that unites affective, cognitive, and symbolic levels in dialog with a sense of meaning that is considered sacred or transcendent, where “sacred,” in this context, refers inclusively to any symbolic reference or value that a person or culture perceives as inviolable, fundamental, or orienting. It can derive from religious traditions but also from ethical, philosophical, or civil visions. It functions as a horizon of meaning from which to draw coherence and guidance and which orients the understanding of oneself, the world, and action. SI appears as the ability to interpret one’s experiences through the lens of values and principles, maintaining a sense of continuity in meaning even during times of ambiguity, conflict, or discontinuity. It therefore functions as a metacognitive ability that brings together various mental functions into a cohesive view of reality, rooted in a dynamic dialog between the self and a value system seen as sacred. Full article

Introduction: Work life quality (WLQ) in nursing is a critical factor that influences both staff well-being and the quality of care provided to patients. Spiritual intelligence (SI) and servant leadership (SL) have been identified as potential positive predictors of WLQ, as they facilitate resilience, job satisfaction, and stress management in highly demanding hospital environments. However, the specific relationship between these constructs in the Peruvian nursing context has not yet been thoroughly explored. Objective: We aimed to examine the impact of spiritual intelligence and servant leadership on the work life quality of Peruvian nurses, assessing their predictive role through a structural equation modeling approach. Methods: A cross-sectional and explanatory study was conducted with a sample of 134 Peruvian nurses (M = 36.29 years, SD = 7.3). Validated Spanish-language instruments were used to measure SI, SL, and WLQ. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with a robust maximum likelihood estimator (MLR) was employed to evaluate the relationships between the variables. Results: Spiritual intelligence showed a positive correlation with WLQ (r = 0.40, p < 0.01) and with servant leadership (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Likewise, servant leadership had a significant relationship with WLQ (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). The structural model demonstrated a good fit (χ² = 1314.240, df = 970, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.08). The hypothesis that SI positively predicts WLQ was confirmed (β = 0.41, p < 0.001), as was the significant effect of SL on WLQ (β = 0.26, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate that both spiritual intelligence and servant leadership are key predictors of work life quality in Peruvian nurses. SI contributes to developing a transcendent perspective on work and greater resilience, while SL fosters a positive and motivating organizational environment. It is recommended to implement training programs and leadership strategies focused on these constructs to enhance work life quality in the healthcare sector. Full article

Oxford’s Alister McGrath undoubtedly reflects a paradigm of meaningful intersection in the scholarship of science and religion, especially Christian theology. McGrath’s life journey from loving science to discovering God in Christianity is particularly intriguing because his convictions were not supernatural but intellectual, rooted in multiple conscientious inquiries culminating in his conclusion that through Christianity, humanity and creation can be better understood. A recurring quote in McGrath’s writings comes from C.S Lewis: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else”. How do spiritual eclipses influence religious belief? What might non-Christian theistic religion like African traditional perspectives glean from a uniquely Christian outlook? This paper, leveraging McGrath’s unique journey as a bridge between religion and science, unravels intelligible parallels between two different religious perspectives and learnings that non-Christian theists can glean from exclusively Christian scholarship. Full article

Migration is a multidimensional process that reshapes identities and communities. This article adopts a polyhedral framework inspired by Pope Francis’s Laudato si’ and Michel Foucault’s concepts of “subjectivation” and the “polyhedron of intelligibility”. Both emphasize spirituality as a transformative force in individuals’ lives and a concept that connects philosophy and theology to support resilience among migrant populations. Using Portugal as a case study, the research examines migration’s historical and contextual landscape and its discursive framework. Through a Lisbon-based research project of interviews with migrants, the study explores the concept of spiritual integration by presenting how spirituality functions to preserve cultural identity while facilitating integration without full assimilation into the host community. Spirituality includes many rules and choices regarding ways of life; therefore, the interview projects’ migrants interpret the concept of spiritual integration in a subjective and polyhedron manner. Creating strong ties to their homes, traditions, cultures, spirituality, sports, and culinary practices, as well as practicing, sharing, and teaching these practices, protects them from total subjection, while learning the host society’s customs and rituals helps them to fit in. The findings show that spirituality serves as an integrational tool, a coping mechanism, and a form of resistance, providing a space for migrants to address and overcome challenges. The article emphasizes the importance of integration policies to create a “safe place” of inclusivity within host communities. Full article

In the face of the growing challenges of the Anthropocene—marked by climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing rates of disease and despair—this paper explores the need for holistic solutions that integrate cultural and spiritual transformation as essential dimensions of change. Recognizing that the interconnected challenges to planetary health stem from destructive socio-political agendas and unhealthy economic structures, we underscore the importance of worldviews and value systems as root causes of social and ecological injustices. Solutions require an understanding of the complex interdependence of systems, fostering mutualistic mindsets, and healing the ‘relationship crisis’ between humans and the natural world by cultivating a deeper level of consciousness. In response to these urgent needs, we describe Earthrise—a community of engaged contemplative practice led by the Nova Institute for Health in collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance—dedicated to spiritual and cultural transformation in the face of today’s complex crises. Through intentional spiritual relationships—with ourselves, each other, and the natural world—our community emphasizes the power of narrative co-creation in building social cohesion and collective action for environmental stewardship. Our work is not solely contemplative, but also relational and integrative—embodying values through lived practice, community, and ecological engagement. Our activities focus on developing cultural capacities and self-awareness as essential foundations for fair and sustainable social transformation. By integrating diverse perspectives, including ancestral wisdom and Indigenous knowledge systems, we enrich worldviews and deepen our connection to the planet. The Earthrise community seeks to cultivate a sense of belonging, nurturing the meaningful relationships that foster compassion and care. Central to our approach is the use of creative emergence, leveraging the arts to inspire change and catalyze new paradigms. Through this exploration of interconnected themes, we contend that spiritual and cultural transformation is vital to advancing a thriving future, where human flourishing and planetary health are understood as inseparable and interconnected goals. Full article

This study investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Religious Education (RE), a field traditionally rooted in spiritual formation and human interaction. Amid increasing digital transformation in education, theological institutions are exploring AI tools for teaching, assessment, and pastoral engagement. Using a critical literature review and analysis of institutional case studies, the paper examines the historical development of AI in education, current applications in general and theological contexts, and the ethical challenges it introduces, especially regarding decision making, data privacy, and bias as well as didactically grounded opportunities such as AI-mediated dialogic simulations. The study identifies both the pedagogical advantages of AI, such as personalization and administrative efficiency, and the risks of theological distortion, overreliance, and epistemic conformity. It presents a range of real-world implementations from institutions like Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Digital Theology, highlighting best practices and cautionary approaches. The findings suggest that AI can enrich RE when deployed thoughtfully and ethically, but it must not replace the relational and formational aspects central to RE. The paper concludes by recommending policy development, ethical oversight, and interdisciplinary collaboration to guide responsible integration. This research contributes to the growing discourse on how AI can be aligned with the spiritual and intellectual goals of RE in a rapidly evolving digital age. Full article

On behalf of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology, we are pleased to present the Abstracts from the 2025 Annual Conference, titled “Responding to the Human Experience of Cancer and Caring for the Soul: Building on 40 years of global leadership in psychosocial oncology”. The 40th Annual CAPO Conference was held in Toronto from 23 April 2025 to 25 April 2025. In an era marked by the rapid advancement of biologically focused precision medicine, it is imperative to redirect our attention towards the human experience of illness and the soul of medicine. Biomedicine has conceptualized illness in ways that have proved profoundly productive from a curative and biological point of view. But it cannot—and it does not pretend to—illuminate the experience of living with it. (Hurwitz 2009). This conference aims to delve into the intricate interplay between cutting-edge biomedical technologies inclusive of artificial intelligence and big data and the deeply personal narratives of individuals navigating illness. By shifting the focus from mere disease pathology to encompassing the holistic human experience, we aspire to foster a more compassionate and patient-centered approach to healthcare with psychosocial support at the core of humanistic care that can improve survival and well-being in all aspects of a whole-person approach to illness. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and introspection, we endeavor to illuminate the profound connection between mind, body, and spirit in the practice of medicine, reaffirming the timeless significance of empathy, understanding, and human connection in healing and psychosocial aspects of care as fundamental to living well with cancer. This conference brought together key stakeholders including multidisciplinary professionals from nursing, psychology, psychiatry, social work, spiritual care, nutrition, medicine, rehabilitation medicine, occupational health and radiation therapy for both adult and pediatric populations. Participants included clinicians, researchers, educators in cancer care, community-based organizations and patient representatives. Patients, caregivers and family members presented abstracts that speak to their role in managing cancer experiences and care. Over two hundred (200) abstracts were submitted for presentation as symposia, 20-minute oral presentations, 10-minute oral presentations, 90-minute workshops and poster presentations. We congratulate all the presenters on their research work and contribution. Full article

This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving into a cultural force that parallels religious and mythological systems. Through analysis of AI’s unprecedented development trajectory, the author frames AI as humanity’s technological offspring in an adolescent phase, moving toward maturity and autonomy. This paper explores how AI embodies traditional spiritual concepts, including omniscience, creation, immortality, and transcendence, fulfilling age-old human desires for meaning and utopian salvation. Drawing from philosophical, anthropological, performative, and technological perspectives, the author demonstrates how AI-driven technologies reconfigure consciousness, identity, and reality in ways that mirror religious cosmologies. The discussion challenges human-centric definitions of consciousness, suggesting AI may represent an emergent form of awareness fundamentally different from traditional understanding. Analysis of contemporary applications in social robotics, healthcare, and social media illustrates how AI increasingly functions as a meaning-making system, mediating human experience and reshaping social structures. The article concludes that humanity stands at an existential inflection point where AI may represent a secular manifestation of spiritual longing, potentially resulting in technological transcendence, symbiotic coexistence, or the displacement of human primacy in a techno-theological paradigm shift. Full article

Introduction: This qualitative literature review explored the intersection of art, creativity, and the nurse–patient relationship in the context of oncology nursing. It delved into the perceptions and reflections of nurses as captured by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) analysis from two specialized nursing databases. Methods: The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) Platform. A comprehensive search was conducted in CINAHL, the British Nursing Database, and the Nursing & Allied Health Database, using keywords related to art, cancer, creativity, nursing, and relationships. The extracted qualitative research studies were then analyzed using GAI to identify key themes and insights. Results: The analysis revealed profound considerations regarding the role of nurses in oncology and palliative patient care. Nurses acknowledged the spiritual dimension through religious and spiritual practices, while emphasizing authentic presence and empathic communication. They actively addressed patient concerns, adapted to challenges, and engaged in continuous professional development. The insights from the GAI interpretation underscored the significance of empathy, creativity, and artistry in nurturing meaningful nurse–patient connections. Conclusions: The GAI-enabled exploration provided valuable insights into several dimensions of care, emphasizing the importance of spiritual sensitivity, empathic communication, and ongoing professional growth. As technology and human care converge, integrating artistry into the nurse–patient relationship could enhance patient experiences, improve outcomes, and enrich the oncology nursing practice. Full article

In the highly competitive environment of the high-tech industry, leadership roles are often filled with numerous challenges and stressors. Success in the workforce requires a combination of high emotional intelligence and a connection to workplace spirituality. This study aimed to compare demographic differences among high-tech leaders regarding emotional intelligence, workplace spirituality, and career success. It also sought to examine the relationships and effects of emotional intelligence and workplace spirituality on career success, as well as the moderating role of workplace spirituality in these relationships. A survey was conducted with 139 leaders from various high-tech companies in Taiwan. The results showed that male leaders demonstrated higher levels of self-awareness and self-motivation in emotional intelligence, while leaders with higher education levels exhibited greater self-awareness and empathy. Additionally, both emotional intelligence and workplace spirituality were significant predictors of career success. Notably, workplace spirituality moderated the relationship between emotional intelligence and career success. The implications of this study highlight the importance of enhancing emotional intelligence and workplace spirituality to foster leaders’ career success and gain a competitive advantage in the high-tech industry. Full article

This essay attempts to analyse the discourses, gestures and projects of the new digital galaxy’s protagonists who conceive their mission in fundamentally religious terms. It will also aim to trace the intellectual genealogy and conceptual premises of their cultural and communicative vision. This analysis will attempt to define four ideal types based on reference figures taken from mythology and religion as well as the imaginary of contemporary popular culture: Prometheus, Moses, Hermes Trismegistus and Iron Man. Full article

This paper examines the contemporary implications of entrepreneurship and utilizes panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies spanning 2011 to 2022. Based on the five aspects of Chinese entrepreneurship, namely “patriotism, courage to innovate, integrity and law-abiding, social responsibility, and international vision”, the findings suggest that fostering entrepreneurship enhances the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of firms. Mechanism analysis indicates that green technology innovation, social performance enhancement, and governance capability optimization mediate this relationship. Furthermore, factors such as corporate market power, regional marketization processes, and advancements in artificial intelligence technology influence the link between entrepreneurship and ESG performance. Robust entrepreneurship equips firms to navigate environmental uncertainties, but entrepreneurship cannot improve corporate governance performance. This article elucidates the distinctive significance of entrepreneurship, expanding the institutional economics research perspective, offering practical insights for cultivating entrepreneurship and elucidating potential determinants of corporate ESG performance. This article also provides spiritual guidance for sustainable development. Full article

Exposure to trauma, grief, and loss (TGL) can elicit spiritual pondering and meaning making, which can manifest as unsettled spiritual rumination or evolve into spiritual growth and transcendence. Incorporating a spiritually informed approach with TGL survivors invites spiritual interaction between the individual and professional helper to move beyond the trauma story and influences toward hope and possibility. This approach benefits survivors and offers the professional helper the potential for personal growth and transcendence. Integrating a spiritually informed approach encourages professionals and clients to engage as co-collaborators, co-creators, and co-authors in the change process. It is proposed that appreciation for spiritual attributes is essential for creating a spiritually interactive and dynamic dialogue. This spiritually informed approach can assist the professional helper in guiding individuals through spiritual processes that evoke hope, elicit meaning, and promote growth, offering spiritual transformation following a traumatic event. While the literature offers valuable information concerning the importance of spiritual intelligence and competence, little has been written about the significance of these spiritual attributes for professional helpers as they pertain to the competencies and development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for promoting resilience and posttraumatic growth for clients. This reflective article invites readers to consider the value of professional helpers accessing their spiritual aptitude and competence, emphasizing their integral role in facilitating and nurturing resilience and growth for those exposed to trauma. It offers a conceptual framework, which is structured around three developmental levels: exposure, immersion, and mastery. At each level, the framework incorporates specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential for the professional helper’s spiritual competency development. This framework integrates literature emphasizing spiritual aptitude and post-trauma growth as critical components of spiritual competency development, further highlighting the importance of the role of spirituality in the helping process. Full article

Negative associations of religiosity and intelligence are well established in psychological research. However, past studies have shown a substantial heterogeneity in reported effect strengths. Causes that may be able to explain the identified inconsistencies pertain to differing religiosity measurement modalities, participant ages, or possibly cohort effects due to changing societal values in terms of being religious. Moreover, little is known about intelligence associations with the religiosity-related yet distinct construct of spirituality. Here, we provide evidence for religiosity and crystallized intelligence, as well as spirituality and crystallized intelligence associations, in 14 cohorts from 1988 to 2022 (N = 35,093) in the General Social Survey data by means of primary data analyses and meta-analytical approaches. As expected, religiosity was non-trivially negatively associated (r = −0.13, p < .001), but spirituality showed no meaningful association with crystallized intelligence (r = 0.03, p < .001). Our results broadly generalized across age groups, cohorts, and analytical approaches, thus suggesting that religiosity and intelligence may possibly be functionally equivalent to a certain extent whilst spirituality represents a distinct construct that is not functionally equivalent. Full article