INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUALITY

WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY?

A working definition of
spirituality is awareness
of the transcendent ('the
beyond in our midst') the
awareness of something
beyond intellectual
knowledge or normal
sensory experience.
“Part of the confusion arises out of
how we distinguish the term
‘spirituality’ from ‘religion’ in our
language. Spirit comes from the
word ‘spiritus’ which means breath of
life. Spirit is the unseen force that
breathes life into us, enlivens us, gives
energy to us. Spirit helps to define the
true, real unique self that is us and
confirms our individuality.” Moxley
2000 p. 23
 Religion comes from
the Latin ‘religio’
which has been
translated as reliance
or connection. Scott-
Peck 1993 p. 233) in
Howard (2002) p.
232

In Spirituality, we find a notion of the Spirit in search for

connection
 WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY?

Spirituality can be understood as that

aspect of human existence which Our morality is based
relates to structures of significance on our spirituality: the
that gives meaning and direction to a rightness or
person’s life and helps them deal with wrongness of how we
the vicissitudes of existence. It is understand our actions
associated with the human quest for is based on what we
meaning, purpose, self-transcending value and how we find
knowledge, meaningful relationships, meaning.’
love and a sense of the holy.
 WHAT IS THE AIM OF SPIRITUALITY?

In Spirituality,
the goal is to
Understanding
become fully
human Perseverance
united with
the divine. Patience
 WHAT IS THE AIM OF SPIRITUALITY?

Two aspects of Two methods of

creation: study

Science – study of Spirituality – study

matter, physical of consciousness
Matter (body) Consciousness (soul)
forces/energies that and its
influence matter evolution/progress
 PLATO

Each human being is a

combination of a physical Justice is harmony
body and a non-physical soul. between the three
He believed that the physical
different parts of our
world – including our physical
bodies – is not really real or souls (Reason, Spirit,
important. Therefore, his
Appetite), with reason
ethical theory focuses on the ruling.
well-being of the soul.
 PLATO
Reason The part capable of reasoning, and pursues truth and
(Intellect) knowledge. It is the weakest part of the soul, but the
only part capable of governing it well.

Spirit The part that is proud and concerned with one’s

(Will) status. It pursues fame and power.

Appetite That which is the largest and most powerful part of

(Passion) the soul, pursues pleasure and avoids pain. This part is
in control of most people’s souls, although this leads
to many undesirable consequences.
PLATO
 ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA

Ultimate goal of human life – intimate and

continual communion with God. The path to
intimacy with God, then, is viewed by Origen as
the soul’s journey from earth to heaven.
• Body – finding God through the five senses
• Soul – finding God through enlightened knowledge
• Spirit – finding God through perpetual communion with God
• The goal is to enter into union through contemplation.
• The result is a life of pure love and active charity.
 ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

Augustine explained
that spirituality is an
inquiry into the supreme
good, or the Summum
Bonum which gives the
happiness that all
human beings seek. This
happiness can be found Following the commandments is man’s
in the enjoyment of God expression of his desire to be in communion
with God. Living a moral life under the
and his presence. guidance of God’s commandments is care for
one’s spirituality.
ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

Man has a wounded nature which is the

outcome of original sin. Having this in mind,
Augustine sees that desire is present in
man. He classifies them into three:

Desire for Desire for

Desire of
Wealth and Power or
the Flesh
Possessions Authority
ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

St. Augustine proposes

to follow the
commandments when “Love the Lord your
he stated “It is our duty God with all your
to do the will of God heart and with all
because His will is our your soul and with all
deepest will too.” If we your strength and
continue to rely on with all you mind, and
what God wants us to your neighbor as
do, our lives will not yourself.” (Lk. 10:27)
perish, but it will
become joyous instead.
 ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
St. Augustine
teaches the practice
of the Evangelical
Counsels as with all your with all your with all you
humanity follows the soul and strength and mind
command of God: (Chastity) (Poverty) (Obedience)
 ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

Through the
Chastity Desire of the Flesh
cultivation and
practice of the
Evangelical Desire for Wealth
Poverty
Counsels, man is or Possessions
able to combat
the desires Desire for Power
Obedience
present in him. or Authority
ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA

Benedict is most interested in the

question: “Do you truly seek God?”
This is a universal human quest and
is central to the whole Benedictine
way of life.
 ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA

Like all the ancient monks,

Benedict considers the
true and ultimate rule of
life to be the Word of God
contained in the
Scriptures.
 ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA
Seeking God Seeking Material Things

The Common Good Individualism

Commitment Non-Involvement

Rule of St Benedict Mutual Sharing Society Competition

Hospitality Rejection

Care of the Earth Exploitation

Peace Violence
 ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA

Obedience is part of our ongoing conversion, part of that constant

turning to the divine – to God. Benedict begins his rule with the verb
“Listen”. Basically, obedience is listening. It is hearing God’s word.
Listening obedience calls us to be centered again in our seeking for
God.

Obedience, says St. Benedict, is the mark of those who hold nothing
dearer than Christ (Chapter 5). Like us, he returns to the Father “by
the labor of obedience.”
 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Aquinas developed his natural theology not to

separate nature and grace but rather to show that
nature can be used to defend belief in God.
Reason and the senses can be used by human
beings and by doing so, human beings can
discover truth (Pearcey & Thaxton 1994:100; cf.
Sproul 2003:78ff).
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
In his Summa Theologica Aquinas (2006) attempted to show
that the existence of God can be rationally demonstrated to
be true (Aquinas 2006; cf. Scott-Kakures et al. 1993:91ff).

He also tried to disprove the theory of two (conflicting) truths

which spread through the Western world under the influence
of the writings of the Arabic scholar Averroës, who was a
pantheist (Sproul 2003:79; Delaney & DiClemente 2005:37).
Interestingly, this view of double truths is
similar to postmodernism, which also allows
for the validity of conflicting truths
 The Renaissance

Whereas the Middle Ages had a very strong religious

orientation, the course of Western thought changed during
the Renaissance into a much more secular direction
(Pearcey 2004:101).
• Whilst the Middle Ages are often described as a period of
academic eclipse and intellectual poverty, with a focus on
mysticism, the Renaissance was characterised as a move
towards belief in reason and the senses, ultimately leading
to the emergence of scientific inquiry and the modern era.
 The Renaissance

The perception is often created that

science displaced religion in the West
at this time.
This is, however, not accurate, and the crucial role
Christianity played in the development of the scientific
method is well documented. Ironically, within the
postmodern climate, the religious nature of scientific
positivism has been exposed (Pearcey & Thaxton 1994).
 The Renaissance

Secular humanism, and the

differentiation between nature and
grace, exalted human reason and
experience (natural revelation) as the
measure of all things instead of God
and special revelation. Human beings
and, more specifically, human reason
as well as nature were now seen as
functioning apart from religion.
 The Renaissance
God became
less of an Christianity was nevertheless still
omnipotent, influential. The vast majority of
omnipresent discoveries, inventions and philosophical
entity and inquiries were still made within a
spirituality Christian context and worldview.
was practised Copernicus, for example, saw his own
more from a theory of the earth revolving around the
human sun as just a specification of the created
starting order (Pearcey & Thaxton 1994:33).
point.
 The Enlightenment

The period of the

Enlightenment in • These men wanted to promote
the 18th century freedom and equality for all
gained much people, based on the idea that a
person is actually good and only
momentum
needs to learn to use reason rightly,
through French which she or he is able to do with
scholars such as proper education (Rousseau
Voltaire and 1921:5ff).
Rousseau.
 Romanticism
Romanticism started in the mid–18th century and lasted until about the
mid–19th century. It first gained momentum in Germany and was
characterised by an emphasis upon feelings and experience, a focus on the
self, a return to nature, a new nationalism, and a nostalgic return to old
practices, religions, pantheism as well as mythologies (Wright 1996:141; cf.
Jeeves & Berry 2000:24).

This was also the time when a strong historicism developed. A new
historical consciousness became widespread amongst intellectuals. Within
this mindset, the particular (seen in a historical context) became more
important than the view of the universal of the Enlightenment. The result
was an emphasis on the subjective (Wolters 1989:18; cf. Wright 2000:20).
 Modernism and onwards

Hegel, who was influenced by Romanticism,

developed his idea of dialectical reasoning
(synthesis). Previously people had thought in
terms of either/or, thesis or antithesis. Hegel
claimed that eternal truths do not exist and
that different ideas are equally valid
(Schaeffer 1990:232f; cf. Scott-Kakures et al.
1993:329f). With regard to the concept of
spirituality, this would mean that different
kinds of spiritualities can co-exist.
 Modernism and onwards

Charles Darwin, who introduced the theory of evolution, made an important

contribution in this context. This resulted in a movement away from the viability
and rationality of religion, towards a much more naturalistic, evolutionary view.
Life became secular (Wright 2000:47).

In the area of psychology, there was a similar movement, in which Freud was the
driving force (Glynn 1997:57ff). Freud attempted to explain human behaviour
entirely on a naturalistic and deterministic basis, without invoking a higher cause,
that is, soul or spirit (Schaeffer 1990:232). Freud criticised religion as ‘the
universal obsessional neurosis of humanity’ (Freud 1927:30) and thus had a very
negative view of religion (Wright 2000:29).
 Modernism and onwards
Existentialism

• Another philosophical movement which took place in

reaction to the Enlightenment was existentialism. The
existentialists believed that there is no inherent meaning in
life, and no intrinsic essential human nature. They claimed
that a uniquely defining characteristic of human existence
was that existence comes before essence. Meaning has to be
constructed by the individual. The individual has to make
choices and define him- or herself (Sartre 1974:28; cf. Scott-
Kakures et al. 1993:359; cf. Stevenson & Haberman
2004:176ff).
Postmodernism

One of the most

basic tenets of
postmodernism is
the assumption that
there is no absolute
truth; it puts an end
to all truth claims.
We now live in a world governed by the
DICTATORSHIP OF RELATIVISM and
submerged in a CRISIS OF TRUTH