Spiritual Orientation Inventory, SOI

Test scores

Humanistic spirituality is defined as “a way of being and experiencing that comes about through awareness of a transcendent dimension and that is characterized by certain identifiable values in regard to self, others, nature, life, and whatever one considers to be the Ultimate.”

Higher scores on each subscale indicate a stronger orientation toward that dimension of spirituality.

• Transcendent Dimension – awareness of, and direct experience of, a transcendent, spiritual dimension to life.

• Meaning and Purpose in Life – belief that life and the universe are inherently meaningful and purposeful.

• Mission in Life – a sense of personal calling, vocation, or mission that one feels devoted to fulfilling.

• Sacredness of Life – the perception that all of life, not just explicitly religious activities, is infused with sacredness.

• Material Values – the degree to which spiritual goals are valued over the pursuit of money and possessions.

• Altruism – a sense of identification with, and compassion and love for, all of humanity.

• Idealism – a positive, hopeful belief in human potential for goodness, even amid awareness of evil in the world.

• Awareness of the Tragic – the belief that awareness of pain, suffering, and death, and the capacity to grow from them, is part of a healthy spiritual life.

• Fruits of Spirituality – the perceived positive practical outcomes (e.g., confidence, reduced stress, deepened relationships) of contact with the transcendent, spiritual dimension.