Hi Steve
I guess the problem here is how we would quantify spirituality. In addition,
placing a ‘quantifiable’ value of spirituality would seem, to me, to
suggest its potential commodification. There is also the danger of in
assuming that all people everywhere a) see spirituality as having worth
and b) place the same value on spirituality and should accordingly strive
to attain a ‘higher’ level. Not sure where that places atheists and
non-believers like myself! In any case, an SQ would presumably encounter
the same problems of IQ - that any system of evaluation will to some
extent reflect the dominant/ethnocentric values of those who design the
system.
I’m not really up on the history of mysticism, but I’d also probably argue
that idea of gnosis as an unmediated experience of wholeness/oneness is
itself a culturally mediated notion, and it seems to me that, as a broad
generalisation, access to that experience tends to lay in the hands of
elite groups. My feeling is that both religion and spirituality are, by
and large, simply ways in which people negotiate fairly practical everyday
problems.
Justin
>> Um... I believe I mentioned Catherine of Siena and
>>
> Teresa of >Avila? They're both doctors of the church
> - and have had an >influence.
>
>
> But did it include feminism, and the right to free
> contraception and abortion on demand ;)
>
>> What seems to me to be going on here and in many
>>
> other places >is the assumption that if something is available to the
> masses, >it is of less worth.
>
> Not really, its just that gnosis is hard to achieve so
> few achieve it, and those that do don't pass down dogmas to others or form
> churches as a rule, they encourage others to find their own truth.
>
> Just as being an talented athlete or having a high IQ
> is a rare thing, though all in principle are capable of this with enough
> effort and inclination. Perhaps we need a SQ (spiritual quotant), which I'm
> sure would have its own bell curve. Not as a badge of elitism though but
> rather a hurdle for all to jump. :)
>
> Anything that has worth has to be valued through its
> achievement surely?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________
> NEW Yahoo! Cars - sell your car and browse thousands of new and used cars
> online! http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/
>
>
|