Struggle, Silence, and Meaning: Lived Experiences of Spiritual Dryness Among Filipino Former Religious Individuals

Spiritual dryness refers to experiences of emotional exhaustion, perceived distance from God, and existential questioning. Despite its relevance to psychological and spiritual well-being, this phenomenon remains underexamined among individuals who have exited formal religious life, particularly within the Filipino context. This qualitative study adopted a hermeneutic phenomenological design grounded in the phenomenology of meaning and value articulated by Max Scheler, operationalized through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The study was further informed by Existential Theory, Psychoanalytic Theory, and Stress and Coping Theory. Eight former religious individuals (ex-seminarians, priests, and religious sisters) from Batangas were purposively selected, with the Spiritual Dryness Scale (SDS) used as a screening guide. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed to capture participants’ lived experiences and meaning-making processes. Findings indicated that spiritual dryness involved emotional fatigue, internal conflict, disrupted faith, and a perceived absence of divine presence. Participants also reported experiences of reflection, self-understanding, and re-negotiation of faith and identity. The analysis yielded ten overarching themes that reflected the emotional, spiritual, and existential dimensions of spiritual dryness. Spiritual dryness emerged as a complex and potentially transformative process rather than a simple loss of faith. Supportive relationships, reflective practices, and compassionate accompaniment may facilitate personal integration and renewed meaning among individuals navigating this experience.