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.
