Panel: RELIGION AND NEW CROSS-CULTURAL REALITY: TRANSFORMATIONS AND CHALLENGES



21.6 - EXISTENTIAL AND PERSONAL FORMS OF PRESENTATION OF RELIGIOUS FAITH

AUTHORS:
Ptytsia M. (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ~ Kyiv ~ Ukraine)
Text:
Today, people often seek answers to fundamental questions about the meaning of life, existence, and its purpose. At the same time, striving for personal spiritual growth and self-improvement, they may turn to religious faith as a source of inspiration and direction in their spiritual journey. The essence of religious faith in the context of the "Self-Other" dialog is revealed through the interaction between the individual and other people, as well as through the relationship with God or transcendent reality. "Self-Other" interaction helps to comprehend one's own faith more deeply, understand its meaning, and develops the ability to empathize. Dialogue with the "Other" emphasizes the importance of love, mercy and justice, which are key aspects of many religious traditions. In its functional manifestations, religious faith is quite diverse: it integrates society, acts as a compensatory and meaningful factor, and is one of the components of the goal-setting process. Religious faith helps to comprehend the meaning of life, answer questions about the origin of the world, the purpose of existence and the fate after death. It provides emotional support in difficult moments of life, helps to relieve stress, anxiety and fears. Religious faith becomes effective when it is experienced. Faith helps to overcome existential crises by giving meaning and purpose in difficult life situations. In this context, an important factor is the development of strategic narratives of the manifestation of the experience of religious faith, which reflects its instrumental capacity for social consolidation and mobilization of society.