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Increased Interest In Spirituality.
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If you agree with me that these days there is a growing interest in spiritual matters, though not necessarily in the organised Christian religions, what evidence do you see for it, and why do you think this is so?
Just a few years ago, I read a market reaearch report from a large European car manufacturer, that tried to ascertain how society would change in coming years, and how this would affect its prospective customers profile. An increased interest in spirituality was fairly high on the list of changing values, and I think this has indeed occurred and is growing. What do you think?
Just a few years ago, I read a market reaearch report from a large European car manufacturer, that tried to ascertain how society would change in coming years, and how this would affect its prospective customers profile. An increased interest in spirituality was fairly high on the list of changing values, and I think this has indeed occurred and is growing. What do you think?
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Theland, on the contary. Since the Enlightement, people have been turning more and more to science, logic and reason.The number of atheists now, far exceeds the number of atheists during, say, the dark ages. What I think HAS changed, regards spirituality, is the way that people are turning to more gentler, loving and peaceful religions such as buddhism or nature based belief systems as opposed to the ridgid and legalistic monotheistic religions which hold that women are lesser beings than men and that homosexuals are evil etc.
Wizard69 - Yes, I am talking about spirituality in its widest sense.
What is interesting to me is the fact that there is a growing interest in spirituality at all, growing in parallel to more and more scientific advances.
It seems to me that science is not delivering when it comes to addressing peoples deepest needs.
What is interesting to me is the fact that there is a growing interest in spirituality at all, growing in parallel to more and more scientific advances.
It seems to me that science is not delivering when it comes to addressing peoples deepest needs.
Theland, science does exactly what it says on the tin, but can never replace the need for spiritual enlightenment that is part of the human psyche.
The reason people move away from organised religion is that without exception, they were all beautiful concepts, sadly warped and eventually ruined by human nature - in particular the need to control and destroy.
The human animal needs to feel the strength of God, whether that god is, as in your case, the creator and father, or in my belief, the unconcious universe and eveything it contains. Where there is a religious void, it will be filled, hence people who proclaim "I'm not religious, but very spiritual".
The reason people move away from organised religion is that without exception, they were all beautiful concepts, sadly warped and eventually ruined by human nature - in particular the need to control and destroy.
The human animal needs to feel the strength of God, whether that god is, as in your case, the creator and father, or in my belief, the unconcious universe and eveything it contains. Where there is a religious void, it will be filled, hence people who proclaim "I'm not religious, but very spiritual".
I don't know if there is necessarily a growing interest in spiritual matters, but many who think about it and are seeking some sort of spiritual fulfilment seem to be finding it inside themselves rather than in rigid organised religion. I understand completely what Wizard69 and Whickerman say about science and the universe - I am not religious, but I am spiritual.
To try and be as objective as I can, I have to say that all around me, I see a growing hunger for some expression of spirituality.
What is the evidence for this?
Well I haven't spent any time researching the subject, but just looking at the media, films, television, literature etc, the popularity of things spiritual is on the increase.
Look at the runaway success of the Harry Potter books and films, and the numerous television programmes dealing with various aspects of the occult; "Buffy," etc etc.
Maybe they're popular because they appeal to some fear in us, the fear of the unknown, and the "good guy" always wins in the end.
It often puzzles me when people say, as naomi24 says, that they are, "spiritual," as I find it difficult to comprehend how their spirituality find expression.
Is it really an experience of, "awe and wonder," (to quote one of the AB debaters recently), and a feeling of, "oneness with nature?"
What is the evidence for this?
Well I haven't spent any time researching the subject, but just looking at the media, films, television, literature etc, the popularity of things spiritual is on the increase.
Look at the runaway success of the Harry Potter books and films, and the numerous television programmes dealing with various aspects of the occult; "Buffy," etc etc.
Maybe they're popular because they appeal to some fear in us, the fear of the unknown, and the "good guy" always wins in the end.
It often puzzles me when people say, as naomi24 says, that they are, "spiritual," as I find it difficult to comprehend how their spirituality find expression.
Is it really an experience of, "awe and wonder," (to quote one of the AB debaters recently), and a feeling of, "oneness with nature?"
Theland, you might find this hard to grasp (I'm being serious here for a change) but I too have "spiritual" moments. I have moments when I feel one with the world or when I feel totally contented. I dont need religion to feel this way, just a sense of appriciation.Occasionaly I do feel awe and wonder (at the sheer expanse of the universe, life and everything). I find spirituality in reading a good book, spending time with the kids, making love to mrs. wizard, exploring somewhere that I havnt been before, enjoying the company of friends, etc.
Its not so difficult to comprehend, Theland, if you take the religious blinkers off. Life can be full of meaning if you allow yourself to see it...
Its not so difficult to comprehend, Theland, if you take the religious blinkers off. Life can be full of meaning if you allow yourself to see it...
No, I don't find that hard to grasp. Being at peace, experiencing love, appreciating beauty in all of its variety, these are the things that bring a kaleidoscopic colour into an otherwise mere existence. As this nourishes the human spirit, then feeling a certain spiritual connectedness with the reality as we experience it is inevitable.
But there is another dimension to this, and this is the apparently widely held view that there is some ultimate "other" that can be grasped only fleetingly, but grasped nevertheless.
Religion, occult, mysticism, TM seem to me to be the vehicles employed to futher the search for new knowledge of this ethereal reality, whose name is not known, and which appears to remain tantalisingly just beyond our reach.
This I think, contributes to the increased interest in all things mystical and spiritual, but alas, I fear it is not the true path to a genuine spirituality.
But there is another dimension to this, and this is the apparently widely held view that there is some ultimate "other" that can be grasped only fleetingly, but grasped nevertheless.
Religion, occult, mysticism, TM seem to me to be the vehicles employed to futher the search for new knowledge of this ethereal reality, whose name is not known, and which appears to remain tantalisingly just beyond our reach.
This I think, contributes to the increased interest in all things mystical and spiritual, but alas, I fear it is not the true path to a genuine spirituality.
Theland, I don't mean to undermine your beliefs, but I have found my own peace, and my spirituality lies in the universe. I know right from wrong, I help people as much as I can, I see the beauty of nature, and I see the Christian concept of innocent babies being born sinners as simply wicked. I look at the stars and wonder how many other beings exist in the vast universe, and whether they too have worlds full of conflicting organised religions. If your god is indeed the creator of all, does he care as much for them as you say he cares for us? Do they have the bible? Did Jesus go there to spread the word and was he sacrificed on each and every inhabited and half-civilised planet in order to save its inhabitants' sins? Do they know St Paul - and are they also desperate to save their souls - or does your god's word only apply to we earthlings?
I don't feel the need to worship anyone or anything; to reproach myself because the church (= man) tells me I'm a sinner, or to pander to a fictional nonentity in the hope of saving my soul. I do believe an afterlife exists, but it's a natural progression rather than a religious one, and may even involve the concept of reincarnation. Who knows? Hopefully science will some day be able to provide some answers. I'm sure when we get to wherever we end up, we'll meet our loved ones, and we'll exist with people of all creeds (who, of course, by that time will realise that they were mistaken in their religious beliefs) - and no one will fry in your fictional hell. Organised religion, by it's very nature, produces blinkered vision, but my god (for want of a better word) is not cruel, nor jealous, nor petty-minded and demanding. He's (it's?) far bigger than that.
I don't feel the need to worship anyone or anything; to reproach myself because the church (= man) tells me I'm a sinner, or to pander to a fictional nonentity in the hope of saving my soul. I do believe an afterlife exists, but it's a natural progression rather than a religious one, and may even involve the concept of reincarnation. Who knows? Hopefully science will some day be able to provide some answers. I'm sure when we get to wherever we end up, we'll meet our loved ones, and we'll exist with people of all creeds (who, of course, by that time will realise that they were mistaken in their religious beliefs) - and no one will fry in your fictional hell. Organised religion, by it's very nature, produces blinkered vision, but my god (for want of a better word) is not cruel, nor jealous, nor petty-minded and demanding. He's (it's?) far bigger than that.
naomi24 - You have quite clearly stated what your beliefs are, and that is significant, by virtue of the fact that you have your own beliefs, as I have, although different from yours.
But I am interested in the growing phenomenon of the increased popularity of "things spiritual" that suggests to me that there is a growing need in our society for people to satisfy a spiritual hunger that was not as much in evidence in previous years.
Clearly, the organised religions are not satisfying this apparent spiritual hunger.
But I am interested in the growing phenomenon of the increased popularity of "things spiritual" that suggests to me that there is a growing need in our society for people to satisfy a spiritual hunger that was not as much in evidence in previous years.
Clearly, the organised religions are not satisfying this apparent spiritual hunger.
Theland, I truly respect your views, but because you said my thoughts on spirituality puzzle you, I tried to explain why they encompass a wider spectrum than those of the Christian church.
If we're talking about the world as a whole, I find people becoming more selfish, more violent, and more crazy every day, so I see little sign of an increased hunger for spirituality. The only evidence of it is from those leaning towards the eastern religions, and in many cases the motive seems to be politics in the guise if spirituality, which is not a happy thought.
If we're talking about the world as a whole, I find people becoming more selfish, more violent, and more crazy every day, so I see little sign of an increased hunger for spirituality. The only evidence of it is from those leaning towards the eastern religions, and in many cases the motive seems to be politics in the guise if spirituality, which is not a happy thought.
.In truth, Theland, people probably have not become more or less spiritual but the nature of spirituality changes with fashion. The victorians were extremely interested in mediumship, sceances and alternative medicine (snakeoil). Sir arthur conan doyle was a famous promoter of all things supernatural and harry houdini spent a lot of time debunking supernatural claims.
In the 1960's/1970's we have the hippy counterculture who looked to LSD for a spiritual awakening and we also had cults such as the moonies. Hippies dropped out of society to live esoteric lifestyles. Again, famous people promoted spiritualism, remember the beetles and the dali lama? In the 70's we also had attempts to prove spiritual/paranormal activities scientifically with stenna cards and lab based psychic experiments. The whole 60's counterculture was revisited in the 80's by the rave scene (people often describe ecstasy as a spiritual experience) and new age travellers. Remember in the 1980's we had russell grant on breakfast tv? The 80's and 90's also saw the rise of ecology and an attempt to hold back development (remember swampy) Today we have come full circle and we are back to mediumship, alternative medicine and all manner of cargo cult practices like holistic veterinary reflexology to realign your pet's shakra. I think it was ever thus.
In the 1960's/1970's we have the hippy counterculture who looked to LSD for a spiritual awakening and we also had cults such as the moonies. Hippies dropped out of society to live esoteric lifestyles. Again, famous people promoted spiritualism, remember the beetles and the dali lama? In the 70's we also had attempts to prove spiritual/paranormal activities scientifically with stenna cards and lab based psychic experiments. The whole 60's counterculture was revisited in the 80's by the rave scene (people often describe ecstasy as a spiritual experience) and new age travellers. Remember in the 1980's we had russell grant on breakfast tv? The 80's and 90's also saw the rise of ecology and an attempt to hold back development (remember swampy) Today we have come full circle and we are back to mediumship, alternative medicine and all manner of cargo cult practices like holistic veterinary reflexology to realign your pet's shakra. I think it was ever thus.
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