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Resurgence of Spiritualism

Secularism

People often associate secularism with postmodernismA much used and debated term with a wide range of meanings. From a theological perspecitive it generally refers to the view that modernity, which regards tradition as irrational. more. They both are a continuation of a process started from the onset of modernity where religion has gradually declined to play a major role in Western society. But there has been a surprising revival of spiritualism in Western societies after Western cultures have largely adopted the postmodernist worldview. Currently, spirituality is usurping religion’s role in modern society. Multiple surveys consistently show a decline in organized religion and a corresponding rise in people identifying themselves as spiritual but not religious. People still search for meaning and purpose but are often finding these outside of organized religion.

New Atheists

The age of the new atheists is a continuation of the secularization of society. In 1996, Daniel offered a philosophically sophisticated critique of religion in his book Breaking the Spell. He argued that religion is dangerous because it makes people impervious to reason. However, in this treatise we have reviewed two millennia of history when religious intellectuals used reason to analyze, criticize and modify their religious traditions. Sam wrote The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of ReasonThe capacity to logically and consciously establish facts and prioritize values. Reason is often considered to be a distinctly human capacity. Christianity considers it to be a unique gift to humanity, that through reason humanity is made in God’s likeness.... more in 2004. It quickly became a best seller and won several awards. asserts that all religion is inherently irrational fundamentalism, which leads to intolerance and violence. He claimed that the moderation we see among non-fundamentalists is not some sign that itself has evolved. It is, rather, the product of the many hammer blows of modernity that have exposed certain tenets of to doubt. . . . By failing to live by the letter of the texts while tolerating the irrationality of those who do, religious moderates betray and reason equally. These views have gained widespread traction with the increased acceptance of postmodernism’s hostility towards institutions in general and religion in particular. However, this trend is countered by a resurgence of spiritualism.

Christian Spiritualism

We can trace modern spiritualism’s roots back to Eastern religions and the mystic traditions of early and medieval Christianity. ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more reformers attacked mysticismIs a form of religious experience that is found in one form or another in nearly all religious traditions. In early Christianity, Pseudo Dionysius referred to it as “mystical theology” because it referred to aspects of an incomprehensible God that... more along with the papacyThe office of pope in the Roman Catholic Church which is the highest office in its hierarchical structure. more, monasticism, and the entire sacramental system of the Roman Catholic Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more. ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more reformers rejected the one-tiered mystical form of discipleship which was found only in the monasteries and sought to establish a simpler more universal form of discipleship that was found in the New Testament. However, mystic principles still informed much of their work.

Martin Luther’s interpretation of Jacob’s ladder found in the twenty-eighth chapter of Genesis drew on the mystic distinctions between our holiness and God’s holiness.[/glossary] JohnCalvin’s book Institutes of the Christian Religion, which laid out the foundation of ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more theology, likewise stressed the mystic traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more of self-denial and prayer but eliminated the confining structure of monastic life that the Catholic traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more imposed. Calvin stressed the need for a personal mystical born-again experience to be saved. The Anabaptist (radical arm of the early ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more movement that insisted on baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more of adults by immersion, from which the AmishA branch of Anabaptist that broke off from the Mennonites in the 16th Century. (See Anabaptists.) more and Mennonite traditions evolved) and Moravian movements stressed spirituality involving a strong mystical presence of the Holy Spirit in their meetings. They were persecuted by both the Catholic Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more and the other ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more denominations. Consequently, they pursued the mystic path of embracing martyrdom as a means of imitating Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more and realizing a deeper union with him. Today, this Christian mystic heritage has reasserted itself in ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more spiritualism found in the evangelicalComes from the Greek term, evangelion, and means good news or the Gospel. This term was use in the 16th century to refer to Protestants and is still used this way in Germany to this day. In England and the... more movement.

Christian Reaction to Secularism

After NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), declared that God is dead, and the intellectuals of his day had killed him. With the death of God, nihilism was born. more proclaimed the death of God, he failed in his attempt to supplant the metaphysical realm with an alternative approach to provide meaning in peoples’ lives. He realized that individuals needed more than the will to power, which he claimed was the primary force affecting human relations. Regardless, intellectuals grabbed onto his thesis that belief in any metaphysical influence was nonsensical. Religion was marginalized leading to liberal theologians seeking the historical Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more, fundamentalist attempting to prove that the Bible was true, Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of Enlightenment thinkers and Hegel and stressed instead the faith of the passionate individual. He adapts Hegel’s dialectic to describe the role of... more, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more, and other Neo-Orthodox theologians doubling down on the infinite difference between human and the divine, and liberation theologians arguing that the church must immerse itself in the world to alleviate suffering in order to connect with God.

Bonhoffer

Paradoxically, the beginnings of Western twentieth-century spiritualism found a voice when a deeply religious minister proffered a “religionless Christianity.” Dietrich Bonhoffer (1906–1945) took a different approach to the increased secularization of society. Bonhoffer felt that went too far in separating God from humans. Instead, Bonhoffer stressed the unity between God and humanity through , ideally found in the church. But he pointed out that the free taught on Sundays in churches was “cheap ” and failed to generate sufficient to empower parishioners to endure the sacrifices that invariably accompanies saving . Bonhoffer stressed the of discipleship by living Jesus’s teachings in our daily lives. According to Bonhoffer, true Christianity was more than just developing theories about God or cultivating an inner spirituality. He said that seeking God solely through the was a “religious” way of avoiding real connection with God, which is only possible through discipleship. Real spirituality was found in daily living and not in the church. He not only taught this principle, but lived and died for it. He spoke out against Hitler and actively sought ways to unseat him. He became the head of an underground seminary, was arrested in 1943 and executed two years later, just days before the Allies defeated Germany. As he was hauled away to his death, he proclaimed, “This is the end—but for me it is the beginning of Life!”1

Levinas

The French, Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906–1995) was an influential postmodern moralist. His main contribution to philosophical thought was his concept of an underlying ethical principle undergirding all philosophy based on seeing the face of the other and how it affects our perspective on and relationships with everything else.

Levinas taught that we find ourselves and God in ethical relationships with other human beings. For Levinas, all ethics are based on the concept that each individual is responsible for others he encounters in life’s journey (“the other”). This radical obligation is grounded in a transcendent imperative that is the center of all human interaction. When we come face-to-face with a suffering soul, we encounter the imperative to respond and give ourself over to the other, regardless of the prospect of any reciprocity. In the face of the other, who may be very different from us, we are held hostage by the other until we submit and pour ourself out and into the other, and through this process we discover traces of God. Those who devise vary devices to hide from the face of the other and this commandment, remain blind and never discover their true selves.

Like other postmodernists, he criticized modernity’s metaphysical orientation which led persons to claimed they knew other people. He insisted that we should not pretend to understand others because each individual is so unique that this otherness (“radical alterity”) is what shocks us out of ourselves and transform us into an ethical being. It is in the face of the other where we see the face of God. Levinas believed that after all of the suspicionA philosophical concept articulated by Paul Ricoeur that some doubts drives the interpretation of consciousness as false. more, criticism, and self-consciousness of postmodernismA much used and debated term with a wide range of meanings. From a theological perspecitive it generally refers to the view that modernity, which regards tradition as irrational. more, it is still faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more that enables us to live meaningful lives.2

Vattimo

Gianni Vattimo (1936–2023), a Roman Catholic, took the ancient Orthodox concept of kenosisis a Greek term meaning “self-emptying.” This theory is a theory of theology where God renounced his omnipotence and some of his glory when he became incarnate as Jesus Christ. more and gave it a modern twist. Kenosis means emptying and refers to ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more condescending from his heavenly throne to become human and die to save mankind.2 He voluntarily emptied himself of his divine nature to assume our fallen human nature. In his 1999 book Belief, Vattimo(A.D. 1936–Present) Gianni Vattimo is an Italian philosopher who has also been involved in politics, being a member of the Party of Italian Communists and elected a member of the European Parliament. He is a nihilist and fully embraces Nietzsche’s... more explains that the essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more of kenosisis a Greek term meaning “self-emptying.” This theory is a theory of theology where God renounced his omnipotence and some of his glory when he became incarnate as Jesus Christ. more is Jesus’s act of loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more to save the human race. Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more demonstrated pure agapeGreek term meaning self-giving love that is often translated as charity in the Bible and refers to basic Christian love as distinguished from erotic love (eros, Greek for desire) and love for a friend (philia). more translated as charitycomes from the Latin word “caritus” that was a translation of the Greek term “agape.”, which refers to a pure love of god and neighbor. It should not be confused with the modern usage of this term which is equivalent... more, where one empties himself of his own selfish will to care for another. Vattimo(A.D. 1936–Present) Gianni Vattimo is an Italian philosopher who has also been involved in politics, being a member of the Party of Italian Communists and elected a member of the European Parliament. He is a nihilist and fully embraces Nietzsche’s... more explains that beyond Jesus’s incarnation and crucifixion, Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more gave up his transcendent power out of loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more for humanity. Accordingly, we should follow his example and empty our soul of its drive for power and our quest for perfectionIn Christian theology it refers to the Protestant (chiefly Methodist) doctrine and the Holiness tradition that entire sanctification (Holiness and perfection) is not only possible but standard for believers. more and replace it with loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more for humanity. Secularization, to Vattimo, is an authentic religious experience as society weans itself of the transcendent God of power to embrace the God of loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more. This attitude towards God has enveloped much of the Christian world today and carries over to those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious.

Rowan Williams

The retired as Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more (born 1950), embraced the hermeneutics of suspicionIs a term coined by the philosopher Paul Ricoeur to identify a method of interpreting cultural phenomena by seeking to uncover hidden or suppressed sources for the belief or activity being examined. Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud based much of their... more, but criticized Marx and Freud’s pretentions. He acknowledged we cannot know if something is revealed from God rather than contrived through human intellect, but this suspicionA philosophical concept articulated by Paul Ricoeur that some doubts drives the interpretation of consciousness as false. more is a necessary element for faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more to have any context. Instead of precluding the possibility of revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more, we should remain open to the possibility of it, and through this process we may develop our faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more and receive more light. Faith fosters creativity and increases one’s connection with others and with God.

Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more rejected both the liberal and fundamentalist theologies in favor of a postmodern perspective. He pointed out that Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more, not the Bible, is the revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more of God. The Bible is the witness of this revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more. This witness written by human hands was subject to personal interpretation and judgment. So, the Bible requires constant examination and contemplation to understand the actual revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more of God and its application today. The Bible is a living documents that needs to be reinterpreted to meet today’s needs. Tradition is just one resource to help us understand God’s revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more.4

Paul Tillich

Another influential twentieth century theologian was the Lutheran theologian Paul Tillich (1886–1965). He argued that the essence of a spiritual experience is the individual’s “ultimate concern.” For , whatever is ultimately important to an individual becomes the object or subject of their . He broke from mainstream existentialism which believed that existence held priority over any purported metaphysical .

Karl Jaspers

Karl Jaspers (1883–1969) was initially inspired by Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of Enlightenment thinkers and Hegel and stressed instead the faith of the passionate individual. He adapts Hegel’s dialectic to describe the role of... more and NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), declared that God is dead, and the intellectuals of his day had killed him. With the death of God, nihilism was born. more, and found further enlightenment with Catholic mysticismIs a form of religious experience that is found in one form or another in nearly all religious traditions. In early Christianity, Pseudo Dionysius referred to it as “mystical theology” because it referred to aspects of an incomprehensible God that... more and Buddhism. He developed a monistic (pantheistic) theory that all things in existence are part of the same unified essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more. He maintained that humans have a form of knowledge akin to intuition that cannot be ascribed to established cognitive categories. He also held that science was incapable of dealing with these aspects of the mind and spirit. The theme of personal freedom permeated his work, which had a major influence on theology, psychiatry, and philosophy to this day.5

The Appeal of Eastern and Generic Spiritualism

Bonhoffer, Levinas, , and others have shown us that contrary to common belief, is not directly linked with the that religion and metaphysical beliefs will continually decline and eventually disappear altogether. The is more of a product of modernism than , which is open to non-rational way to experience reality. A fundamental component of was its of in favor of intellectual authority. Postmodernism’s of modernity opened the door for a return to pre-modern traditions and the possibility of metaphysical aspects of ultimate reality.

The Beatles’ hiatus from performing to seek spiritual enlightenment from an Eastern guru exemplifies the path many Westerners have followed. The Beatles introduced the world to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the creator of Transcendental Meditation, which has become a worldwide, quasi-religious phenomenon. Since The Beatles, Eastern and generic spirituality has exploded in the West, filling shelves in bookstores and becoming a significant category of books sold on Amazon. There is a never-ending array of Podcasts available to satisfy an empty public seeking fulfillment.

Bahá’í Faith

Many individuals who have become disenchanted with their Christian tradition have found a home in the spiritualism of the Baha’i faith that attempts to marry reason and faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more.

The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions originating in Persia (Iran) in the year 1844. Geographically it is the world’s second-most widely spread religion with about six million believers worldwide who come from virtually every cultural, racial, social and religious background on earth.
Bahá’ís believe that the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), is the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more and MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more.
The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society—“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” Bahá’u’lláh has stated that God has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creedis a Christian confession of faith that has obtained this title from the use of the Latin term credo, “I believe,” at the beginning of such formula of faith. Initially converts repeated a creed at the time of baptism but later... more and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization.6

The fundamental principles of the Bahá’í Faith consist of:

One Loving Creator. Bahá’ís believe that there is only one God, unknowable in His essence, Who is the Creator and absolute ruler of the universe.

The Oneness of Mankind. Bahá’u’lláh says, “It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”

The Oneness of Religion. Bahá’u’lláh teaches that the religions of the world come from the same heavenly Source and that “the difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed.”

Independent Investigation of the Truth. “God has not intended man to imitate blindly his fathers and ancestors. He has endowed him with mind, or the faculty of reasoning, by the exercise of which he is to investigate and discover the truth, and that which he finds real and true he must accept.”

Harmony between Religion and Science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá likens religion and science to two wings, both of which are required if humanity is to progress. He says, “Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism.”

International Auxiliary Language. Bahá’u’lláh teaches that in the future mankind will develop or choose a universal auxiliary language and common script that will “cause the whole earth to be regarded as one Country” and be “conducive to unity and concord.” In each country, the language of the country will be taught, as well as the universal language.

Universal Education. Bahá’u’lláh has enjoined upon all the responsibility to become trained in a useful craft, trade or profession. He says, moreover, that “knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone.”

The Elimination of All Forms of Prejudice. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes: “. . . as to religious, racial, national and political bias: all these prejudices strike at the very root of human life; one and all they beget bloodshed, and the ruination of the world. So long as these prejudices survive, there will be continuous and fearsome wars.”

Equality of Men and Women. Again, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá uses the analogy of the cooperation of two wings necessary for the progress of humanity – this time to symbolize women and men. He teaches, in regard to opportunities for education and training, that “until the reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social development of mankind is not possible’ and that ‘it will come to pass that . . . women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world.”

The Abolition of the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty. Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “O Ye Rich Ones on Earth! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.”

Spiritual Solutions to Economic Problems. “Abdu’l-Bahá teaches that ‘until material achievements, physical accomplishments and human virtues are reinforced by spiritual perfections, luminous qualities and characteristics of mercy, no fruit or result shall issue therefrom, nor will the happiness of the world of humanity, which is the ultimate aim, be attained.”

Universal Peace upheld by a World Federation. Bahá’u’lláh envisioned that the time will come “when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world’s Great Peace amongst men. Such a peace demandeth that the Great Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquility of the peoples of the earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves. Should any king take up arms against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him. If this be done, the nations of the world will no longer require any armaments, except for the purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal order within their territories.”

Purpose of Life. Bahá’ís believe that the purpose of life is twofold – to know and love God and attain His presence, and to “carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.” Bahá’u’lláh teaches that human life is an eternal journey toward God, beginning in this physical world and continuing eternally after death through a series of spiritual worlds, the mysteries of which are hidden from us. Just as in the womb of the mother, the embryo develops physical faculties to enable it to live fully and ably in this world, so we must develop spiritual qualities during this earthly life to prepare our souls for their eternally continuing spiritual journey after their separation from our bodies. These spiritual qualities include truthfulness, love, kindness, justice, respect and humility. It is necessary therefore to strive daily to perfect such qualities within ourselves and put them into practice in our lives.

Advancing Civilization. The ever-advancing civilization which Bahá’u’lláh refers to requires not only the material progress of society, but spiritual progress also. He writes that the “well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” To serve humanity and to work for the advancement of its people is the duty and privilege of every person, no matter how great or small their capacity to contribute.7

Metaphysic’s Durable Reality

The resurgence of spiritualism in all its various forms testifies to the truth taught by NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), declared that God is dead, and the intellectuals of his day had killed him. With the death of God, nihilism was born. more that humans need a will to live. The human quest for meaning is an innate need that is generally realized by some connection with the metaphysical realm. It is ironic that before his insanity and death, the philosopher who proclaimed the death of God attempted, and failed, to devise an alternative to the mystical metaphysical realm with what could be described as an alternative metaphysical universe. As much as postmodern social engineers deride spiritualism, it has proven to be part of the human experience.

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Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

by Daniel C. Dennett

The New York Times bestseller – a “crystal-clear, constantly engaging” (Jared Diamond) exploration of the role that religious belief plays in our lives and our interactions.
For all the thousands of books that have been written about religion, few until this one have attempted to examine it scientifically: to ask why—and how—it has shaped so many lives so strongly. Is religion a product of blind evolutionary instinct or rational choice? Is it truly the best way to live a moral life? Ranging through biology, history, and psychology, Daniel C. Dennett charts religion’s evolution from “wild” folk belief to “domesticated” dogma. Not an antireligious screed but an unblinking look beneath the veil of orthodoxy, Breaking the Spell will be read and debated by believers and skeptics alike.