Tag Archives for Christmas

The wall of separation, church and state

Published in RINewsToday on December 23, 2024

Lawmakers with strong religious beliefs can be found serving in state houses, congress, and state departments of education, etc., throughout the nation. Occasionally, we’ve seen the wall of separation of church and state crumble, or be taken up in the courts.

According to PEN America, between July and Dec. 2022, “Texas school districts had the most instances of book bans with 438 bans, followed by 357 bans in Florida, 315 bans in Missouri, and over 100 bans in both Utah and South Carolina. The topics of banned books included race and racism, gender identity and explicit sexuality and health. 

In Oklahoma, the state is purchasing 500 bibles to be placed in public schools. Louisiana becomes the first state to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while some have long done so. With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and returning the abortion issue to the states, there have been state by state challenges, as well.

Those who oppose a strict separation of church and state say that these words do not appear in the  U.S. Constitution. However, those calling for the wall to be made stronger say the concept is enshrined in the very first freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” is the opening line of the First Amendment.

Plurality of Religions and Spiritual Seekers, too

The largest percentage of Americans identify with a Christian religion (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Non-specific Christians

). Others identify themselves as non-Christian, including Mormonism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam,  Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Unitarian Universalism, Baha’i, Wicca and other Neopagan religions, and Native American religions.  

And let us not forget those who do not believe choose to not affiliate with an organized religion, specifically, those who consider themselves an atheist or an agnostic. The main difference between the two being that an atheist does not believe in a God, or a higher power, while an agnostic does not believe it is possible to know if God exists.

But there are a growing number of Americans who view themselves as spiritual but not religious (SBNRs).  These individuals do not believe in a formal need for a “middle-man” and attending a service in a defined structure in order to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Yom Kippur, or that attending weekly services is a way to connect with God. 

Pew Research study

Last December, the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center released a study whose finding indicated that in recent decades less Americans are identifying with organized religion.  Seven in 10 adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious (SBNRs) and don’t attend religious institutions, say the findings. 

SBNRs is a relatively new term, actually derived by dating apps as a way to say a person was spiritual but not identifying with one religion or another. Respondents were more likely to see spiritual forces at work in nature than religious-and-spiritual Americans. For example, the findings indicated that 71% of SBNRs believe that spirits or spiritual energies can be found in parts of nature like mountains, rivers or trees while 59% believe that being connected with nature is “essential” to what being spiritual means to them.

Additionally, many SBNRs (45%) do claim a religious affiliation, although they don’t consider themselves religious or say religion is very important in their lives. They expressed more negative views of organized religion than religious-and-spiritual Americans, with 42% saying that religion causes division and intolerance.

The Pew survey also found that belief in spirits or a spiritual realm beyond this world is widespread, even among those who don’t consider themselves religious.

According to the Pew survey’s findings, 83% of all U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body while 81% believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if “we cannot see it.”  Seventy four percent say that there are some things that science cannot possibly explain while 45% noted they have had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world. And 30% say they have personally encountered a spirit or unseen spiritual force.

Overall, 70% of U.S. adults can be considered “spiritual” in some way because they think of themselves as spiritual people or say spirituality is very important in their lives, noted the researchers.

Most of these people also consider themselves religious or say that religion is very important in their lives. There is enough overlap between what people mean by “spirituality” and what they have in mind by “religion” that nearly half of U.S. adults indicate they are both religious and spiritual.

However,  22% of U.S. adults fall into the category of spiritual but not religious. The new survey offers a rich portrait of this group, showing what beliefs, they hold, how they practice their spirituality and how they tend to differ from those who embrace the “religious” label.The researchers asked all surveyed respondents to describe, in their own words, what the term “spiritual” means to them.  Their responses ranged from “Being one with your soul, emotions, feelings, actions,” or “Connecting with the creator who is the source of my existence, providing strength, guidance, hope and peace. The word of God provides direction for my life.”

Others responded by saying they believed in something larger and more creative than science. While not adhering to a particular religion, some acknowledged “a higher power that exists above all that is.”

These open-ended responses from the surveyed respondents illustrate the difficulty of separating “spirituality” from “religion,” say the researchers suggesting that “for many Americans, there is no clear dividing line.”

The survey findings also indicated that 27% define “spiritual” by mentioning beliefs or faiths associated with organized religion. Many (24%) say the word “spiritual” is about connections, frequently with God, but also, in some cases, with one’s inner self. One-in-ten say “spiritual” relates to understanding themselves or guiding their own behavior.

Taking a Close Look, One’s Spiritual Beliefs

Half of the respondents believe that spirits can inhabit burial places, such as graveyards, cemeteries or other memorial sites, say the Pell researchers, adding that about 48% says that parts of the natural landscape – such as mountains, rivers or trees – can have spirits or spiritual energies.

Death is not the end of a person’s existence, say more than half of respondents (57%). They believe that in the afterlife, people definitely. or probably. can reunite with loved ones who also have died. About four-in-ten or more say that dead people definitely or probably can assist, protect or guide the living (46%), be aware of what’s going on among the living (44%) or communicate with them (42%).

Spending time in nature can enhance one’s spiritual connect, say 77 percent of the respondents who note they spend time outside at least a few times a month. Twenty-six percent see spending time with nature as a way to “feel connected with something bigger than themselves or with their true self.”  Twenty-two percent say that meditation is one way to connect with their “true self or with something bigger than themselves.”

Finally, more than one-third of respondents revealed that they own a symbolic cross for spiritual purposes. Also, 15% admitted that they maintained a shrine, altar or icon in their home; 12% possess crystals for spiritual purposes; and 9% have a tattoo or piercing for a spiritual purpose.

A Final Note…

Roger Williams, a Puritan minister and founder of Rhode Island, called on a “high wall” between the church and state to keep the “wilderness” of governments out of the activities of religion. He also believed in all religions, rather than no religion, a common misperception of Williams’ intent.

According to a posting on the Jefferson Monticello website, “Thomas Jefferson sought to create a ‘wall of separation between Church & State,’ rejecting the historical entanglement of government and religion he believed denied people a fundamental right of conscience and the right to think and decide for oneself so essential to a republic.”

The U.S. motto, e pluribus unum, that we, as a nation, are gathered together as one out of many. With a new Congress and administration taking the reins of government next month, the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us in our Constitution are important to know and protect. We Americans believe that a variety of formal religions and other belief structures all lead to God.

The Pew Research Center survey of American spirituality, conducted July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, had a nationally representative sample of 11,201 members of our American Trends Panel. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.

To read the Pew Research Center’s (PRS) Report on Americans and Spirituality, click here: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/

Also, check out PRC’s reports on Separation of Church and State.  Go to

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/10/27/45-of-americans-say-u-s-should-be-a-christian-nation/  and

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/10/28/in-u-s-far-more-support-than-oppose-separation-of-church-and-state/.

Psychologist Elaine Rodino’s Tips on those Holiday Blues

Published in RINewsToday.com on December 19, 2022

It is a visible sign of the approach of Christmas.  Houses are decorated with colorful Christmas lights with wreaths with red ribbons hung on the front doors of homes throughout the community. But planned gatherings next weekend with family and friends may not bring the joyful feelings and closeness you might expect, rather. isolation and loneliness. 

Increased demands of family obligations during the upcoming holidays, from last minute shopping trips for gifts, baking and cooking, cleaning, to hosting parties, getting your Christmas cards in the mail, and even unrealistic expectations can oftentimes produce extra stresses, feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.  

During her 43-year career as a licensed practicing psychologist in Los Angeles and at State College, Pennsylvania, Elaine Rodino, Ph.D., a fellow and former president of the American of the American Psychological Association’s division of psychologists in independent practice, has had a longstanding interest in the holiday blues and has helped many of her patients cope with this issue over the years. 

No formal condition but it’s a “real” condition

During an interview on Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association (APA), Psychologist Dr. Elaine Rodino noted that there’s no formal diagnosis of holiday blues, but it is a real condition. “It’s a condition that usually appears around the holidays and then fades away sometime in January,” she says.

According to Rodino, feelings can vary. To some people it’s a feeling of malaise, tiredness and they just can’t get to things. For others it’s the “traditional bah-humbug attitude,” she said, noting that “they hate the holidays and just can’t wait until they are over.”   

In counseling sessions during holidays, Rodino says conversations always come up as to how the patient will “get through the holidays, what they’re doing, what the stresses are, and how they’re going to deal with getting together with the family.”

Rodino, who has been quoted on the topic over the years by the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Boston Globe, WebMD, and many magazines, offers these tips to cope with the stresses and anxiety triggered by the upcoming holidays.

Be conscious of your spending especially this year with soaring inflation and high interest rates. “Especially large families where each person usually gives to every other person there can be a plan to have a grab-bag of names and buy only for the person whose name you pick out of the bag. I have heard of this plan working well in a number of families and groups,” says Rodino.

Rodino suggests that if you know of a person who had a loss this year or has recently become single, it’s good to invite them to join you and your family for any holiday events or dinners. “People who are alone can take the initiative to create a gathering of others and have a potluck party.  This can be planned for Christmas or New Year’s, too,” she says.

“COVID is not totally gone and this year the flu and RSV are creating illnesses and hospitals are near capacity in many places. Continue to take precautions,” adds Rodino.  “I suggest that people get their immunizations for COVID and flu.  It may not prevent you from getting sick, but it will most likely be a milder case,” she notes.

“Don’t be intimated if you want to wear a mask. Just because you may feel like the only person wearing a mask, if that’s what you feel is safe, wear that mask,” recommends Rodino. “I’ve known people who say they knew they should have kept their mask on, but no one else was wearing one,” she says.

Don’t talk politics if everyone’s not on the same political page

Rodino warns that in family gatherings unless everyone is on the same page, politically, try not to bring up politics or issues that are politically split. “The slightest mention of one of these topics could seem okay at first, but then can slowly escalate to high levels of debate and arguments,” she says.

It is important to be very aware that some people may be recently sober, says Rodino. “If someone declines a drink of eggnog, etc. do not insist.  Likewise, if you are newly sober you may want to party with other sober friends,” she suggests. 

“Some people may also have eating disorders and may also be triggered by insistence that they try a certain dessert, or have seconds,” adds Rodino. 

Take care of your self-care during this time of year. “Consider taking time for yourself.  Take a break from shopping and all things related to the holidays. A walk, a warm bath, a massage, or even just reading a book can do wonders to renew your energy,” she notes.

Become aware of your own expectations and that of others as to what you “should” be doing for the holidays. “Take time to figure out what you really want to do, who you want to spend time with, what you want to buy. You don’t need to follow traditions that no longer have meaning for you. You can start your new ways of celebrating the holidays. That may even include leaving town and going on a vacation,” she says.   

Rodino says, “Why not spend some time reviewing your plans for the holidays, and make wise decisions now, so you can really have Happy Holidays.”

To listen to APA’s Blog with Dr. Elaine Rodino speaking about holiday blues, go to https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/holiday-blues.

With Thanksgiving approaching, beat the Holiday Blues

Published on November 22, 2021 in RINewsToday

Just a year ago, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic transformed the way we celebrated the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Normally a personal gathering day with family and close friends, the cooler weather pushed people inside where the virus more easily spreads, forcing families to meet on Zoom for turkey dinner and catching up.

Today, COVID-19 vaccines have made it safer to bring families together to this annual holiday gathering. With the nation’s borders now open and 195 million Americans fully vaccinated and new travel guidelines in place, AAA predicts more than 53.4 million people are expected to travel to reunite with their loved ones, the highest single-year increase since 2005.

But like previous Thanksgiving celebrations, not every family gathering will be as serene as the one portrayed in Noman Rockwell’s iconic Freedom from Want painting that appeared in the March 6, 1943 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. Thoughts of attending the upcoming gathering might just tear open psychological wounds and bring to the surface bad memories, triggering stress, tension, and even depression.

Increased family demands and obligations that begin before Thanksgiving and continue through Christmas, and finally New Year’s Eve, can bring about the holiday blues, sad feelings specific to the holiday season. While there is no formal diagnosis of the holiday blues, these feelings are quite real for some people. Usually, it is felt by people who are going through the first holiday after a loss of a significant person in their life or a bad childhood memory from past the holidays. 

Holiday stresses brought about by last minute shopping for gifts, baking and cooking, cleaning and hosting parties, and even having unrealistic expectations can trigger depression. It can also bring about a feeling of malaise, tiredness, headaches, excessive drinking and overeating and even difficulty in sleeping.

COVID-19 and the Holiday Blues

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there was less stress because people were not doing face-to-face gatherings, says Elaine Rodino, Ph.D., psychologist in private practice for over 41 years in California and Pennsylvania. “But it still came up because they were worried about Uncle Morrie showing up on Zoom,” she says.

The COVID-19 pandemic is overshadowing this year’s holiday season yet again, says Rodino, who is former president of the American Psychological Associations’ Division 46 (Society for Media Psychology & Technology), and Division 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice), the Los Angles County Association, and the Central Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

“There’s plenty of mitigating news this year about inflation and how prices are higher on almost all items including Thanksgiving Day dinner. People having financial issues this year can let themselves feel better by realizing that they are not alone. Many people are suffering economically through no fault of their own,” Rodino says.

“We’ve been experiencing many new ways of having to think about things,” adds Rodino, urging people to “be flexible and find new ways to enjoy life with less dependence on material things.”

According to Rodino, preplanning your visit can be the best way to reduce holiday blues. “Give thought to what you’re expecting and determine if your expectations are valid or just wishful thinking. Then decide to literally “make the best of it” by focusing on the good things and the good reasons why you’re making this visit,” she advises.

Putting the Kibosh on Hot Topics at Dinner

What can you do to steer away from heated political debates or sensitive issues including “why aren’t you vaccinated?”

Stressful situations at Thanksgiving gatherings can be reduced if you give thought to what to expect in visiting with your relatives. “Plan ahead on how you’re going to avoid being taken down a rabbit hole of controversy. How are you are going to pivot away from conversations when you see them going in a dangerous direction?”  

Rodino adds, “Remember who they are and how they think. Since it’s only a limited time visit, try to remain neutral. Don’t try to change anyone’s thinking. Things usually go badly when people try to convince others to think the way they do. That never goes well.”

You can plan ahead about how you will handle these conversations. “Do not fight!  There will be no winner. Talk about sports, the weather (not climate change), how delicious the food is, even how cute the dog is,” recommends Rodino.

“It’s best to accept that everyone has their own opinions (even if some seem very bizarre). Just think to yourself that you will soon be going back to your own home. You do not need to try to convince anyone about anything,” adds Rodino.

“When feeling stress, it’s important to realize that it’s time limited. Take care of yourself, whether it’s exercising, taking a warm bath, or just taking a break and reading a book. “There needs to be just some time that you just check out from the holiday stress part,” she says.

The holiday blues should begin to fade away by the first couple of weeks in January, notes Rodino. “So, if people are still feeling that, like say the second, third week of January, then they really should talk with a psychologist, because there could be issues that really need to be sorted out and processed,” she says.

With the ongoing pandemic we need to create new ways of doing things, says Rodino, noting that “People need to become creative and think up new ways to celebrate.”

As to compiling other strategies to cope with the holiday blues, Rodino suggests Googling ideas for surviving the pandemic holidays. “There’s something there for everyone,” she says.

Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

During this time of year, some may even feel a little depressed or have suicidal thoughts. Losses of all types can weigh heavily on anyone, but loss from COVID-19 has tragically impacted on so many and we can now add the pandemic to the challenges many face along with unemployment, experiencing painful chronic illnesses, or just feeling isolated from others. Sometimes, you aren’t ready for professional help from a doctor or mental health professional. Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to.

Think about calling The Samaritans of Rhode Island – where trained volunteers “are there to listen.” Incorporated in 1977, the Pawtucket-based nonprofit program is dedicated to listening to those in need through its nonjudgment befriending hotline/listening line program serving all of the state’s 39 cities and towns.

Executive Director, Denise Panichas, of the Rhode Island branch, notes that the communication-based program teaches volunteers to effectively listen to people no matter the caller’s issues or status. “You don’t need insurance, you don’t need to be in crisis, you don’t need to be in professional care, you don’t need a diagnosis to call. Most importantly, conversations are free, confidential and anonymous.

And, Panichas notes, for those in professional care, Samaritan volunteers can  be there to listen when family, friends and professionals are not available.

Panichas noted The Samaritans of Rhode Island Listening Line is also a much-needed resources for caregivers and older Rhode Islanders. Caregiving is both rewarding but most caregivers don’t want to talk about the stress to family and friends. Caregivers don’t want to be a bother to anyone. Caregivers need to know, however, that they are never a bother to our Listening line volunteers.

This year, The Samaritans partnered with Rhode Island Meals on Wheels to share information about the availability of the Listening Line services to homebound seniors. Family members are encouraged to share The Samaritans telephone number with seniors who are family members living alone, or even for those seniors living in facilities – most have private phones and they can call, too.

The Samaritans of Rhode Island can be the gateway to care or a “compassionate nonjudgmental voice on the other end of the line,” Panichas notes. “It doesn’t matter what your problem is, be it depression, suicidal thoughts, seeking resources for mental health services in the community, or being lonely or just needing to talk, our volunteers are there to listen.”

Suicide prevention education is still a very important feature of the agency’s mission. For persons in need of more information about suicide emergencies, The Samaritans website, http://www.samaritansri.org, has an emergency checklist as well as information by city and town including Blackstone Valley communities from Pawtucket to Woonsocket.

Holiday giving to financially support the programs of The Samaritans of Rhode Island is always welcomed. Donations can be made online at its website or by mail to: The Samaritans of Rhode Island, P.O. Box 9086, Providence Rhode Island 02940.

Emergency? Call 911. Need to talk? Call a volunteer at The Samaritans. Call 401.272.4044 or toll free in RI (1-800) 365-4044.