The Importance of Spirituality in Strengthening Resilience in Confronting Crises Caused by Earthquakes

Abstract

Crisis situations in one’s life present both the individual and the community with multiple challenges which they are thereby called to face. Earthquakes are one of many such difficult situations which affect individuals, families and the broader community, but which can nevertheless be effectively dealt with. At such time as earthquakes occur, experts are invariably placed at the service of victims of earthquakes or other crises, either professionally, by invitation or on a voluntary basis. Thus, this paper deals with the topic of resilience and spirituality. It summarizes the results of interviews with three persons who proactively provide psycho–social–spiritual support to earthquake victims. Resilience assumes that people affected by various troubles can emerge from them as winners, that is, they can regain control of their lives. At the same time, it is a process through which the individual and the community learn to successfully adapt to new and difficult situations, despite circumstances which may pose a threat. One of the factors that contributes to resilience is a healthy spirituality, since. in order to achieve resilience. It is extremely important to have at least one quality relationship in life, which includes a relationship with an individual, but also a relationship with God. From this perspective, it was important for us to approach professional helpers and understand how they see spirituality, resilience and the providing of help and support to others, and so to draw useful conclusions from their answers for the purpose of further research.