TEILHARD'S REFLECTIONS ON EASTERN RELIGIONS REVISITED

Abstract. References to Eastern religions are found throughout Teilhard's work. Often considered to be mainly negative, these need to be critically reassessed within the wider context of Teilhard's experience and thought. Primarily interested in the renewal of Christianity (criticized more sharply than Eastern religions), he emphasized the living branches of religion and the need for a gradual convergence toward a religion of action in order to bring about a global transformation of life and thought. He spoke of the “road of the West” or a “new mysticism” which, however, cannot come into existence without the contribution of Eastern religions.     

Introduction

My special thanks are due to Dr Paul Joseph Chu who proofread all the texts and who collaborated on the whole project of the collected writings of the Lvov-Warsaw School (in preparation for publication in separate volumes). I am also indebted to Gwen Burda for her linguistic correction, Stanisaw Judycki for his comments and Zofia Kolbuszewska for her linguistic remarks. My student Lila Wesierska helped me with the bibliographical research. Kazimierz Dudkiewicz and Jarek Kinal from the University Computer Centre assisted me in solving all technical questions. Due to my fellowship at the Catholic University in Leuven (August-September 1994) where I was able to work in the Husserl Archive, it was possible to prepare the editorial addition to the bibliography. I would like to thank also the Polish Scientific Publishers for their permission to include the following essays in the present collection: K. Twardoswski, Imageries (see [Twardoswki 1965], 114–148), K. Ajdukiewicz, The psychophysical nature of humans (see [Ajdukiewicz 1985], vol. 1, 317–324). Ajdukiewicz's paper is translated here by kind permission of Mr. Bron Ajdukiewicz. I would like to extend my grateful thanks to Kluwer Academic Publishers and to Prof. Robert S. Cohen for their kind permission to publish H. Mehlberg's paper On psychophysical parallelism (a modified version of this paper appeared as a supplement in [Mehlberg 1980], 261–285]).     

Counting on fine motor skills: links between preschool finger dexterity and numerical skills

Finger counting is widely considered an important step in children's early mathematical development. Presumably, children's ability to move their fingers during early counting experiences to aid number representation depends in part on their early fine motor skills (FMS). Specifically, FMS should link to children's procedural counting skills through consistent repetition of finger‐counting procedures. Accordingly, we hypothesized that (a) FMS are linked to early counting skills, and (b) greater FMS relate to conceptual counting knowledge (e.g., cardinality, abstraction, order irrelevance) via procedural counting skills (i.e., one–one correspondence and correctness of verbal counting). Preschool children (N = 177) were administered measures of procedural counting skills, conceptual counting knowledge, FMS, and general cognitive skills along with parent questionnaires on home mathematics and fine motor environment. FMS correlated with procedural counting skills and conceptual counting knowledge after controlling for cognitive skills, chronological age, home mathematics and FMS environments. Moreover, the relationship between FMS and conceptual counting knowledge was mediated by procedural counting skills. Findings suggest that FMS play a role in early counting and therewith conceptual counting knowledge.     

Boarding School Attendance and Physical Health Status of Northern Plains Tribes

Our hypothesis was that boarding school attendance among Northern Plains tribal members was associated with lower self-reported physical health status controlling for demographic, socioeconomic variables, the number of mental health and physical health problems. This secondary analysis used the American Indian Service Utilization, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project data collected from 1997 to 1999. This analysis included (n = 1638) Northern Plains tribally enrolled members, aged 15–54, who lived on or within 20 miles of their reservations. Using linear regression and path analysis we examined the indirect, direct, and combine associations of boarding school attendance and physical health status. Results confirm boarding school attendance contributed indirectly (beta = ?.83, CI = ?1.33,-.33, p. ≤ .001) through number of physical health conditions to lower physical health status. Combined direct and indirect results (beta = ?.39, CI = ?1.20, .42) show American Indians who attended boarding school have lower physical health status (beta = ?1.22, CI = ?2.18,-.26, p. ≤ .01) than those who did not. The relationship of American Indian boarding school attendance and physical health status is complex with more than one path existing. We need to better understand the relationship of boarding school attendance and American Indian health, identify risk factors, and develop interventions for families and younger generations.     

Psychometric Evaluation of the Spiritual Transcendence Scale in a Chinese Sample: Is There Factorial Invariance Across Gender,Occupation, and Religion?

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the widely used 23-item Spiritual Transcendence Scale and tested whether there was factorial invariance of the scale by demographic variables such as gender, occupation, and religion in a large Chinese sample (n = 1,894). Exploratory factor analysis with a random subsample supported the original 3-factor structure (prayer fulfillment, universality, and connectedness) in a revised 16-item scale. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a 15-item model provided a good fit to the data of the remaining subsample. The scale had alpha reliabilities ranging from .64 to .92 in the exploratory factor analysis and .60 to .92 in the confirmatory factor analysis. Subsequent factorial invariance tests indicated that the scale was invariant across gender and occupation but not religion. Evidence of construct validity was equivocal. Additional empirical studies should be conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale in other culturally and religiously diverse settings.     

Glücksspielsucht in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesgerichtshofs

Among the non-substance-related addictions, pathological gambling is the only one that has gained noteworthy forensic relevance. There are numerous parallels to substance-related addictions and not only in the symptomatology. A high proportion of pathological gamblers commit criminal offences to enable them to continue gambling or to pay gambling debts. According to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) pathological gambling in itself cannot be considered as a pathological mental disorder or other serious mental abnormality that substantially diminishes the responsibility of the offender (German Penal Code § 21 StGB); however, the BGH recognizes that in serious cases of pathological gambling mental changes and personality defects can evolve that show similar structure and severity to substance-related addictions and severe withdrawal symptoms might also develop. As with substance-related addictions a substantial diminution of the offender’s responsibility can be assumed, therefore, also with pathological gambling if it has led to most severe personality changes or if the offender suffered from severe withdrawal symptoms while committing an addiction-related crime. According to these criteria a substantial diminution of the offender’s responsibility can be stated only in very rare cases. A custodial addiction treatment order (§ 64 StGB), which is also possible for fully responsible delinquents, is not applicable to cases of mere pathological gambling because the order requires an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. A mental hospital commitment order (§ 63 StGB) can be issued by the court under the same strict conditions that are applied to cases of substance-related addictions. Based on these principles this can only be issued if the defendant is addicted to gambling due to a mental defect that can be distinguished from the addiction itself or if the dependence has already been manifested in very severe personality changes. Pathological gambling can cause a propensity to commit serious offences and therefore, under the further conditions of §§ 66, 66a StGB justify detention for the purpose of incapacitation or a deferred incapacitation order. Even during imprisonment, detainees must be offered a suitable therapy (§ 66c para 2 StGB); however, penitentiaries do not offer the best environment for the treatment of pathological gamblers. The treatment in an addiction therapeutic setting appears to be more promising. Criminal political demands to make custodial addiction treatment orders also applicable to pathological gamblers have, however, very little chance of success.