The Purpose of "Clarification" in Religious Thought

At the "rim" of a religion live its history, narratives, and founding precepts. Clarification provides us with a factual and normative understanding of how the outer, or exoteric aspects of that religion present themselves in the world.

Each religious/spiritual tradition can be thought about in terms of a set of unique characteristics defined by:

Excellence

Master Story

Ritual Pattern

Ethical Norm

Do these characteristics help to clarify the way you think about your own, or any other religious/spiritual tradition?

And/Or... can you share an insight that you might have experienced as you focused your thinking through this lens?

4 comments

4 Comments

Barbara Fields

Aug 16, 2020

Well said, Zina. I understand.

Barbara Fields

Aug 10, 2020

Thanks for your response. It indicates that you have already begun to thoughtfully apply some of this series' objectives to your own spiritual path! It is insightful, in and of itself, that you find you cannot clarify your own practice using the identifying characteristics of the world's traditional religions. I suppose this is one reason why we study world culture and religious systems -- to get a personal perspective on where our daily spiritual choices and practice "live" in relation to the realities of so many millions of others who reside in different places within the whole system. Many spiritual teachers say, in their own ways, that being united as one human family doesn't mean we are all the same, but that we are enriched by our differences and unique gifts. The keys seem to be: 1) Authenticity in your own spiritual search and, 2) Respect for and understanding of the paths of others.

Zina Buffkin

Aug 16, 2020

Replying to

Thank you, Barbara, for your words in reflection upon what I expressed as it relates to your original question of "Do these characteristics help to clarify the way you think about your own, or any other religious/spiritual tradition?"

Please allow me to expound further on what I expressed last week. In what I feel more accurately represents how I view the impact of the identifying characteristics of the world's traditional religions, as they relate to the deepening of my spiritual journey: As my journey began in many of the different religious traditions; from Catholic, to Baptist, to Pentecostal, to Metaphysics, which is where my spiritual path and study currently resides, my observance and sometimes participation in some of the practices and traditions of these "world's religions", and their beliefs are for the distinct purpose of my recognition of how I have traveled along in my spiritual walk, and how I have grown and continue to unfold during my journey. Using many of these observances of the aspects of my relation to these religions to remind me of my "Why". Helping me to not lose sight of my purpose, the Universe's purpose for my presence here, during this time of existence. Understanding that even though we, as a collective body and consciousness of the "One", or whatever any individual being my make reference to their thought of what they consider to be "God" in their lives. I very much feel the energy and light of all humankind, while still remaining mindful of the fact that I am, just as everyone is, an individual aspect of divinity and light, an individual spirit moving up the spiral of ever expanding and evolving consciousness, seeking to attain their complete unfoldment to eternal spiritual enlightenment. During my continued, focused, spiritual awakening, I have been privileged to have had many wonderful, wise and spiritually gifted teachers and mentors. All of them have shared their knowledge as it relates to what they have internalized and accepted as Truth during their continued spiritual journeys. And from the knowledge they shared, I internalized and accepted those things that resonated with my spirit, as I continue to do with other teachers that I have encountered along my spiritual journey. However, as with these enlightened teachers having much to share, being so learned and intellectually educated in theology, psychology, mythology, and all the rest of the "ology's" that goes along with one having spent much time, study and reflected focus to achieve credentialed acknowledgement of the accomplishments in studying these areas of religion, spirituality and the like. Yet, all of the degrees and credentials earned by anyone does not intend to remove from fact that even the most learned of religious and spiritual teachers and/or leaders still have their path, and their own continued work to do on their individual spiritual paths. As it is not my intention the judge anyone for any reason for the choices they make in following the journey of their spiritual path, however they may be led. I'm just trying to make the point that, rather than "judge" anyone for expressing their understanding of a subject, topic, etc. Rather, acknowledge and accept what they have expressed as being how the subject or topic resonated with their individual spirit, and further recognizing that how any subject or topic is expressed doesn't mean any two spiritual being will interpret the subject or topic the same. We are all individual spirits, and at the same time, we are One with the One! Peace and Infinite Blessings! 💗

Zina Buffkin

Aug 09, 2020

Let me begin by saying, I sincerely appreciate the insights and reflective comments that are expressed by many of the leaders and/or participates on these classes/lectures. I choose to take this information into my meditative states of consciousness to determine how it resonates with my soul's growth and unfolding, if it does at all. Moreover, I like to keep my comments and reflections based on how they would affect "me" in my spiritual journey, as I'm not able to come to know any other affect it may have on another along their spiritual journey, other than by a unified "oneness" that we all share. With that said, I just want to comment on the ideology of the use of this "rim" as illustrated in the chart that Jim provided to the class. In the teaching that I have studied under for many, many years now, taught by many different disciplines of spiritual teachers, I've been taught that there is no return to the "rim" of your thinking or of your "consciousness" as the term used in my metaphysical studies. You don't "unlearn" anything learned. It is merely choosing to make choices based upon spiritual principle or ego. For me, it is just as simple as that. Also, the clarification you speak of, as it relates to the "factual and normative understanding of how the outer, or exoteric aspects of that religion present themselves in the world"; my spiritual practice is just that, an eternal practice of training my conscious mind to utilize the principles of spiritual truth, thereby putting these spiritual truths into action in my life experiences in order to progress me along my spiritual journey without stress, unnecessary suffering and the like. I don't consider spirituality a "religion", and it further should not be looked at as having "traditions". As defined, the "idea" of religion has been noted, "scholars have pointed out that the terminology used in the study of religion in the west derives from Judeo-Christian tradition, and that the basic assumptions of religion as an analytical category are all Western in origin".

I suppose what I'm really saying here is that the characteristics that you indicated do not clarify my spiritual life's journey. My continued spiritual study and focus is of a life that directs my thinking by always going within to my "Center" to check in with myself in making decisions that are spiritually guided; recognizing that my life is not guided by any story from my past or based upon generational affiliations/conditions. It also is not based upon world or environmental conditions. I choose the path of my life, based upon MY thinking. If I do my spiritual work, then the yield of my life will be reflective of that work. As I know that keeping my thinking progressing along my spiritual path, calls for continuously doing my spiritual work. Yes, my life's journey will certainly have bumps in the road. Which is why I partake in various classes/lectures of this type, always remaining open to the ideas and expressed opinions of other like-minded individual spirits on their journey in this life. This gives me the opportunity to share my thoughts with others as well as take in the thoughts of others I encounter along the way. So, I say this as a way of expressing great appreciation and gratitude for your sharing with the group, and with me. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on this as well as many other topics that will be a part of this group forum. Peace & Infinite Blessings! 😊

The Purpose of "Clarification" in Religious Thought

CONTACT

Jim Kenney