Since the 16th Century the word ‘Spirit’ has been depreciating at an ever faster pace as the years have gone by…
To pause slide touch with mouse arrow or finger !
General - Spirit Search - Searching Spirit
Spirit is one word that is very slippery to define. It is possible to start with a Jewish understanding of spirit linked to breath or wind. In 'Integral Spirituality'[link below], Ken Wilber states there are at least four major meanings of the Word 'Spiritual' (pp.100-102). (1): Highest level in any line of development; (2): a separate line itself; (3): an extraordinary peak experience or state; and (4): a particular attitude. No wonder there is considerable confusion when people use words like 'spirit' and spirituality'. Add to this the complexity arising from attempts to distinguish between religions that use words like Holy Spirit' and the more general use of a word like spirituality and the confusion can get overwhelming.
Spirit Word Savaged
Immanuel Kant argued that much of the use of religious language in public conversation will lead to embarrassment. Religious language that is detached from recognizable references in everyday experiences can quickly become empty. Language which is used emotionally or manipulatively when it is in fact intellectually hollow will become embarrassing to a thoughtful explorer. Let’s go back before Kant to the historical period 1500 CE that Charles Taylor calls the turning point between an 'enchanted worldview'(impossible not to believe in God) to a 'disenchanted worldview' (seriously questioning who or what is 'God/s'). You can explore further in Taylor's book 'A secular age'. [link below]
Major Split with Church 1500 CE
People like Ken Wilber and Charles Taylor have argued that a clash of worldviews took place in 1500 CE. Wilber argues that the three children of Arts, Science and Morality wanted to grow up and leave home while The Parent - Roman Church (a Western church steeped in firm ways of viewing the world) wanted to control and confine the independence-seeking Art, Science and Morality. See more information in the PDF file [link below]. Note: Post 1500 CE, spirit understanding and spirit practice was left isolated within the Church, prone to regression, while Art, Science and Morality progressed without a sense of spirit.
Scientific Discipline Became Dominant
It takes little imagination or information to confirm how science and scientific method has come to dominate in our western culture. The advances made in disciplines like medicine, where science has contributed significantly to our average life expectancy - Wilber argues it is by at least 30 years – is a perfect example of a science based discipline having revolutionary success. Recognizing that we have a further 30 years of life that can contribute to whatever our evolutionary purpose might be asking of us is an exciting challenge and something we human beings need to appreciate. So, can we have exterior advances with interior exploration? Yes, it’s essential!
So where is Spirit to be Found?
One way to approach 'Spirit' is found in the work of Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard's spirituality starts at a different point from many of the classic approaches to G*d. Unlike those approaches which require you to spurn the world in order to love or be loved by G*d, Teilhard wrote 'The Divine Milieu'[link below] for those who love passionately both G*d and the world.
Recovery of Spirit - Different ways of Knowing!
Steve McIntosh uses different language for each of these three eyes of knowing: (1) Physical Eye – Perception by our senses; (2) Mental eye – Meanings and relationships as understood by our minds; and (3) Contemplative eye – Values and intrinsic qualities, which are regarded by many as forms of spiritual experience. See Steve McIntosh's book 'Integral Consciousness: the future of evolution' [link below] for more information. Ken Wilber also adds understanding in his book 'The Marriage of Sense and Soul’ (p.18) [link below].
Recovery of Spirit - Different ways of Knowing - Magic Eye!
Any one who has spent time with a 'Magic Eye' book acquiring the skill to look at a two dimensional computer generated image in such a way that you are able to see a 3D image emerge, will have some idea of what a contemplative eye training may require.
Spirits Impulsing Golden Thread of Creativity
Scientific Spirituality
Ken Wilber sees the 4 quadrants approach to spirituality as essential. This means that scientific methods need to be utilized when effectively exploring themes like prayer, contemplation, meditation, relaxation, reflection practices and their outcomes both individually and collectively. Research exploring the brain to identify what is being activated in a spiritual, contemplative moment or peak experience must be encouraged. Note: recent books such as Kevin Nelson "The God Impulse - is religion hardwired into our brains?” [link below] are examples of research in this field. Consider research going on in the field of 'near death' experiences to see a greater appreciation of the richness and depth of human consciousness. Much good research has taken place around meditation and relaxation practices. What spiritual impact does music, drama and film watching play in awareness and experience of spirit?
Recovery of 'Spirit' in Material World
Many people in the Integral movement [link below] are taking new exploration of the reality represented by the word Spirit very seriously. Even while many unanswered questions remain, a new found confidence in this exploration is beginning to emerge. What does it mean to recover and update the traditional philosophy known as 'The Great Chain of Being' [link below] which is usually presented as: matter, body, mind, soul, and spirit? For example Teilhard de Cardin [link below] argued that spirit could not be separated from matter itself - surely a new understanding? How is research into 'near death' experiences and consciousness research into dreaming, meditation, brain research and the many different cultural experiences associated with healing, linked into our body of reliable knowledge? Some cultures have some wonderful traditions and ritual around the art of dying. In this vein, the western world has made some significant advances to do with the ritual of dying within the hospice communities [link below].
Re-Membering - Spirit Searches for Us!
One fault that human thinking generates is to make human beings the centre from which we construction our reality! Steve McIntosh in ‘Evolution's Purpose’ (chapters 3-4) [link below] makes this striking point: "The most intrinsic forms of values are relational structures - dynamic systems or processes that encompass both subject and object, and resist being completely reduced to either of these poles." A similar comment could be made about the dynamic and purpose of spirit with the addition that it encompasses both singular and plural as well. It is not something we have to find, like an object, spirit is already subjectively there already seeking to find us the seeker. Remember spirit is not lost and needing to be found. Yet as human beings we still like to play hide and seek, making ourselves the subject needing to find the object-spirit somewhere outside ourselves.
Implications for Christian Community
Clip on right symbolizes a wheel to demonstrate the link between a hub and its rim. As a Christian community we need to learn how to be still, silent, and in solitude within the hub (sleep- like recovery practices [link below]) as we prepare for the stressful rough and tumble of the waking work-and-play time that the rim represents. Two themes can be found in the Directory: Missional Worship & Worshipful Mission [link below] which will present a more detailed exploration of Hub-Rim.
Or use these Menu controls
Links to following:
Ken Wilber’s book: Integral Spirituality
Charles Taylor’s book: A Secular Age
PD F file: SplitWithChurch1500
Teilhard de Chardin’s book: The Divine Milieu
Steve McIntosh’s book: Integral Consciousness
Ken Wilber’s book: The Marriage of Sense and Soul
Kevin Nelson’s book: The God Impulse and Barbara B. Hagerty’s book: Fingerprints of God
Integral Movement – [Spirituality] Integral Movement – [Theory]