Spirituality
recognises that there is more reality than just the material world. The intuition
that our lives have meaning and are part of something bigger is a powerful
motivator for us to cultivate our spiritual side. The mystical experiences and
beliefs that arise from this engagement can stimulate our imagination in unexpected
ways. Feelings of transcendence and awe have inspired creative people, artists,
writers and composers throughout the ages, and continue to influence cultures
around the world. Spirituality has certainly not gone away in a hyper-connected
age, but finds new modes of expression and practice.
Spirituality and
culture are closely linked. How we treat other people, what and when we eat and
drink, how we interact with – and transcend – the everyday world are all
affected by our spiritual orientation. Our spiritual commitments may prompt us
to seek social change, travel to sacred places, and follow particular rituals
to put us in touch with something beyond everyday living. We might signal our
identification with a particular spiritual group by our outward appearance, and
hope that our conduct will improve the culture around us in some small way. In turn,
the wider culture affects our spiritual life, so that its sometimes hard to
know which aspects of our daily living are based on local customs and which are
spiritual in origin.
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