American understanding of the word "spirituality"
http://community.livejournal.com/orthodoxy/490389.html?thread=4033173#t4033173
xallanthia wrote:
From my observations, there seems to be an understanding in much of American Christianity (especially Protestantism) or indeed, in much of the body of American religions (Christian and not), which sees spirituality as a separate good, and one's "experience of religion" as the most important point of going to a religious service. To an American of this mindset, any religious service is good which enhances the understanding of the Spiritual in a way that pleases the worshiper, is "good." Do you prefer traditional hymns? Very well. Contemporary songs sung by a rock band? Sounds great! Faith healing and fire-and-brimstone preaching? Fantastic! Occasional attendance at synogogue? Well, you are Jewish at heart. Dancing naked under the moonlight? If that's how you experience God(s)! (Obviously the last two are separate from Christian spirituality but the principle continues.) The end result is that Americans tend to see religion from the point of view of what they get out of it. This is even apparent in the atheist, who takes pride in "not needing" that "nonsense" in their life.
Oddly, though, there are two faiths in America that usually don't get the same treatment: Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy*. They may get it from other religions (to whom, generally, a Christian is a Christian), but from other Christian denominations, they are often regarded as "not really Christian" because of the differences in theology.
*Episcopalian and Anglo-Catholic churches can go either way, depending on the congregation.
xallanthia wrote:
From my observations, there seems to be an understanding in much of American Christianity (especially Protestantism) or indeed, in much of the body of American religions (Christian and not), which sees spirituality as a separate good, and one's "experience of religion" as the most important point of going to a religious service. To an American of this mindset, any religious service is good which enhances the understanding of the Spiritual in a way that pleases the worshiper, is "good." Do you prefer traditional hymns? Very well. Contemporary songs sung by a rock band? Sounds great! Faith healing and fire-and-brimstone preaching? Fantastic! Occasional attendance at synogogue? Well, you are Jewish at heart. Dancing naked under the moonlight? If that's how you experience God(s)! (Obviously the last two are separate from Christian spirituality but the principle continues.) The end result is that Americans tend to see religion from the point of view of what they get out of it. This is even apparent in the atheist, who takes pride in "not needing" that "nonsense" in their life.
Oddly, though, there are two faiths in America that usually don't get the same treatment: Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy*. They may get it from other religions (to whom, generally, a Christian is a Christian), but from other Christian denominations, they are often regarded as "not really Christian" because of the differences in theology.
*Episcopalian and Anglo-Catholic churches can go either way, depending on the congregation.