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Old 02-04-2015, 12:39 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 82
8 yr Member
Default What is Spirituality?

One view:
There is no single, widely-agreed definition of spirituality.[1][2][note 1] Surveys of the definition of the term, as used in scholarly research, show a broad range of definitions, with very limited similitude.[3]

According to Waaijman, the traditional meaning of spirituality is a process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape of man, the image of God. To accomplish this, the re-formation is oriented at a mold, which represents the original shape: in Judaism the Torah, in Christianity Christ, in Buddhism Buddha, in the Islam Muhammad."[note 2]

In modern times the emphasis is on subjective experience.[5] It may denote almost any kind of meaningful activity[6][note 3] or blissful experience.[8] It still denotes a process of transformation, but in a context separate from organized religious institutions, termed "spiritual but not religious".[9] Houtman and Aupers suggest that modern spirituality is a blend of humanistic psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions.[10]

Waaijman points out that "spirituality" is only one term of a range of words which denote the praxis of spirituality.[11] Some other terms are "Hasidism, contemplation, kabbala, asceticism, mysticism, perfection, devotion and piety".[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality
Another view:
"SPIRITUALITY is a state of consciousness that reflects engagement the deep and often urgent NEED to understand, a "need to know." The state of consciousness can be characterized in biological as well as phenomenological terms. The need reflects a biologically relevant need: it is to understand cause and effect relationships, a need expressed in all organisms (and living cells?) that change their behavior as a result of experience (learn, accommodate to their environments). Much of this need is accommodated by automatisms and acquired habit, but at the furthest end of the spectrum of expressions of this need is the awareness of phenomena that cannot be accommodated by our senses or cognition, they exceed our competence to understand and thereby create a sense of inferiority. The need to know is progressively energized by affect that is recruited by real or perceived urgency. This involves it intimately with the neuroendocrine stress system, the source of emotions.

Cause and effect relationships are the building blocks of the narratives --stories-- that affect if not direct our behavior. As such an adaptive tool, to be most useful, the story should be built of valid (veridical) phenomena. And should be reliable (consistently manifest). These are qualities which can be tested or taken on faith. Our confidence in the narrative is important to its utility and can vary with the qualities of validity and reliability. Narratives in which we are VERY confident are regarded as TRUTH."

Conscious awareness of an inadequate cognitive competence invites the engagement of NON-CONSCIOUS COGNITION, the "FORCE," the transpersonal consciousness, the transcendental ... on the other hand, "the best things can't be told..." http://notes.utk.edu/bio/unistudy.ns...2573b00072525d
Goethe's View of the relationship of science to spirit.
"...it is interesting to note that Goethe, whose scientific contributions have been unjustly overshadowed because of his colossal achievements in literature and the arts, felt upset with what he believed to be the limitations of Newtonian physics. For Goethe, “science is as much an inner path of spiritual development as it is a discipline aimed at accumulating knowledge of the physical world. It involves not only a rigorous training of our faculties of observation and thinking, but also of other human faculties which can attune us to the spiritual dimension that underlies and interpenetrates the physical: faculties such as feeling, imagination and intuition. Science, as Goethe conceived and practiced it, has as its highest goal the arousal of the feeling of wonder through contemplative looking (Anschauung), in which the scientist would come to see God in nature and nature in God” (Naydler, 2000). http://notes.utk.edu/bio/unistudy.ns...2573b00072525d
Another view:
By spirituality I mean that which gives us strength to go on with life, and to go on creatively. Understanding and cultivating spirituality have to do with understanding and cultivating that in our lives which empowers us, which is creative, hopeful, encouraging. I have in mind the reality of our actual lives. http://peacetheology.net/spiritualit...-spirituality/
As you see, there are many definitions. Most important, I get to decide what spirituality means to me. For me, spirituality encompasses all that I value. It allows me to feel good about myself because I am doing my part to leave the world a better place.

What is your definition?
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“The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world” ~Max Born
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