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How important is religion is to people? This graph was derived by Our World in Data from the Integrated Values Surveys (IVS), the joint European Value Study (EVS) and the World Value Survey (WVS) time-series data which at the moment covers a 40-years period (1981-2022).
"Holly K. Oxhandler joined Baylor University’s Garland School of Social Work in 2014 upon completing her PhD at the University of Houston. She studies the intersection of ethical and effective integration of clients’ religion/spirituality (RS) with the evidence-based practice process in mental and behavioral health treatment."
A survey in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and neighboring Vietnam finds many people don’t identify with a religion but say they believe in unseen beings, venerate ancestors’ spirits and engage in ritual practices.
Religion (definition from the Open Education Sociology Dictionary):
n. A personal or institutional system of beliefs, practices, and values relating to the cosmos and supernatural.
Spirituality (definition from the American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology):
a concern for or sensitivity to things of the spirit or soul, especially as opposed to materialistic concerns.
more specifically, a concern for God and a sensitivity to religious experience, which may include the practice of a particular religion but may also exist without such practice.
the fact or state of being incorporeal.
Why do social workers need to understand religion and spirituality?
Religious and spiritual beliefs can provide a sense of meaning, hope, and resilience, but they can also be sources of conflict, discrimination, or alienation in certain contexts. Social workers are committed to respecting and supporting clients' religious and spiritual identities, recognizing the importance of these aspects in a holistic approach to care. This includes being sensitive to the diverse religious and spiritual beliefs of clients, advocating for religious freedom, and ensuring that services are inclusive, culturally competent, and responsive to the spiritual needs of individuals while also promoting tolerance, respect, and interfaith understanding.
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