Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 1:01pm
What does your brand of spirituality look like?
Column: PERFECTBALANCELIFE
How do other people view your brand of spirituality? Their answers to this question might shock you. A recent three-year study completed by the Barna Group in 2007 (“Unchristian”), found that non-Christians between the ages of 18 to 29 want nothing to do with the Christian religion, in general, and little to do with Christians, in particular. These results were a slap in the face to those Christians who believe their particular brand of spirituality is the best thing to come along since sliced bread.
After reading through this study I was prompted to ask myself some very challenging questions such as: From where do I derive my sense of values? How do my children feel about their father's expression of spirituality? What kind of spiritual tradition do I want to bequeath to my children? Below are some of the answers that emerged for me. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions and see what answers you come up with.
My guiding values are most readily derived from the Bible. In addition, such values are also reflected through Buddhism's "Eight Fold Path" teaching. I have been deeply inspired by the writings of Walter and Lao Russell, Harold Sherman, Edward Bellamy, Glenn Clark, Brother David Steindl-Rast, Stephen Covey, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, Roy Eugene Davis, and Harry and Christine Beckwith. The spiritual teacher having the most profound and transformative impact on my life is Sun Myung Moon.
My particular brand of spirituality acknowledges the validity of all authentic religious traditions and spiritual practices. For me, the existence of God, i.e., the Ultimate, Divine Energy, Prime Mover, Ground of Being, etc., is an accepted reality. I also believe that God cooperates with certain human beings at certain times to reveal previously unknown or understood realities. Such realities can be accessed or experienced through revelation, inspiration, insight, and inquiry. I have come to realize that for each human being, a special inclination moves them to contact such realities and to understand them in a way that in unique to them, and them alone. There is no “cookie cutter” approach to get in touch with these realities. I am not concerned whether or not my understanding is “higher,” or better, or “more right” than the next person. The universe exhibits purposefulness to me.
I believe my children respect and admire my particular brand of spirituality — although they do not necessarily or always agree with all aspects and expressions of it. The spiritual tradition I want to bequeath to my children is this:
• We are living on earth to bring joy and happiness to ourselves and others.
• We are an individualized part of ONE WHOLE.
• Our greatest joy and happiness is experienced when we serve ourselves and others with genuine love.
• The greatest power in the universe is love.
• To hurt another is the same as hurting oneself.
• Do not look for a lifestyle of comfort and ease.
• Be humble-always.
I encourage you to continually invest in understanding how your particular brand of spirituality is impacting those around you; by doing so, you can protect yourself from delusion and complacency — both enemies of sanity and right living.
After reading through this study I was prompted to ask myself some very challenging questions such as: From where do I derive my sense of values? How do my children feel about their father's expression of spirituality? What kind of spiritual tradition do I want to bequeath to my children? Below are some of the answers that emerged for me. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions and see what answers you come up with.
My guiding values are most readily derived from the Bible. In addition, such values are also reflected through Buddhism's "Eight Fold Path" teaching. I have been deeply inspired by the writings of Walter and Lao Russell, Harold Sherman, Edward Bellamy, Glenn Clark, Brother David Steindl-Rast, Stephen Covey, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, Roy Eugene Davis, and Harry and Christine Beckwith. The spiritual teacher having the most profound and transformative impact on my life is Sun Myung Moon.
My particular brand of spirituality acknowledges the validity of all authentic religious traditions and spiritual practices. For me, the existence of God, i.e., the Ultimate, Divine Energy, Prime Mover, Ground of Being, etc., is an accepted reality. I also believe that God cooperates with certain human beings at certain times to reveal previously unknown or understood realities. Such realities can be accessed or experienced through revelation, inspiration, insight, and inquiry. I have come to realize that for each human being, a special inclination moves them to contact such realities and to understand them in a way that in unique to them, and them alone. There is no “cookie cutter” approach to get in touch with these realities. I am not concerned whether or not my understanding is “higher,” or better, or “more right” than the next person. The universe exhibits purposefulness to me.
I believe my children respect and admire my particular brand of spirituality — although they do not necessarily or always agree with all aspects and expressions of it. The spiritual tradition I want to bequeath to my children is this:
• We are living on earth to bring joy and happiness to ourselves and others.
• We are an individualized part of ONE WHOLE.
• Our greatest joy and happiness is experienced when we serve ourselves and others with genuine love.
• The greatest power in the universe is love.
• To hurt another is the same as hurting oneself.
• Do not look for a lifestyle of comfort and ease.
• Be humble-always.
I encourage you to continually invest in understanding how your particular brand of spirituality is impacting those around you; by doing so, you can protect yourself from delusion and complacency — both enemies of sanity and right living.