Religion, Politics & Spirituality
abracad, · Categories: in the news, religion, spiritual politics, spiritualityDr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican church, recently accused government of treating religious faith as an "eccentricity" practiced by "oddities". But should religion and Spirituality have a role to play in the way human society is governed?
Religion can be defined as a set of institutionalized beliefs and practices based on some divine or supernatural power(s). Religion is organized, each of the world's major religions have millions (or billions) of followers, and churches have a hierarchy of priests or ministers to ensure the religion's teachings are appropriately fulfilled. Religion is based on faith rather than demonstrable truth. In addition to the worship of an unseen supreme power religion also provides a code of conduct for daily life on earth, often with the promise of reward for a life well lived and punishment for transgression.
Spirituality is our personal quest to discover and identify with a greater reality than that perceived through our physical senses. Spirituality is the seed from which religion emerges. It is our personal interpretation of religious doctrine and earthly experience. It is that knowledge, buried deeply within ourselves, of our true nature. Given our inevitable physical mortality, Spirituality is what ultimately gives purpose to our existence. Religions can provide a roadmap for our Spiritual journey, though the precise route taken is personal and unique.
Politics is the process of governing human society. Undoubtedly human progress owes much to our ability to organize our efforts towards the common good. Politics is the formalization of this organization, producing clearly defined laws for each organized region (county, state, country...) and stated penalties for violation. Politics takes many forms around the world from enforced dictatorship to the most evolved, but still flawed, form of governance that is democracy.
All political systems are essentially vulnerable since they involve the few imposing their will upon the many. People will be led so long as their leadership is deemed acceptable. As the strength of the many exceeds that of the few the ruling minority, even dictators, must ensure their leadership is sufficiently acceptable to not provoke mass revolt. Thus, to a greater or lesser extent, all governments reflect the will of the governed.
While incarnate in human form we inhabit two realms: the physical world of which our bodies interact and are part; and the greater, but unseen, Spiritual reality which is our eternal home. As physical beings in a finite world we think and act as individuals; though we may (as a species) exhibit admirable selflessness, we inevitably prioritize the personal survival and comfort of ourselves and our close ones. As Spiritual entities individuality ceases to exist, we are all part of the one source. As such, there can be no selfishness, for there is ultimately no self.
If life on earth is considered as a return trip from our Spiritual source, then the degree to which we incorporate religious faith, or more accurately Spiritual principles, into our governance is a barometer of our journey's progress. The choice is ours, but the greater our development along our earthly path the more we understand the futility of transient personal gain compared with the lasting fulfillment that comes from Spiritual awareness and progress.
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