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Can Spirituality be taught, bought or caught?
Reinie Heydemann
Are those three stupid questions? Or is there more behind the ideas of teaching, buying/trading or catching spirituality?
Well, let me explain and then explore why I chose this topic.
I grew up in a very traditional Lutheran family. I attended Sunday School my dear mother taught, and then I went to confirmation classes and became a confirmed member of the church. I was certainly well taught about who God is and what God does and decides, how God controls humanity and either punishes or blesses me. I remember my mom saying to me, when I had done something wrong, "die Strafe folgt auf den Fuß", meaning, you are being punished instantly. Now I don't want to blame my mother for putting the fear of God into my childhood, she simply raised her children in the way she thought was right. No, my mom was a very kind and wonderful woman. And I am totally responsible for my own spiritual understanding.
So how do we define spirituality? The dictionary says it is related to the human spirit or soul - not the body or material goods. It is also defined as that which connects humans to God, what inspires to be good people. I prefer to see spirituality as that which gives meaning to life and enhances our journey.
But, can spirituality be taught?
Well, in regards to teaching spirituality, I first have to make a distinction between religion and spirituality:
As I see it, religious institutions tend to box spirituality in. Most religions are teaching certain ways of what spirituality is supposed to be, and then claim that that is the only way to become a spiritual being.
But, that is like putting fire into a metal box with the expectations, that the flames will spread and grow and enlighten humanity, but the opposite is more likely true, the flame can't breath any more and either chokes or paralyses. At least that is how I see it as a Unitarian. But as a true Unitarian I also need to respect other belief system and let go of my cynicism. Of course there is also the recognition that historical times and scientific knowledge creates different outlooks on life and what the meaning of life is about, which creates different religious perspectives.
When the planet was seen as flat and the sky above the umbrella or heaven, anything underneath was considered to be hell. Human beings were living in tension between God and the devil, between heaven and hell. I suppose that world view made sense to the inhabitants of a flat planet. Of course our understanding of the universe has changed a lot since the Middle Ages, but some people cannot let go of that ancient heaven/hell concept, because that is what some churches are still teaching. Considering that, I want to make the statement that religions have their purposes and functions for many people, particularly for those who don't need to ask questions, rather just believe what they are taught and what also works for them.
But if spirituality is a way of making sense out of life and enhancing our human spirit, there is more to it than simple obedience to what is taught by traditional religions.
I am sharing what I have experienced throughout my life, which is a journey of discoveries. But that is one journey only, there are as many different journeys as there are people living on this planet, who are searching for meaning and are curious what this journey is all about.
So, can spirituality be taught? Some say yes, some say no, I am more on the no side, at least as far as class rooms, Sunday School and preachers are concerned. So why do we have RE sessions for our children? Well, here is what a Unitarian new member told me, when I asked her why she had decided to join our church: "I want my child to be educated, but not indoctrinated".
Yes, education is so essential, to learn, to know, to read and discuss, to discern, so that we are not taken for a ride, that does not fit our being as a unique person. But this does not mean that we become special spiritual persons by educating ourselves, that does not necessarily go hand in hand.
Think of our aboriginal people, they were and some still are very spiritual people. They did not go to Sunday School, but their drumming and dancing, their respect for the earth, their gratitude towards the Creator, they were demonstrating to their clan what spirituality is all about.
But can spirituality be bought or traded? Prior to the Reformation of the 15th century faith, hope and belonging to the church was partly a money matter. "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory into heaven springs" was the message of the Christian Church at the time of Martin Luther, who contradicted that with the message of God of faith and grace. Well, he had to go into hiding to protect himself from being killed as a heretic.
Yes, spirituality became a matter of money on which the patriarchy built it's churches to glorify God on the backs of the innocent poor.
Or a different example I heard at a church convention to which a native man was invited to speak. He said: "we used to pray with our arms and eyes wide open. And when white men came to our land, we were told to pray with our eyes closed, our hands folded and our heads bowed. So when we did that, and we opened our eyes again, our land was gone."
Is spirituality still traded or sold today? Well, maybe not in the same way, but that could be an interesting discussion to uncover something that might not be as obvious.
The last question then remains, can spirituality be caught? Right at the beginning of my reflections I want to say, defiantly YES.
Perhaps another term would be "connect". Let me explain:
Every human person is a spiritual person. The spirit seed lives in us, sometimes sleeps, sometimes dreams. The spirit within us waits to grow and find connections. How does this happen?
Here again, I can only talk about my own spiritual experiences, which are as unique as yours are. When I studied theology at the seminary in Waterloo, ON between 1977 and 1981, I learned about the origin of the biblical texts, which absolutely fascinated me. I understood that they were not handwritten by God, but they were literature, stories that had been told and told until they were written down. I learned about feminist theology, and my inner spirit said, "wow, I guess I am not the only one who asks some of the profound questions." I felt a deep connection and I dared to ask more and more questions and my spirit came alive for me, I grew and I felt more whole and richer in my understanding of what my spirituality is and can be about.
I don't know how many of you know Karen Armstrong, she has written a number of very interesting books. In one of her recent one, "The Spiral Staircase", she describes her experience she had when she entered the convent, because at 17 she wanted to become a nun. But she realized more and more that she was stuck in a metal box, where she experienced spiritual abuse. That became very painful for her. For instance, she was not allowed to ask any questions, particularly questions directed to Mother Superior. She recalls how the women had to get up very early in the morning and spend 1/2 hour on their knees praying, whether they were sick or well. They were never, ever allowed to talk about their feelings. Three years later she stepped out and liberated herself and as an atheist went on her own spiritual journey.
She said in an interview years later, "My main source of spirituality is study. When I immerse myself in the sacred texts what ever they happen to be, I live moments of awe and understand transcendence." (The Battle for God, 2001)
Here is a woman who liberated herself, found peace and new connections for her spiritual life. She acknowledges moments of awe, times when her ordinary daily treadmill is transcended and gives her a new understanding of the meaning of life.
I find it difficult to define spirituality. What may be spiritual for you, may not be so for me, and vice versa. But there are many times when we are open to catching what connects with us, and that can be a variety of many things, it might be nature, a dream, a conversation with a special person, perhaps a profound sexual experience, a sun set, a moon rise, you name it!
So all I can do from this point on, is, to tell you of a few times when I was lifted into a realm of transcendence, when I experienced something larger than ordinary life, something that gave me hope and joy.
Here are a few examples:
As a pastor I served a parish in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. My favorite place became Long Beach, where I loved to walk and camp. That spot became one of my holy places, the waves reminded me that truth comes and goes, yet is part of the whole ocean, the universe. The sand under my bare feet reminded me that I am no more important to this planet than a kernel of sand, yet, no less important either.
Or, when I gave birth to my children 50 years ago in the hospital, I found myself totally alone, my husband was sent home, I had no one with me to comfort me. The nurse came into the dark room with a flash light to check how far I had dilated, she never spoke to me. I only heard other birthing mothers screaming. When I was pushed into the delivery room for the final event, I was drugged out and the announcement, "Mrs Heydemann, you got a little girl!" made me think "who cares". And I didn't get to see or hold my baby until 10 hours later. The idea was the mother has to recuperate, and the doctor knows best.
There was a lot of anger bottled up inside of me.
But that changed when my daughters had invited me to be present at their home birthing. That was a spiritual experience for me, feeling the labour pain with them, comforting them and celebrating the new life, when they asked me to cut the umbilical cord. My anger was transcended into giving birth to awe and joy.
A couple of days ago, when I walked in the Mill Creek Ravine, I said hello to a man I have seen often walking four or five dogs on behalf of their owners. I saw him sitting down and taking notes. So I sat next to him and asked him what he is writing, "Well', he said, "I am a word doctor." And when I asked him what that is about, he said, "I am changing the word "god" around and read it back wards, 'dog', because I have a great relationship with these dogs, they love me and I love them." So here is a man who's spirit is connected to dogs, not God.
One last brief story: Years ago I met a man of aborigional heritage in the ravine who fell off his bike. I assisted him and invited him to sit on the bench with me close by. He talked a lot and soon I realized and smelled that he was not quite sober. He wanted me to give him money, of course I refused. Then he talked about his dysfunctional family and how he had been treated badly, and the stories went on and on. But after a while he did get up on his bike again, and while I was watching him carefully, he lifted up his arm and said "May the Eagle fly with you!" and off he rode.
Yes, may the Eagle fly with us!
We believe that everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves. The fundamental tools for doing this are your own life experience, your reflection upon it, your intuitive understanding and the promptings of your own conscience.