It's Not About Us
Modern spirituality begins and ends with the self; Christian spirituality, with the Alpha and Omega
Edith M. Humphrey | posted 4/02/2001 12:00AM
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Riding a new wave
Spirituality, then, is back in fashion, and no doubt partly as a result of what Bultmann feared—a sacrifice of the intellect. Perhaps I have put that too strongly. Yet one is surprised to see so many people riding this new wave, often oblivious to its inconsistencies and without regard for a careful integration with the rest of life.
No doubt Bultmann would have quoted Jesus' parable of the empty house and the demons: they are back in legion. Perhaps the analogy of the hydra or weed is more apt: the modernist perspective, born of Enlightenment rationalism, has been unable to root out the human appetite for the spiritual. Could this be because we are spiritual beings?
Cut off the common plant as it appeared in our culture, and myriad new ones spring up in its place! This is nowhere more evident than in bookshops and on the Internet. Even popular singers tip their hat: "Dear Matthew. … you taught me about spirituality. … "
A sampling of spirituality Web sites to be found on Metacrawler, randomly selected: Spirituality for Today; Women's Spirituality Book List; The Spirited Walker: Fitness Walking for Clarity, Balance, and Spiritual Connection; Medical Intuition; Jesuit Spirituality; Native American Spirituality; Transgender Spirituality; Spirit Tools for a New Age (pyramids, wands, daggers, and pendulums—sounds like Harry Potter books!); Spirituality and Health; Spirituality and Living Longer; The Inner Self Magazine: Spirituality as Opposed to Religion; Spirituality in the Workplace; Sex and Spirituality: Frequently Asked Questions; Apply Spiritual Ideas in Practical Ways; Spirituality Book—the Invisible Path to Success; Psychotherapy and Spirituality; The Spiritual Walk of the Labyrinth; and, last but not least, Male Spirituality.
How might we expect Christians to respond to this smorgasbord? It is clear that some have joined the growing trend to forge one's own "spirituality" in an eclectic manner rather than being guided by the wisdom of the Christian tradition alone. This seems to be true even in the relatively "conservative" context of Canada, where almost 90 percent of Canadians typically consider themselves as affiliated with a particular denomination—although they may have little deep experience or knowledge of their own tradition (or even of the Christian faith). Many approach their spiritual journey as artisans working on a bricolage, or a religious version of the song, "Mambo Number Five"—a little bit of gospel language here, a little bit of Celtic wisdom there, a little bit of karma in the sun.
Perhaps that is too flippant. Certainly, Christians are not the only ones with insight into the human spirit, and different human traditions may have wisdom to offer. Yet, if they are to remain faithful to their tradition, Christians should be on guard against a simple drift into the contemporary consumer mindset—represented by Andrew Walker, who declares, "We are no longer swayed by one religion alone. Many kinds are for sale, and compete for our attention. We, the consumers, are completely free."
Likewise, Michael Ingham, Bishop of New Westminster, following the Swiss theosophist F. Schuon, is deeply committed to the evolution of religions and humanity's "emerging God consciousness." This, Ingham believes, will lead "noble spirits" in mysticism beyond both the personal and the propositional to a transcendent point where all faiths meet.
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