Beyond Belief: Taking Spirituality Seriously

Many have argued that the world's problems may be ultimately 'spiritual' in nature, and much of the population, atheists and believers alike, claim to have a spiritual dimension to their lives. But what do we really mean by the spiritual? The RSA launches a major new series rethinking the cultural and social value of spirituality, with speakers to include Madeleine Bunting, Robert Rowland Smith, Elizabeth Oldfield and Jonathan Rowson.

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[JoshuaCasper]

Robert Roland Smith resonates with me the most. 

[RVGENomini]

Spirituality will soon become a scientific quantity, removing the role of religion in being the primary source of those experiences. Thank GOD.

[gypsycathunter]

Elizabeth Oldfield is my homegirl. Self improvement 'spirituality' is dead business, we need a saviour who has the perfection that we lack.

[KasperKevin]

Spirituality and religion is and never will be the same thing.

[hadara]

The last guy made the most sense. This word has too many religious connotations. I personally get it from Music and Art. Others get it from base jumping or whatever! Calling a  feeling something that's rooted in mythological concepts gives the myth cache it hasn't earned. We just know too much about what's happens neurologically now when theists are feeling "spiritual" to have the same connotations anymore. This feeling of transcendence is real, but that doesn't mean it's god(s) or ghosts or some other separate supernatural entity. It's our uniquely human euphoria that inspires great change and has built our world! It should never be disrespected, because it get's us motivated and bonds us, to the earth AND each other, but that doesn't mean we have to keep pairing it with religion.

Religion is mythology. If humanity wants to survive, we have got to get our heads out of these divisive books and look around! The whole planet is at stake and there's no god(s) to save us...there's just us. Take humanity seriously and stop trying to convert them to YOUR particular definition of "spirituality"!!

[DWSNU]

Before throwing the baby out with the bathwater, it might do to recall that religions are the vehicles to and for spirituality. They are the ritual and rule sets, as well as the community of "behoovers, " that organize individual and collective human behavior and thought into paths that can open us up to access and connection to spirit. It's when we individually and collectively stop short of taking that step into the spiritual realm that religions become stultifying and irrelevant. Spirituality is the point, and disciplined religious practice has historically served as the pathway for getting there. Too often religions, their practitioners and leading exponents seem to lose sight of their noble cause.

[drewe]

That was not very thoughtful, I am a little disappointed. Nobody made any firm statements, there was no debate, and no one tried to include the reality of our time.

[bingo]

Jesus Christ is the only way to true spiritual awakening(John14:6) Avoid anything else, however appealing it may appear"Even satan himself masquerades as an angel of light"(2 Corinthians11:14) Do not be deceived friends.Make Jesus Lord of your life today.God bless.