'I believe, the idea of ‘disembodied spirits’ is a non-starter. It is a case of putting the cart before the horse...' Photo: Ian Abbott / flickr CC.
Putting the cart before the horse
David Correa-Hunt writes about spirituality
I wonder: do we Friends perhaps demean ourselves by our harping on about ‘spirituality’ and ‘the Spirit’, and attributing the natural caring and altruism of individuals to ‘spirituality’?
It is the fundamental nature of the human animal to empathise, to communicate, to cooperate and to be altruistic. These natural characteristics have been the cause of our survival and strength as a species through the aeons of time that evolution takes.
The fallacious notions, prevalent in capitalism, of strife, competition and exploitation are exacerbating conflict in the world today. This, basically, stems from the fact that as a species we have become too successful, too dominant, too numerous, and are disrupting the ecological balance of the planet. We seem haunted by fears – a recurring ice age versus global warming? Are we spurred by guilt?
Biologically, we are beginning to understand some of the amazing workings of the brain – the generator of the mind and of consciousness. Neither can exist without the living brain, which is dependent upon the living body. The Latin spiritus equals breath/breathing – that is, living.
Thus, I believe, the idea of ‘disembodied spirits’ is a non-starter. It is a case of putting the cart before the horse – an erroneous primitive superstition. Life is miraculous. Its origin is a mystery. It demands from us reverence for life.
Today’s more general usage of the term ‘spiritual’ (as among groups of people/Meetings) would actually be better expressed, I believe, by the words ‘shared mood’, ‘oneness’, or even, figuratively, the word ‘atmosphere’. It is conveyed spontaneously by facial expression, body language, tone of voice and so on, and even possibly by hormonal secretions. Friends – by an intuitive acceptance of every person and by a nurturing attitude – have developed the knack of evoking the positive attributes of individuals and groups. This has very little to do with so-called ‘spirituality’. So, may I suggest that we Friends delete that most ambiguous and misleading word from our Advices & queries – and from our vocabulary altogether – in accordance with our testimonies to truth and simplicity?
Friends today are no longer routinely persecuted and do not suffer the extreme tension that gives rise in some of us to trembling and shaking uncontrollably. Friends today are neither Puritans nor ‘quakers’ and should not, in honesty, connive in using the no-longer appropriate nickname.
We Friends have been wisely selective in our espousal of ‘Christianity’ – historically a mixed ‘package deal’. We do not subscribe to millenarianism (expectation of the end of the world and the second coming of the Messiah), but we emphasise the centrality of love, forgiveness, pacifism, altruism and reverence for life. Don’t we?
