Q:Why has the term ‘spirituality’ become popular?
A: Maybe because it doesn’t “tie you” to a particular idiology OR because the term “religious” has gotten some bad press, as in “The religious right wants prayer in public schools.”
Q: What is the relationship between ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’?
A: Other than believing in a particular deity, not much. A “religous” person, to me anyway, goes through the motions of going to church on Sundays and such, but outside the church they can be jerks all the same. A “spiritual” person, on the other hand, doesn’t need to show the world what they believe by going to a particular building once a week, but rather they LIVE their beleifs the whole time. Emily Dickenson wrote a great poem called “Some Keep the Sabeth” you should check out.
Q:Has there been a spiritual revolution?
A: Tough on this. I’m guessing people would rather label themselves as spiritual rather than religous nowadays for the aforementioned reasons. On yesterday’s (Oct 5th) edition of “CBS SUnday Morning” the mentioned that X numbers years ago that day, Jim Bakker was convicted of pocketing church money and buy big, swanky cars with it. I clearly remember that and other scandals in the 80s and they were a pretty big deal. So perhaps calling oneself “spiritual” is a way of distancing oneself from the materialism of those at the center of such scandals?
Patty
