Religion and Spirituality

When was the last time you recall hearing - on TV, in the movies, or in real life - a conversation that included reference to some aspect of religion or spirituality?

Its existence is acknowledged only when absolutely necessary and often with some reticence or even embarrassment. And even if they seem appropriate, God forbid I should bring explicit details into the conversation!

Whether we acknowledge it, ignore it or actively cultivate it, spirituality is a fundamental aspect of our being. It's more than any specific religion, although religion is a common avenue for its expression. Absolutely basic to spirituality is the belief in some force outside ourselves that is greater than we are - a force that holds for us wonderment and awe, a force to which we can appeal or express gratitude, and together with which we can rejoice or lament.

How that force is visualized or realized by the individual is ultimately not important. It could be as God (feminine, masculine or neuter), as Nature, as a less well delineated Higher Intelligence.

Where do we go from here? The short answer is simply: Talk about it. The more complicated reality is that there must be debate and discussion on a national level in order for an awareness of the importance of human spirituality to grow. Only then can we consider incorporating discussion of spiritual and religious awareness into the societal fabric.