tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885527867833311224.post3065397616884202971..comments2024-01-17T02:41:29.011-06:00Comments on The Humanist Contemplative Blog: Journaling and spiritual practiceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885527867833311224.post-87165749059007393842011-11-01T17:25:17.741-05:002011-11-01T17:25:17.741-05:00Hi Mike :)
Thanks for the comments. I have consid...Hi Mike :)<br /><br />Thanks for the comments. I have considered carefully many of the issues you refer to with respect to using various terms over several years. I have since decided that when a term makes sense historically, etymologically, or in its connotation, I will use it, without fear of any "religious contamination". In fact, I've solidly chosen, without reservation or apology, to reject the over-cautious fear that something I say might accidentally be confused with supernaturalism by those who don't read what I explain. Thus, I'm not trapped with less-impacting words that makes it sound like I'm talking about a computer programming convention instead of a deeply meaningful life experience. <br /><br />The fact is, there simply is no other word that has the right connotation or gets across the emphasis and meaning of 'spirituality' than that word. Historically, 'spirit' (spiritus) meant breath or wind; the 'essence' of something (as in 'school spirit' or the 'spirit of the law') and so real spirituality is about the 'essential in life'. Ghosts and goblins, thus, are not even real spirituality, much less bad spirituality.<br /><br />I identify with the school of Humanists that founded the original manifesto in 1933, and which has since been consciously and deliberately abandoned by the major humanist organizations - that school which asserts that Humanism will help religion evolve into its best sense, and as such, become compatible with science and naturalism - rather than the endeavor since, which has focused itself on the unlikely abolition of religion in favor of tweed coats, anti-ism, lawsuits and lobbyists, and sterile meeting rooms. Such an endeavor to reunite the natural and the sacred requires the assertive reclaiming of certain words, spoken boldly and not whispered.<br /><br />For more on my use of 'spirituality', please see:<br />http://humanistcontemplative.blogspot.com/2008/05/noble-conspectus.html<br />(particularly, scroll down to Chapter 2)<br /><br />On the other matters you mention about journaling, I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, this blog is in many ways my personal journal of just that sort.<br /><br />Thanks again and best wishes friend! :)<br />Sincerely,<br /><br />DanielDT Strainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02261855680365590369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885527867833311224.post-81607141085630698132011-11-01T17:01:49.559-05:002011-11-01T17:01:49.559-05:00Daniel, thanks for the post; it’s very good. Four...Daniel, thanks for the post; it’s very good. Four things came to mind while reading it:<br /><br />The term “spiritual” is a loaded word, especially for humanists. I once read an interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn in which he indicated he didn’t care for the term “spiritual practice” and replaced it with “becoming more fully human.” It’s an awkward phrase and won’t replace spiritual in every instance, but I like that fact that it’s a phrase that’s not pre-loaded with spirits and angels, etc.<br />One of the reasons there’s so much repetition in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is that the writing of the text was a spiritual practice for him. The practice of writing something down repeatedly imprints it on the mind which helps make it a part of one’s behavior. I don’t mean to trivialize the practice, but maybe that’s kind of like a teacher making you write “I will not throw spitballs” 100 times. You remember that when you’re tempted to throw another spitball.<br />The daily review you mentioned can also make a good meditation practice. There are many ways to meditate besides counting breaths and trying to still the mind.<br />Journaling is also a good way to organize and refine your worldview. It helps you face what you really believe about the Big Questions and helps you discover what you might want to explore more deeply. Rabbi Rami Shapiro did just that in a recent post on his blog Beyond Religion with Rabbi Rami http://rabbirami.blogspot.com/2011/10/every-once-in-while-it-is-good-to-sit.html.<br /><br />Mike in WisconsinMikenoreply@blogger.com