What do you consider spiritual?

[Gyakuto]

I believe that mankind was created to worship. Virtually every previously undiscovered people, once discovered have been found to worship. We naturally look for the spiritual, whether it is in organized
religion, new age, the occult, ufo ology or even MAs. It sets us apart from the rest of creation.

Couldn’t that be because humanity was fearful? We feared crop failure, we feared pestilence and disease, we feared not finding food on the hunt, we feared adult/child mortality, we feared the sun permanently disappearing during an eclipse etc etc. Early human life was filled with frightening uncertainty. So we invented objects of worship in an attempt to pacify these potential calamities. We gain comfort from the idea of a ‘benevolent father’ (and male it usually was) watching over us with a kindly eye never once questioning the truly awful things that he let go on around us (poor little Sara Sharif, who is currently in the British news at the moment)

Humanity has lived in continual fear until relatively recently and that current safety seems to parallel the steady and rapid decline in organised religion. God is fading away and Taylor Swift/TikTok/mobile phones are replacing him.

Having said that, the recent rise is non-specific spirituality suggests a growing sophistication in the population’s ideas of spirituality and indeed a throw back to the ‘old gods’ where the ‘higher being’ is far more nuanced than the black and white god of Abrahamic religions.

 

[Buka]

Couldn’t that be because humanity was fearful? We feared crop failure, we feared pestilence and disease, we feared not finding food on the hunt, we feared adult/child mortality, we feared the sun permanently disappearing during an eclipse etc etc. Early human life was filled with frightening uncertainty. So we invented objects of worship in an attempt to pacify these potential calamities. We gain comfort from the idea of a ‘benevolent father’ (and male it usually was) watching over us with a kindly eye never once questioning the truly awful things that he let go on around us (poor little Sara Sharif, who is currently in the British news at the moment)

Humanity has lived in continual fear until relatively recently and that current safety seems to parallel the steady and rapid decline in organised religion. God is fading away and Taylor Swift/TikTok/mobile phones are replacing him.

Having said that, the recent rise is non-specific spirituality suggests a growing sophistication in the population’s ideas of spirituality and indeed a throw back to the ‘old gods’ where the ‘higher being’ is far more nuanced than the black and white god of Abrahamic religions.

We are indoctrinated as children to the great and powerful Oz. To be ruled by its manuscript, rules, its fire and brimstone.

Hallelujah and pass the collection plate.

 

[Gyakuto]

We are indoctrinated as children to the great and powerful Oz. To be ruled by its manuscript, rules, its fire and brimstone.

Hallelujah and pass the collection plate.

The message is generally good, but it’s the implementation that is very, very poor.

The decentralisation of non-organised spiritual practises is a very good thing.

Has anyone seen ‘Conclave’? Very enjoyable, indeed.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

Couldn’t that be because humanity was fearful?

The most weakness of the human being is we always miss what we don't have, and we forget what we already have.

For some people, if their eyes can see and their legs can walk, they are happy. For other people, if they can't drive luxury car, they are not happy.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I think there's a danger of focussing too much on what separates us and not enough on what binds us together. I won't attempt a definition as I suspect I'm as far as anybody else from understanding what spirituality is really about, but what I can tell you is that in Paul's letters, he continually reminds us that if we do not love our fellow men then 'christ is not in us', so to speak. He also tells us that loving each other- not just those who are easy to love who wish to do us good, but also those who are difficult to love, who wish to do us harm- and following christ's word as far as we are able, is the 'sacrifice' that is appreciated by the almighty. For me, it's about commonality, a shared spiritual ethos of striving to do as well as we can by one another and working towards shared ethical values. I sometimes come across people calling themselves Christians who seek to denigrate others, to deny them citizenship in the kingdom of god, and if that's christ's message then I don't want it. My bishop recently said in a sermon that he is sometimes asked why he wants the church to be inclusive and that he always answers, why because Christ is inclusive. I think that's worth bearing in mind.

 

[JowGaWolf]

I think there's a danger of focussing too much on what separates us and not enough on what binds us together.

I don't like those things. Examples of what binds us together:
1. ignorance
2. Fear
3. Hate
4. Hardships
5. Denial

I understand that there are positive aspects that connect individuals, unfortunately negative experiences are often more effective in this regard. Frequently, these negative factors that unite us lead to unwise decisions and actions.

I find it more comfortable to concentrate on the aspects that distinguish us, while recognizing that others are not bound to be like me. Knowledge and growth come from how we differ from each other. This distinction enriches my perspective on life. While individuals who share similarities with me are pleasant to be around, I do not gain much insight about life from those interactions.

I tend to prioritize the elements that highlight our differences over those that emphasize our similarities. The jails and prisoners are full of similarities.

All of us have probably heard or said this phrase or something like it. "Try something different, you may like it." It's mostly used when we want someone to "grow" as an individual.

It's kinda of strange that people who embrace the differences of others tend to get along better with people than those who want to only look for similarities.

I understand the phrase you are using. But there is no way a person can know me or get along with me without understanding the differences. Once they understand the differences then it's easier to learn the similarities.

I've had people in the past assume similarities. They assumed that I was as corrupt as they were, so they "stabbed me in the back" Their justification was "I'll do that to him because he would do it to me." Those were real similarities. Those were self-reflections about how they would treat someone who was the same as them.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I don't like those things. Examples of what binds us together:
1. ignorance
2. Fear
3. Hate
4. Hardships
5. Denial

I understand that there are positive aspects that connect individuals, unfortunately negative experiences are often more effective in this regard. Frequently, these negative factors that unite us lead to unwise decisions and actions.

I find it more comfortable to concentrate on the aspects that distinguish us, while recognizing that others are not bound to be like me. Knowledge and growth come from how we differ from each other. This distinction enriches my perspective on life. While individuals who share similarities with me are pleasant to be around, I do not gain much insight about life from those interactions.

I tend to prioritize the elements that highlight our differences over those that emphasize our similarities. The jails and prisoners are full of similarities.

All of us have probably heard or said this phrase or something like it. "Try something different, you may like it." It's mostly used when we want someone to "grow" as an individual.

It's kinda of strange that people who embrace the differences of others tend to get along better with people than those who want to only look for similarities.

I understand the phrase you are using. But there is no way a person can know me or get along with me without understanding the differences. Once they understand the differences then it's easier to learn the similarities.

I've had people in the past assume similarities. They assumed that I was as corrupt as they were, so they "stabbed me in the back" Their justification was "I'll do that to him because he would do it to me." Those were real similarities. Those were self-reflections about how they would treat someone who was the same as them.

OK, well while I don't fully understand that I can respect it. I've encountered views in my bible study group, for example, that I'm uncomfortable with. Largely because they seem to have no conception of how very queer I am....

 

[JowGaWolf]

OK, well while I don't fully understand that I can respect it. I've encountered views in my bible study group, for example, that I'm uncomfortable with. Largely because they seem to have no conception of how very queer I am....

Religion by default is known for its lack of flexibility. That comes with the territory and is the nature of religion. As for views that you are uncomfortable with, I can only assume that those views are rooted in one of the five examples I listed. Right off the back I would say Ignorance. I would also say that you probably learned more about them because of the differences between you and them.

 

[_Simon_]

I hung back a bit but thought I'd chime in. Great thread idea.

My general under 20 words thoughts are:

Spirituality is a personal pathway of connecting to and understanding something deeper of your self, others, life and existence, beyond only the physical.

Okay, 23 words, dang!

Now to clarify haha, I added beyond only the physical not to say it excludes the physical, but it's a way of connecting to something beyond the five senses, and to me the spiritual and physical are not separate at all but are all the one thing so to speak. Just as a way to categorically see the distinction, yet the senses are important within spirituality too.

Spirituality has become of real significance for myself and my own personal path and is a major focus within my life. And I think anyone who really goes through a lot of "stuff" tends to be drawn to it to determine a deeper meaning to all this.

You really have to find a path that resonates deeply with you too, I feel that's so important. I've been drawn to many paths and approaches over time, from Christ and the Christian mystics, Western and Eastern philosophy, to Zen, advaita/nonduality, devotional practices, and even druidry held a special place due to a real yearning to connect with nature again; they've all held a purpose or a reason for why I've been drawn to them. But my foundational path and approach has remained pretty much the same.

I also feel it's important not to use spirituality as a way to avoid your own stuff. Spiritual bypassing is a very, very easy thing to slip into (I myself did this for a long time until finally I saw it), and can be very blinding. There's nothing wrong with working on self-improvement and psychological stuff in conjunction with spirituality. They can cross-inform each other and provide a more balanced and holistic approach.

And my martial arts practice is a huge part of spirituality for me too. The need to stay totally mindful and present, grounded, fluid and flowing are all very much applicable in a more broad sense.

I feel we tend to overcomplicate things as well, so getting back to simplicity feels important. If anything, coming back to the very felt sense of "I" and what's present here and now rather what I'm looking for to attain in the future. There's part of us that hasn't changed one bit, so sometimes that's enough to contemplate and meditate on. Making spirituality very experiential rather than conceptual and lofty has been important for me.

Just meandering thoughts haha

 

[JowGaWolf]

also feel it's important not to use spirituality as a way to avoid your own stuff. Spiritual bypassing is a very, very easy thing to slip into (I myself did this for a long time until finally I saw it), and can be very blinding.

I've seen this happen to family members. I would only expect someone who has been through or seen it happen to someone close to describe it this way.

feel we tend to overcomplicate things as well, so getting back to simplicity feels important.

This is why I like training martial arts. For one or two hours I can dump the complications of life. Ironically, video games were once like that. But now. geez.

My life as a kid and teen

My life now as an adult with slower reflexes.

19 Buttons
2 control sticks
And always getting confused as to which buttons do what every time I switch to a different game. lol.