credit: sanja gjenero
The post-religious spiritual path is lonely. In the polarity of American culture, which recognizes only conventional religion and secularism, there are not a lot of ways to find your tribe. Actually, it’s one of the reasons why I started this blog. Unless you gravitate to a particular modality or practice that you can really identify with and use as a channel for community (e.g. yoga), you’re basically on your own. There’s a sense of isolation in being spiritual-but-not-religious that I want to explore.
What happens to spiritual fellowship in a post-religious world? In the era of mythic religions people on the spiritual path were led by a guru or teacher. They had the comfort and support of a sangha or congregation. And they had a creed that mapped out the glorious, sacred story within which their soul journey unfolded. It’s different for us. Why?
I think a major reason is that we have undergone huge epistemological shifts that have dismantled traditional religious foundations – at least for those of us paying attention. First, we had the Enlightenment and the rise of modern science. Second, post-modernism forced us to accept the reality that what we think we know is actually subjective. The upshot is that we are left without an overarching myth or external authority to explain everything for us. And we no longer have a cohesive social context for our soul journey.
I don’t think this is all bad. Because there are no well-worn road maps we are forced to take responsibility for finding our own way. Unlike religious devotees we cannot simply go along with the set of teachings we are handed. Instead of “hear and obey”, we operate in a mode of exploration and experimentation. This self-responsibility gives spirituality a wonderful aliveness and creativity – the vitality of unknowing. It requires sustained attention and cultivation. We are souls-in-progress.
But I think there is also a downside. For many of us in this predicament, the spiritual path collapses into something intensely (and sometimes stiflingly) personal. In the absence of myth, both the goal and the experience are confined to our own personal growth and development. Yet I think that ultimately, as human beings, this isn’t enough to satisfy us. I think we’re hard-wired to want more. There is an impulse within us that wants to connect with one another and the world. To have an impact beyond our own skin and psyche. Without some outward movement or orientation, spirituality can become neurotic.
This brings up several questions I want to pursue in future entries. First, how can we broaden the context of the spiritual-but-not-religious journey without going backwards? What is the bigger meaning of spirituality here and now, beyond achieving my own personal peace and healing? I am also curious about what new forms and practices are emerging that could support people like me in working collectively on spiritual development. How do we come together in spirit in ways that are appropriate for the non-religious?
You describe very well a situation that many people, including myself, struggle with. In a congregation there is a mutual reference point by which a person can measure their progress and focus their efforts, but the modern spiritual road provides no such authority. Yet within this can be found a subtle yet profound liberation… to truly live the life that we aspire to, we must follow the purer part of our conscience, the voice that directly corresponds to the light we seek, regardless of what others tell us, and though that can be a very difficult undertaking, surely it also brings the greater reward.
Yes, it’s definitely most rewarding. But it’s also nice to have some company.
Yes, company is most welcome, but it can be difficult to find like-minded people… it seems that the solitary path is quite specialized in the kinds of lessons taken on, but perhaps there is a return to mainstream society once the lessons have been truly absorbed. I have no doubt from my own experience that people are guided into my life when the time is right, and trying to step ahead too quickly can sometimes delay the spiritual work. But yes, company would be good!
Good points. Mainstream culture doesn’t provide support for unconventional paths, so I guess we have to create our own support systems and make our own culture. Blogs like yours and mine can hopefully be part of this process.
Thanks so much for this post! I’ve experienced great loneliness in stepping out of the institutional church, but I have much hope for creating a new kind of community. Unknowing and curiosity may be the key. Sometimes, people are afraid to claim anything because they have seen the damage caused by claims in the past, or because they don’t want to offend anyone. I think there is another way. Something like the way pilgrims staying in an inn would share stories over a meal.
There are stories that speak powerfully to me—the story of Jesus, the Dao de Jing, Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire, etc. They are great stories. What are the stories that have a hold of you? With open-heartedness, a community of people could share their different stories with each other. No convincing, no right or wrong, no conversion.
America has had the myth of the melting pot, where everyone loses their individuality and becomes uniform. I like the image of the salad or the potluck, where everyone shares the treasures of their garden, and all the ingredients keep their identity.
Lovely comment. Yes, I think sharing stories is an excellent practice. Really I am interested in creating a we-space where subjectivity and diversity of experience and perspectives is a plus rather than a minus… where small, armored agendas of control fade into the background. I like the image of a salad. Or a quilt or mosaic. Where the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts, and as you say, the parts keep their color and flavor and texture. To wit, I like stories such as this one:
the man digging radishes
pointed the way
with a radish
~ Issa