My thoughts regarding this topic are not
engraved in stone. I maintain an open
mind so that I may enlarge my intellectual, religious and spiritual
horizons.
As a starting point, I’ll begin this dialogue by exploring the definitions of
religion and spirituality.
There are scores of definitions for the
term religion from simple to more complex.
Merriam-Webster dictionary states: Religion
is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rites.
Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion gives
the following: Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that are relative to
superhuman beings.
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion (Wikipedia) provides this
definition: …Almost every known culture has a depth dimension in cultural
experiences...toward some sort of ultimate and transcendence that will provide
norms and power for the rest of life. When more or less distinct patterns of
behavior are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure
constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around
the depth dimensions of experience-varied in form, completeness, and clarity in
accordance with the environing culture.
Spirituality also involves a large scope of concepts and
perspectives. One simple definition from Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: Spirituality is the quality or state of being spiritual. The etymology of the word
spirituality provides the following information: The term spirit means “ animating or vital principle in man and animals”. It is derived from the old French word, espirit that comes from the Latin word spiritus (meaning soul, courage, vigor,
and breath). In Hebrew the term is ruah (breath).
Marilynne Robinson provides an appropriate quote on this
topic:
“The problem with the
term spirituality is that its meaning has been distorted for us by hearing the
word used mainly in the phrase “spiritual rather than religious.” This connection has fogged up our idea/understanding
of “spirituality”, has led it to have an almost negative connotation, by a very
real way defining it by what it is not-“cus we all know what religion is. What has been lost is the reality that
signifies some profound change in be-ing”.
I consider that spirituality involves
connecting to that profoundly powerful force within oneself and eventually
recognizing that this overpowering cosmic force or energy is greater than the
individual. It has been described as Divine, The Absolute, God and more.
At some point in exploring this topic it is
worth the time to examine the origin of religion. However this is my simple and brief thought
on the birth of religion. As early
ancient humans began to arrive at the need to connect to one another and the universe
and as they began to engage in human reflection spirituality emerged. Human
reflection produced questions about existence, such as: Who am I?
Who made the universe? Why am I
here? And so forth. The quest to find answers set in motion the inception of
religion.
It is interesting to acknowledge the religious
and/or spiritual commonality of various cultures in the examples below:
Leviticus 19:18 (KJV) “Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thy self”
Matthew 7:12 (KJV) “ Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”
Confucius:
“ Do not do to others what you
would not like for yourself”
Buddhism:
“Just as I am so are they, just as
they are so am I”
Traditional African Yoruba proverb: “One
going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it himself
to feel how it hurts”
Other examples are, “You reap what you sow”, “Karma”, “Law of
Attraction”
“as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.
I’ll draw near the end with this quote:
“Spirituality is not a
thing or feeling. Spirituality is paying
attention. Spirituality is being present
to what is happening around and within you.
Spirituality is living in the world with compassion and justice. Spirituality is making the world a little
better for your having been born into it.
Spirituality is meeting God in the ordinariness of our every day lives”
(Open Secrets: The Letters of Rabbi Yerachiel)
In closing, I consider myself fortunate because I am
associated with an organized religion that promotes spirituality, advocates
religion as a movement instead of a monument and will relinquish rituals or practices
that no longer enhance spirituality.
Finally, religion is a bridge to spirituality .
Written by E.V. Thomas, A seeker of truth and oneness, An educator by profession
We will be discussing this topic live on August 1st at Temple Beth-el. We hope to see you there! Click here for more information, and to register!
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