The 8th Symposium on Spiritual Psychology was organized in cooperation with the Governor’s Office of Kütahya, Erciyes University, Kütahya Dumlupınar University and Kadim Foundation.

Acting Governor of Kütahya Burhanettin Yavaşi, AK Party Kütahya Deputy İsmail Çağlar Bayırcı, Erciyes University Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Altun, Kütahya Dumlupınar University Rector Prof. Dr. Süleyman Kızıltoprak, Dean of the Faculty of Theology/Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. İsmail Yalçın, ERU Psychological Counseling and Guidance Application and Research Center (ERREM) Director Lecturer Mustafa Atak, academics and students attended the symposium held at the conference hall of the Theology Faculty of Kütahya Dumlupınar University.

Acting Governor of Kütahya Burhanettin Yavaşi thanked those who contributed to the organization of the event and said: “Spiritual psychology is an important guide for a person to cope with difficulties”.

AK Party Kütahya Deputy İsmail Çağlar Bayırcı said that spirituality is crucial in ensuring peace and security in society.

ERU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Altun said that ERU had always attached importance to scientific activities. He touched upon the importance of the symposium and continued as follows: “We can see that it is very necessary for individuals to be qualified in terms of spirituality and that this will increase even more in the following processes because we have started to move rapidly towards a digitalized process. Unfortunately, we access everything through the virtual world. We have started to think that real life is like life in the virtual world. We need to take notice of the individuals’ feelings.”

Stating that learning does not mean only having a diploma, Kütahya Dumlupınar University Rector Prof. Dr. Süleyman Kızıltoprak said that the symposium would contribute significantly to social problems.

Dean of the Faculty of Theology/Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. İsmail Yalçın gave information about the faculty.

ERREM Director Lecturer Mustafa Atak, Chairman of Symposium Organizing Committee, gave information about the symposium program. He also informed the participants about academic studies conducted in the field of spiritual psychology and said: “Humans are both material and spiritual beings. In addition to their physical needs, they also have spiritual needs. Both body and soul need to be nourished for a healthy body and soul.”

President of Kütahya Kadim Foundation Mustafa Önsay said that they were happy to support the symposium.

Following the speeches, the conference started. Prof. Dr. Hayati Hökelekli talked about the “Protective Mental Health in Islamic Psychology”.