A New Perspective on Spirituality

The world is getting smaller. It is difficult, in the world today, to live and not run into somebody of a different perspective that is not the same as ours. This is true in all aspects of life, and religion is not any different. People of all religious faiths are conversing with each other constantly. These beliefs challenge and cause us to reflect on our own faith. Unfortunately, it seems when religions collide, they need to be right, thus creating conflict.

As the world opens up and continues to offer itself to us, I believe the possibilities of God, faith, and religion need to expand as well. There is more to be gained from learning from one another, than fighting with one another over metaphors for who God is. Learning to think of ourselves as spiritual beings, rather than religious beings, opens us to not only greater possibilities for God, but for community as well.

Spirituality is commonly thought to be tied exclusively to religion. I have said this before in previous post (read The Mission of a Chaplain), and I still stand by it, religion is an important part of our spirituality. Religion is the vehicle for which we express a very intimate part of our spirituality. I am in the work that I am in mainly because I am a follower of Christ. When I read the scripture, I see a Christ that went to the sick, the lonely, the forgotten, and the oppressed. He offered to them his presence, compassion, and kindness. Through the offering of himself, he brought healing to those on the fringes of society. He also brought them out of isolation and offered to them community. He brought them into relationship. The faith I have plays a major role in creating my spiritual being.

When talking to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, and other beliefs (read Spiritual Care to Atheist), I have learned a great deal about their religions that connect with my personal beliefs. In Buddhism, for example, the Bodhisattva is a warrior of compassion, gentleness, and loving-kindness. The Bodhisattva moves from the mountain top down into the valley where the pain and hurt exist in order to discover the pools of healing. The idea is that by confronting what we are most afraid of, we will be freed from it; we will obtain the heart of the Bodhichitta. The Bodhisattva is a warrior because he/she is not afraid. Moving down this mountain takes a lifetime, or perhaps several lifetimes to achieve. This Buddhist belief is in tune with my Christian beliefs. Christ entered into the suffering of others without fear. Learning this has enhanced not only my faith, but my spiritual life as well.

There is plenty of potential religion can offer to spirituality. The understanding of all religions can enhance our ability to enjoy and experience life. It is possible to enter into dialogue without feeling the need to defend your beliefs. Simply listening to another talk about their beliefs, without feeling the need to prove something, can be enough. In the same way, listening to another talk about things such as, their favorite baseball team, a good book, writing, their family, and even disappointments can expand possibilities for life. The world is too big and offering us too much to live with a narrow perspective. We need not be afraid to open up.

A new perspective on spirituality does need to unfold. I believe a possible perspective of spirituality would be to see us all here as fellow strugglers; fellow spiritual beings, trying to make sense of what is going on in the world. We have our beliefs, things we love, and it’s O.K. Honest and open listening needs to be a required skill to live life, and the need to be right needs to die. The path of peace takes us deep into our spiritual beings where we realize that we are all connected and not so different from one another after all.