I want to lay a foundation for examining spirituality. Mental activity has broken down to support the competing ideologies in our present social conflict. Although “spirit” has always had a multi-dimensional meaning, I felt it still had the potential to bring together diverse attitudes. The aesthetic seemed able to discuss differences without descending into chaos.
When I started jotting down all the ways the term “spiritual” is used today, I began to question my optimism. People use it to describe anything from being moved emotionally to communicating with God.
Apparently, even most people who claim to be non-religious nevertheless consider themselves to be spiritual. They must have had some significant experiences that they regard as transcending the physical and mental, but which create no desire or need to affiliate with a religious institution.
Some talk about using spiritual exercises from more than one world religion. I have friends who call themselves Hindu Christians or Christian Buddhists. Others use practices from different beliefs but refrain from identifying with any.
Some have self-induced mystical experiences without any ecclesiastical trappings. Others associate spirituality with being compassionate. And others yet think it is simply a matter of responding emotionally to beauty.
Theologians who write about the Future Church Movement predict that our present parochial religious bodies will be replaced eventually by spiritual centers. They believe the key to their success will be welcoming non-religious individuals to share their spiritual thoughts and experiences.
Of course, there are still large numbers who associate spirituality with traditional, orthodox churches. However, I have been amazed recently by how many of these report that the ancient creeds and other traditions no longer accurately express their beliefs.
Despite these many differences, I still see potential in the spiritual dimension of life for resolving our conflicts. It’s at least worth the time to investigate what is going on at a deeper level.
Critical to that study will be what role, if any, the transcendent plays. Right now, I think that might not be an insurmountable difference and well could lead to the creative thought we need.
Next week, I want to begin by looking at the spirit as the life force. That it certainly is its most basic meaning and might well provide the unifying factor in the whole series.
