What role does getting to know yourself better (motivations, fears, etc.) play in religion & spirituality?

Answer 1

empathy
when i know myself , know my own fears etc
then i can relate to people more
despite differences in beliefs

Answer 2

I think it plays a big part. The better we understand and know ourselves, the better we understand others. And in knowing yourself you can try to be the best person you can be, as well as you can find out your role in this life and can live peacefully with yourself. I believe being at peace with who you are can lead to better decision making and make it easier to define your goals. Thus a happier, more fulfilling life.

Answer 3

None. Unless you consider hindrance a role.

Getting to know yourself is a distraction from the path. It's just another way of tripping over your own ego and thinking that your flying.

Answer 4

The better you know yourself the more you understand why you believe the things you do. Much better than believing things because that is the norm or because someone told you too.

Answer 5

I think being aware of your own hungers, weaknesses, needs, which ever name you call them, gives you the chance to find ways to fulfill them. Knowing what you are weak over can help protect you from becoming a victim of those who would use your needs to manipulate you.
Religions and cults, even if they claim "Truth" tend to be very manipulative.

I liked this site
http://changingminds.org/principles/principles.htm

Answer 6

It is important to know why you've chosen the beliefs you have, and look at whether you are really choosing or just rebelling or reacting...

Believing out of fear is probably not a good reason.
Atheism that is caused by anger at god... not really atheism.

Answer 7

When I know myself, my weaknesses and limitations, I can learn to be humble.

Humility, is the first step in spiritual enlightenment.

This also has an intellectual effect on the person, when you realize and admit you dont know everything, you actually begin to learn.

Answer 8

"The unexamined life is not worth living" -- Socrates

The more I come to know myself and all of my good qualities, the more I am able to praise God; recognize the gifts I have for what they are....gifts and not anything I earned or deserve. I can also bring these gifts back to god and to ask him to bless them and to multiply them on behalf of others -- like the loaves and fishes.

The more I recognize my weaknesses, the more I am grateful for God's mercy and forgiveness. The more I realize that when I am sinful, he does not remove his gifts from me. I also realize how my weaknesses/sinfulness only tear down the body of Christ for "when one member of the body is hurting, they all hurt". Then again, they serve to help me to have compassion for others and to help pass on hope for those who still struggle.