Movements to improve global spirituality aim to unite cultures across cultural, racial and language divides. Spirituality is distinctly related to conscience, honesty, compassion and principles. These are aspects that are common to all major religions, atheism and agnosticism. For this reason, a heightened awareness of the spiritual can forge unity amongst diversity.
The definition of spiritual tenets differs among various belief systems. There are religions that see spiritual aspects as directly contradictory to their own beliefs because of the way they define those aspects. When the word is defined in more practical terms that refer to values rather than rituals and practices, however, almost every culture can find commonality.
Spiritual principles are similar in all major belief systems. The four major religions value compassion and forgiveness whilst denigrating dishonesty and cruelty. Ideas of morality are similar in most cultures and ideologies. In contrast, fundamentalism in religion is sometimes divisive. An awareness of similarities rather than differences may have the power to induce a sense of universality that pervades all humanity.
Spirituality's bad name in some circles is rooted in the lack of understanding of the difference between spiritualism and the spiritual. Spiritualism is regarded by many sects as sinful so spiritual movements are viewed as negative. However, values pervade most religions in the form of love, conscience and forgiveness.
The secular movement has done much to expand the definition of the word 'spiritual, ' allowing it to become a more universal and all-encompassing path. While many agnostics and atheists shy away from the word, there are many in the secular world who embrace it as an ideology encompassing humanism, tolerance, responsibility and harmony.
The way many secular societies embrace the spiritual makes a crucial statement about humankind and religion. Stating that people don't act on conscience only because they are scared of punishment declares humanity to be inherently moral. The largest difference between religion and spirituality is in the belief or lack of belief in a divine creator. Spiritual principles can exist in the presence and absence of belief in an omniscient creator but religion always includes a divine belief. When seen in this light, religion seldom exists without spiritual focus whereas spiritual movements can exist where there is no belief in a creator.
Religion has a strong element of ritual that usually includes prayer and meditation. In contrast, spiritual paths don't necessarily use ritual, instead concentrating on exercising values in action during day to day living. Many believe this is a more authentic way of interacting with the world.
There are many secular movements that access the spiritual including humanism, green-consciousness and feminism. Spiritual paths are viewed by some as a way to gain psychological health and happiness, recovery from substance abuse and improve relationships.
Those who study spiritual movements usually look at inner experience as a way to find a more peaceful life. Global spirituality focuses on fundamental principles in a way that recognizes underlying unity. Some see it as a stage that the world is in during which people are redefining religion as a method of exploring the spiritual as a part of relationships with themselves and the rest of the world.
The definition of spiritual tenets differs among various belief systems. There are religions that see spiritual aspects as directly contradictory to their own beliefs because of the way they define those aspects. When the word is defined in more practical terms that refer to values rather than rituals and practices, however, almost every culture can find commonality.
Spiritual principles are similar in all major belief systems. The four major religions value compassion and forgiveness whilst denigrating dishonesty and cruelty. Ideas of morality are similar in most cultures and ideologies. In contrast, fundamentalism in religion is sometimes divisive. An awareness of similarities rather than differences may have the power to induce a sense of universality that pervades all humanity.
Spirituality's bad name in some circles is rooted in the lack of understanding of the difference between spiritualism and the spiritual. Spiritualism is regarded by many sects as sinful so spiritual movements are viewed as negative. However, values pervade most religions in the form of love, conscience and forgiveness.
The secular movement has done much to expand the definition of the word 'spiritual, ' allowing it to become a more universal and all-encompassing path. While many agnostics and atheists shy away from the word, there are many in the secular world who embrace it as an ideology encompassing humanism, tolerance, responsibility and harmony.
The way many secular societies embrace the spiritual makes a crucial statement about humankind and religion. Stating that people don't act on conscience only because they are scared of punishment declares humanity to be inherently moral. The largest difference between religion and spirituality is in the belief or lack of belief in a divine creator. Spiritual principles can exist in the presence and absence of belief in an omniscient creator but religion always includes a divine belief. When seen in this light, religion seldom exists without spiritual focus whereas spiritual movements can exist where there is no belief in a creator.
Religion has a strong element of ritual that usually includes prayer and meditation. In contrast, spiritual paths don't necessarily use ritual, instead concentrating on exercising values in action during day to day living. Many believe this is a more authentic way of interacting with the world.
There are many secular movements that access the spiritual including humanism, green-consciousness and feminism. Spiritual paths are viewed by some as a way to gain psychological health and happiness, recovery from substance abuse and improve relationships.
Those who study spiritual movements usually look at inner experience as a way to find a more peaceful life. Global spirituality focuses on fundamental principles in a way that recognizes underlying unity. Some see it as a stage that the world is in during which people are redefining religion as a method of exploring the spiritual as a part of relationships with themselves and the rest of the world.
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Spiritualists who want to explore global spirituality can find out more at www.theaquarianhypothesis.com. They can discern how global spirituality affects them at http://www.theaquarianhypothesis.com.
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