Check-List and Open-ended Versions of the 16 Questions

Some people find that giving themselves number answers on the questions just gets in the way. If you are one of those people, remember that you can go through the book without even bothering with the numbers. You can use the items as prompts to explore the questions in an open-ended way. The book is the best resource for the open-ended approach, with its spaces to respond and prompts to do so, including possible ideas from other people’s experiences.  After answering each question, if you had this kind of experience, you can jot down some notes about what it felt like for you, and where and when it occurred.

Just noticing the experiences has been shown to be linked to many good things in life, and can be uplifting in an of itself.  The checklist version is another way of using the DSES questions that is beginning to be used in research and in practical settings. Below find this version and also a strictly non-theistic version.

Regarding scoring of this version, a simple yes/no: 1/0, should be adequate.

Recently . . .

1. Have you been spiritually touched by the beauty of creation?

2. Have you felt God’s presence, or the presence of the divine or holy?

3. Have you experienced a connection to all of life?

4. Have you felt close to God, or to the divine or transcendent as expressed in other words?

5. Have you desired to be closer to God or in union with the divine?

6. Have you felt God’s love or divine love for you directly?

7. Have you felt God’s love or compassionate love for you through others?

8. Have you felt a selfless caring for others?

9. Have you accepted others even when they have done things you think are wrong?

10. Have you found strength in your spirituality or religion?

11. Have you found comfort in your spirituality or religion?

12. Have you felt guided by God in the midst of daily activities?
Or: Have you felt divine guidance in the midst of daily activities?

13. Have you asked for God’s help in the midst of daily activities.
Or: Have you asked for help from a higher power as you go through the day?

14. During worship, or at other times when connecting with God, have you felt joy that lifts you out of your daily concerns?
Or: At times when connecting with the “more than” have you felt joy that lifts you out of your daily concerns?

15. Have you felt thankful for your blessings?

16. Have you felt deep inner peace or harmony?

A more strictly non-theistic version of the checklist version is:

Recently….

__Have you been spiritually touched by the beauty of creation?

__Have you experienced a connection to all of life?

__Have you felt compassionate love for you from other people?

__Have you felt a selfless caring for others?

__Have you accepted others even when they have done things you think are wrong?

__Have you found strength in your spirituality or religion?

__Have you found comfort in your spirituality or religion?

__Have you felt divine guidance in the midst of daily activities?

__Have you asked for help from a higher power as you go through the day?

__At times when connecting with the “more than” have you felt joy that lifts you out of your daily concerns?

__Have you felt thankful for your blessings?

__Have you felt deep inner peace or harmony?

__Have you felt the presence of the divine or holy?

__Have you felt close to a divine or transcendent presence?

__Have you desired to be more in union with the ‘more than’?

__Have you felt love for you directly from a divine or transcendent source?

 

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