I've asked hundreds of people. I've read countless books, articles, and posts.
"Spirituality" is a popular topic among Westerners.
The number who describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious" is booming.
Things I have observed:
1. There is no general consensus on what the word "spirituality" means.
2. Frequently the word is used without defining it, as if everyone knows what it means.
3. It is often used to refer to an individual's personal, eclectic collection of religious beliefs.
4. Rarely, if ever, is it used to refer in any way to spirit.
Based on what I've learned up to this point in my own exploration of spirit, I decided to-
1. Advocate for a general consensus on the meaning of the word "spirituality."
2. Propose a definition for general consensus.
3. Liberate spirituality from both religious and psychological contexts.
4. Have the word "spirituality" refer in some way to "spirit."
Here is what I propose:
Let's use "personal religious beliefs" to refer to an individual's eclectic collection of religious beliefs.
Let's use the word "spirituality" to refer to "a collection of ideas and practices related to spirit."
Of course, we need to be clear about what "spirit" refers to. I propose that is refers to "that which makes alive." So, more precisely, "spirituality" refers to "a collection of ideas and practices related to that which makes us alive."
As I have mentioned in earlier posts, given this definition, there in not one spirituality. There are many spiritualities. For example, there as various Christian collections of ideas and practices related to that which makes us alive. There are various Jewish collections of ideas and practices related to that which makes us alive. There are also various Platonic, Aristotelian, Muslim, Hindu, Taoist, Native American, African, Pagan, Theosophical, New Age, agnostic, atheist spiritualities and more.
With this agreed on definition, we can have coherent exploration of and public discussion about spirituality. We can advance our love, knowledge, wisdom, and ability related to spirit.
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ReplyDeleteI'm a bit behind in commenting on some of your blog entries. I offer some thoughts on this one.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am very much in favour of liberating the concept of spirituality from religion as you propose, I remain uncertain as to how to go about doing so.
As you have written elsewhere, everything is alive, and therefore, everything alive has “that which makes us alive” in common. Would you further say “that which makes us alive” is identical for all? Or is it individually defined? What I don’t seem to grasp is if everyone defines this for themselves, how can there be a common definition? I feel like I’m missing something. Can you help?
What I’m presently struggling with is trying to expand those collections of ideas and practices which relate to “that which makes us alive”. When I peruse the list of collections you’ve mentioned, every one of them seems connected to religion or philosophy, even agnostic and atheist.
This has me wondering if indeed there is a collection of practices that is wholly divorced from either religion or philosophy. Unless I can come up with such a set, I’m not sure how I go about liberating spirituality from religion. If I can’t come up with such as set, does it mean that spirituality and religion are inexorably intertwined, no matter how much I wish it otherwise.
When people say they are “spiritual” but not “religious”, I wonder if to what they refer is what I’ve seen you call “corporate religion”—what I think of as organized religion. That in fact, “personal religious beliefs” are a collection of practices and ideas related to “that which makes us alive”.
I’m not sure what I’ve written even makes sense, and I’d appreciate whatever help you can give to detangle my confusion.
Sara,
DeleteYes, in my view, which is based on the Ancient Greek concept of thumos, that which makes us alive, is identical in all of us.
As for how can there be a common definition, in my opinion, just as we have common definitions of body and mind, we can have a common definition of spirit. Just as we can use different words to express common definitions of body and mind, so we can use different words to express a common definition of spirit.
Does everyone define "mind" exactly the same way in detail? No. However, I think that in general terms all of the different definitions of "mind" refer in some way to cognitive function.
Likewise, not everyone defines "body" exactly the same way in detail. However, I think they all refer in some way to our physical element.
While I do not know exactly how we reached a common consensus on the meanings of "body" and "mind", I see that we have a common consensus. My proposal is that we reach a similar common consensus on "spirit."
As for the collection of practices, in my view, they are religious practices and not clearly related to our spirit. I see no need to try to expand them to relate to our spirit.
Hmm, why would there not be practices independent from religion that relate to our spirit? Aren't there practices related to physical and mental health, for example, that are independent from religion?
I'm not sure what you mean by "spirituality." How do you define the word?
In my view, just as some religious beliefs are related to our bodies and minds, I think it is possible that some religious beliefs and practices could be related to our spirit and in a healthy way. However, just as we have ideas and practices related to "body" and "mind" independent of religious belief, I am interested in ideas and practices related to "spirit" independent of religious belief.
I hope what I wrote helps some. Please ask more questions if not. Answering questions helps me develop my thoughts, so I appreciate you asking.
Your replies always provide clarification and further food for thought. You ask how I define “spirituality”. In re-reading what I wrote, I see that yet again I got bollixed up between “spirit” and “spirituality”, neglecting to take your very clear differentiations into account. I’m not sure this will do the trick; however please allow me to provide my own words for each of these. Note, this is where I am as of right now this minute, subject always to revision.
DeleteI have known since I was very young that whatever definitions were being applied to “spirit” in the world in which I was raised, none of them were accurate. To me, spirit is indeed that which makes us alive, and I wholly agree with you that it is the same for every single thing in the universe. What I see is that everything that is was birthed in that absolute moment of energy and power in which the universe appeared. It is that explosive unfolding that eventually (or perhaps simultaneously) led to all that is. Everything is comprised of the same chemical building blocks, just in different proportions. The unfolding spirit is the same then, and this is why indeed we are all one.
I like this line from Brian Swimme, which is about as close as science can come to what I believe. “If in the future, stars would blaze and lizards would blink in their light, these actions would be powered by the same numinous energy that flared forth at the dawn of time.”
Given that you define “spirituality” as a set of practices and beliefs about spirit, I see this as what makes everything that is unique. It was grasping this uniqueness just this morning that helped me better understand what you are saying here.
My practices and beliefs are different from yours which are different from Wolfy’s which are different from a Willow Tree which are different from Lapis Lazuli. So when you ask how I define “spirituality”, I define it in terms of my practices—that cohort that brings health and joy to my spirit. What are some of these? Why, what I wrote above is clearly my belief. And then there are the colours of a sunset, the purring of my cats, the texture of a stone in my hand, the waxing and waning of the moon, my deep love for my friends. The list is quite long. To the best of my knowledge, none of it is touched by doctrine or dogma. This is so for much that is, since insofar as I can know, it is only humans who have this concept of religion, and therefore of religious spirituality.
So perhaps I am finally making some sense of what you propose for myself. I very much support the concept of removing spirit from being solely contained within the realm of human religion. And tell me, have I at least partially wandered and wondered myself toward what you have conceived here?
Sara, what a well-thought and articulated post about spirit and spirituality!
DeleteYes! We share an understanding of what both spirit and spirituality are:
The word "spirit" refers to "that which makes alive" and the word "spirituality refers to "a collection of ideas and practiced related to spirit."
I enjoyed reading the examples of ideas and practices that make up your spirituality.
Thank you!