Exploring Spirituality
Spirituality is written about and searched for throughout our post-modern culture.
Here are thoughts and reflections and aswers that others have found.
Some find faith in God, others choose a spirituality that suits them. Some search for answers in astrology or spiritualism or are excited by the mysterious and secret codes like the so-called 'Da Vinci Code'. But when we meet the realities of life- illness, suffering and the prospect of dying-our old assumptions may be little help in thinking about the meaning and purpose of our life and what happens when we die.
Spirituality. The word promises something.Sometimes it seems to promise everything. In a world like ours, where there is much disappointment and much unhappiness, it is understandable that the word is much used. For the word, 'spirituality', suggests that there is more here than meets the eye, and that this 'more' might be just the ticket to a life that has some zest and beauty and worth to it. But the word in itself is hardly more than a hint, a 'hint followed by guesses'. And the guesses proliferate exponentially.'
Eugene Petersen Foreword to Green M & Stevens R. Paul NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUALITY True Discipleship and Spiritual Maturity
`According to The Dictionary of Christian Spirituality Spirituality 'is a word which has come much into vogue to describe those attitudes, beliefs, practices which animate people's lives and help them to reach out towards super-sensible realities.'
This word which has only come 'into vogue' fairly recently is used widely, not just in the main Christian traditions-Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox-but in all religious traditions and none. Modern media identifies many other growing traditionsThe BBC website lists 14 religions from Atheism to Zorostrianism each with sub-divisions (BBC religion) At one time it would have been about Christianity with Islam, Judaism-Humanism perhaps. There are apparently 30,000 Pagans in Britain now. The promotion of psychic fairs and Astrology and horoscopes, tarot cards and the like suggests that providing spiritual resources is a profitable business.
Definitions of spirituality from the Web
A common meaning is "devotion to metaphysical matters, as opposed to worldly things." Another is "Activities which renew, lift up, comfort, heal and inspire both ourselves and those with whom we interact."
''An inner sense of something greater than oneself. Recognition of a meaning to
existence that transcends one's immediate circumstances'
'A specific way of living some particular aspect of the Gospel.
''A way of living that emphasises a constant awareness of the spiritual dimension
of nature, without any acknowledgement of a contractual relationship between the
material world and the spiritual. Neopagan religions generally will not worship,
but stress spirituality'
'Spiritualities Sensitivity or attachment to religious values, or to things of
the spirit as opposed to material or worldly interests'
a sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of self and 'that which is greater than self', and also
practices such as meditation and 'bonding rituals' which support such identity and relationship; religion represents only a minor subset of the overall themes of spirituality and spiritual practices, and may in some cases hinder rather than assist in spiritual development, especially in the workplace; expressed in organisations in issues such as 'belonging' (identification with) and active ...
'A persons own private beliefs usually in regard to nature or ethical matters'
Spirituality, in a broad sense a concern with matters of the spirit, is a wide term with many available readings. It may include belief in supernatural powers, as in religion, but the emphasis is on personal experience.
'What is my spirituality?
I wonder if others find this question as unaswerable as I do? I do not even think in these terms! If asked I say I am a disciple of Jesus. I am lost in wonder when I contemplate my little understanding of the universe(s) and how little we know yet I natter to God my Dad every day and ask the Holy Spirit to lead, teach and guard me. Relationship? Love? See the Fathers Love letter
'
"The greatest block in the Spiritual life is fear."
These days we find much that is helpful to our spiritual search and inderstanding on the web.
But perhaps we take ourselves too seriously!
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