Material and Spiritual Poverty

Material and Spiritual Poverty

Poverty is a major issue worldwide, affecting many people in different countries, with material poverty being the most known form of poverty. Material poverty is mostly associated with the lack of enough money to cater for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. However, material poverty is not the only form of concerning poverty. Spiritual poverty is an overlooked dimension of poverty, also known as a lack of spiritual sensitivity which refers to a lack of moral and spiritual values (Helminiak).

Material poverty mostly affects the survival of human beings as it is associated with basic needs needed for survival and healthcare. Therefore, in various parts of the world, efforts to combat material poverty have been made by both the government and non-governmental organizations. Material poverty can have significant negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health, education, and overall quality of life.

Spiritual poverty, however, can be as damaging as material poverty, leading to a sense of hopelessness, despair, and alienation from one’s community and broader society. One lacks a sense of power and connection to a higher power or spiritual force. This causes emptiness, loneliness, or feeling disconnected from one’s values and beliefs. A recent article states, “Spiritual poverty is a pressing concern that requires attention in global development efforts” (Sikkink and Gerkin 146).

Despite both forms of poverty being harmful to human beings, they have some differences, such as material poverty is the lack of basic resources, while spiritual poverty is lacking spiritual values and beliefs. Secondly, material poverty can lead to crime and violence, while spiritual poverty can lead to a lack of morality and ethical values. In my own life, I have seen both material and spiritual poverty among people in my community. Some people have material poverty and lack spiritual poverty, and vice versa. Conclusively, attending to both types of poverty is important to prevent crimes like violence or non-ethical behavior. While efforts to combat material poverty are important, we must also recognize the importance of addressing spiritual poverty.

Works Cited

Helminiak, Daniel A. “Material and Spiritual Poverty: A Postmodern Psychological Perspective on a Perennial Problem.” Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 59, no. 3, 2019, pp. 1458–1480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00873-z.

Sikkink, David, and Charles V. Gerkin. “Spiritual Poverty: The Unseen Crisis.” International Bulletin of Missionary Research, vol. 38, no. 3, 2014, pp. 146-150.

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Chapter 16 Discussion A
Read the following essay carefully.
– http://www.city-journal.org/html/what-poverty-11845.html.
According to Dalryple, what is spiritual poverty? What is material poverty? What is the difference? Where do you see either spiritual or material poverty in your neighborhoods, in your peers, or in your life?
Do not cut and paste anything from the Internet without quotations or proper citations – this is plagiarism. Everything not quoted or cited must be in your own words. Make sure to write a 250-300-word post and to reply to at least two other students with 100-word responses.