| Religion
and Spirituality
-- Arm-Chairing It by Genevieve Towne When I was in graduate school, my advisor used to call the following kind of writing "arm-chairing it." No references, no formal structure. Just sitting back, meandering through perspectives. So let this be offered in that light: just thoughts. See what comes up for you. Perhaps an opinion I express will be opposite yours. And because of that, what I say might help you stand up stronger for something that is real for you. One way of looking at religion and spirituality is to explore religion as a system of effective "translation" (i.e., agreed upon moral values and behaviors appropriate for gaining access to a heavenly afterlife) and to look at spirituality as the search for a lifestyle that focuses on personal "transformation" (beyond a worldly definition of self to a transcended experience). It is within the context of this perspective -- of the spectrum between "translation" to "transformation" -- that I begin here to explore ideas about religion and spirituality. Throughout human history, religion has provided a rather complex underpinning of definition and context for our cultural experiences -- and for many, the hope of an inside track to their Creator. Spirituality, though, can be viewed as the spirit of awareness itself -- the very consciousness of an inner connection beyond the physical world. God is an individual matter. And God is experiential. Spirituality moves beyond our prevailing cultures, into the quantum dimensions of what is considered the undefinable, but ultimately, what can be the most meaningful dimension of human existence. So perhaps it is the very force of spirituality within our beings that traditionally has driven many of us to hope we can find what we need inside a religion. But because spirituality is a way of experiencing and seeing life itself, it continues to operate as a driving force, whether we find it in what is called a "church" or not. Many seekers seem to carry out a life of continuous, self-directed introspection, rather than choosing one path with teachers. Their "path" then becomes defined by looking into all the paths -- kind of a buffet approach. Lots of activity, but not so much transformation of their personalities. In contrast, some serious spiritual seekers might pursue an individual "spiritual path" and look for spiritual teachers to guide their way. According to recent statistics, more Americans perceive themselves as "spiritual" than as "religious." If religions are meant to hold societies into prescribed patterns, how does a society look that is more interested in personal quests, visions, paths and transformation than established order? Worlds in collision? An intensified human evolution in our midst? A shift in consciousness itself that is affecting our world? At the core of the matter is the fact that each of us has an awareness that we are physically on this earth -- right here, right now. And that one day we will not be here. The duty of describing just what to do with ourselves during this time on earth has traditionally been the home plate of religion. What does our Creator want from us? Or, in the current milieu of combining science and spirit, is it more about quantum physics and energy and co-creating the universe? What are the rules to make it all work? Are there timeless principles? These ideas seem to feed the journey of those who would call themselves "spiritual." Unless a religion includes within it the concept of transformation -- moving beyond a mere translation of our surroundings, it doesn't seem likely that religion could hold onto people who are driven "spiritually" -- that is, driven by answering a call toward an inner experiential evolution. God can be present in both forms. God can dynamically change and transform our lives, though only if we can hear God -- the still small voice within. Genevieve Towne holds a Masters Degree in Adult and Higher Education. She grew up in the Catholic Church, has been a member of Unity Churches and has studied the principles of Science of Mind. Currently, she is a student of Christian Mysticism at The Milwaukee Center of Light. One of her Teachers, Mother Clare Watts, has recently published the book Giving Birth to God: A Woman's Path to Enlightenment," available on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and various bookstores nationwide. Copyright © 2004 Genevieve Towne |
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Sept 2004 |
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