The Impact of Spiritual Drought on the Spread of Crime, Addiction, and Social Corruption: An Analytical Study and Counter Strategies

Abstract

This research aims to provide an in-depth study of the phenomenon of spiritual drought and its multiple effects on contemporary society, revealing the complex relationship between the loss of spirituality and the noticeable increase in deviant behaviors such as crime, addiction, and social corruption. The study addresses the impact of spiritual drought on the erosion of human values, the exacerbation of the moral crisis, and the damage to individual and collective identity cohesion. Spiritual drought is considered one of the most dangerous factors threatening social stability, as it leads to a deep sense of alienation and isolation, driving individuals to escape reality through destructive behaviors such as addiction and criminal activities. The research is based on contemporary field and academic studies and explores how the weakening of spirituality contributes to creating a fertile environment for the spread of social corruption, with a particular focus on the youth demographic in Lebanese society, who are most affected by this phenomenon. The study highlights how the decline in moral standards and values, amid the rise of materialism and individualism, reinforces spiritual drought and exacerbates psychological and social crises. The research also offers practical solutions to combat this phenomenon by promoting spiritual and religious education and proposes comprehensive strategies to activate the role of religious and educational institutions in spreading and reinforcing spiritual values as an ethical fortress that protects individuals from falling into behavioral deviance. It emphasizes the importance of creating a societal environment that fosters human values and social solidarity to overcome the consequences of spiritual drought. In this context, the research is a valuable contribution to the study of the strong links between spirituality and mental health, presenting a new scientific framework based on field facts and offering innovative insights into the role of spirituality in enhancing psychological and social stability. It seeks to open new horizons for scientific discussion on the importance of returning to spiritual values as a means of prevention and treatment of the negative phenomena plaguing modern societies