Spiritual awareness is far from constant, according to a new study from the University of Connecticut, which finds that individuals experience varying levels of awareness throughout the day. The research, set to be presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, suggests that moments of heightened spiritual consciousness are most frequent in the morning and during activities such as prayer, worship, and meditation. Surprisingly, listening to music, reading, and even exercise were also linked to increased spiritual awareness.
However, the study found that work-related activities tend to suppress this awareness, with those spending the most time at work reporting the lowest levels. Video games similarly diminished spiritual consciousness. Interestingly, people who regularly consume news had higher overall spiritual awareness, though the act of watching the news itself led to a decrease in that awareness for most.
“What surprised us is how much people’s awareness of God or a higher power fluctuates throughout the day,” said Bradley R.E. Wright, associate professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut and co-author of the study. “There is a complex interaction between spiritual awareness and one’s environment. Sometimes the situation affects spiritual awareness, and at other times, spiritual awareness shapes the situation.”
The findings are part of the broader SoulPulse study, which uses smartphones to capture real-time data on participants’ spiritual awareness during their daily routines. Between November 2013 and May 2015, 2,439 U.S. participants completed two surveys each day for two weeks, providing insights into their spiritual experiences. While the study sample is diverse, it is not nationally representative, as participants were limited to smartphone owners who volunteered for the research.
Wright’s co-authors include Jaime Kucinskas, a sociologist at Hamilton College and the lead author of the study; University of Connecticut graduate student D. Matthew Ray; and Pastor John C. Ortberg from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California. The study is funded by the John Templeton Foundation, with Wright serving as the principal investigator.
Source: Phys.org
