@caesar-salad saidThis is a very good question. Spirituality (the name of this Forum) is definitely not synonymous with religion, and unfortunately currently discussions on this Forum concern mostly nitpicking Christian doctrinal issues.
If this actually were a Spirituality forum instead of seemingly a Christianity-specific forum, what sort of topics would be discussed?
Ken Wilber maintains that the Spiritual developmental line (in individuals and societies) answers the question: "What is of ultimate concern?"
Then he quotes studies by Gebser, Fowler and others that show the development of individuals and societies over time as follows (somewhat abridged):
- Archaic
- Magic
- Mythic
- Rational
- Pluralistic
- Integral
Of the four pillars of society, which are Art, Science, Morals and Spirituality, only the former three have evolved along these stages over time. No doctor today would prescribe leeches and bloodletting. Human rights have developed incredibly over the last 1000 years, not to mention Art.
Only Spirituality has remained stuck in the Magic and Mythic stages.
What would the world be like if we developed a common Spirituality towards a Rational or even Pluralistic outlook?
We already know that it will not come from a union of religions (the emotions and antagonisms are to strong here) but it would have to be a fundamental, grass-roots movement.
Paul Bailey writes in his book: "Think of an Elephant",
Spirituality no longer needs to be riddled with mysterious, unanswerable questions. Spirituality is evolving beyond the limitations imposed by formal religious practice, so that religious devotions no longer needed to create the spiritual experience.
Maybe one could discuss what THIS Spirituality is really like?
@caljust saidThere is the human spirit: its substance is the permutation of faculties and experience that both [1] give us our capacity for abstraction and [2] make each of us unique and different from other creatures.
Maybe one could discuss what THIS Spirituality is really like?
I believe everything that stems from this human spirit is "spirituality" including speculation about supernatural things and subscription to "Magic and Mythic" religious traditions.
But to define "spirituality" as being only about speculation about supernatural things and talking about divine instructions etc. is like defining "music" as consisting of only the one genre of music that happens to appeal to you.
@fmf [i]said[/iWho defines spirituality like this? Certainly not me.
But to define "spirituality" as being only about speculation about supernatural things and talking about divine instructions etc. is like defining "music" as consisting of only the one genre of music that happens to appeal to you.
I mentioned in my post that KW defines it as " That which is of ultimate concern".
Pretty broad, I would say.
@caljust saidI don't think KellyJay's conception of spirituality is "pretty broad". Far from it. He recites only his rote-learned Christian doctrine. "That which is of ultimate concern" is just a string of pretentious words seeking to disguise the one-dimensionality of what he propagates. I can scarcely remember him contributing anything much else, let alone anything original or anything that would strike me as genuinely curious.
I mentioned in my post that KW defines it as " That which is of ultimate concern".
Pretty broad, I would say.
@caljust saidFMF: ...to define "spirituality" as being only about speculation about supernatural things and talking about divine instructions etc...
Who defines spirituality like this?
@caljust said
Who defines spirituality like this?
I think maybe almost every religious person in the world and plenty of atheists too.
@eladar saidDoes this sound familiar?
Funny how some people believe they have the right to tell others what discussions they can and cannot have.
"I was wondering if it is possible to block a person so you are not constantly having to see their posts as they follow you around."
Funny how some people think they can just stick their fingers in their ears and not have to hear anything different from their own belief system.
@fmf saidSorry, my mistake - I should have written it out in full:
I don't think KellyJay's conception of spirituality is "pretty broad". Far from it. He recites only his rote-learned Christian doctrine. "That which is of ultimate concern" is just a string of pretentious words seeking to disguise the one-dimensionality of what he propagates.
KW is Ken Wilber, as I stated in my post (Did you read it?) I would certainly NOT quote KellyJay's definition of Spirituality, even if I knew it.
@sonship saidDasa's behaviour was caused by his mental illness and his inconsistency in taking his medications as he revealed during the complete meltdown that resulted in him being banned. It was not caused by "Hinduism". Do you really think his calls for the extermination of all adult Muslims and his justification for rape gave this forum spiritual diversity of the Hindu kind?
@FMFBeing a Christian is not about "behaviour",
But being a follower of Hinduism is ... as you argued concerning Dasa.
Whatever is convenient to your biases.
@caljust saidNo comments at the moment. I have decided to disengage a little. But thanks for asking!
@caesar-salad
Are you still here? Any comments?
