5 Reasons You Can’t Find the Right Spiritual Path (Beckett)
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:11 am
I found this article by John Beckett, Pagan, Druid, Unitarian Universalist, and author of the Patheos* blog Under the Ancient Oaks. I love almost everything he writes -- he's a very moderate and gentle author with many spiritual insights to share.
In this article, 5 Reasons You Can't Find the Right Spiritual Path, he explains some of the most common pitfalls for seekers (on any religious path!)
Here's an excerpt (and reason #1):
* I find that Pagan Patheos is has a ton of the most current events and latest writings by some wonderful Pagan bloggers; I go this website on a daily basis!
In this article, 5 Reasons You Can't Find the Right Spiritual Path, he explains some of the most common pitfalls for seekers (on any religious path!)
Here's an excerpt (and reason #1):
Hit the link to read the other four!John Beckett wrote:
1. You don’t know your core values. Is there such a thing as absolute truth? What does it take to convince you something is true? What’s your tolerance for ambiguity?
Is life fair? Should it be fair? What obligations do we have to make life more fair for others? What obligations do we have to our families and neighbors? What obligations do we have to strangers?
Is the world primarily something to enjoy or something to escape? Do your heart and mind tell you there are many Gods, one God, or no Gods?
Are you willing to be challenged, both in your beliefs and in your application of them? Or are you looking for something that will confirm what you’re already comfortable with?
These are hard questions, and they’re a bit of a Catch-22. Many spiritual traditions are very good at helping you learn what matters most. But until you spend significant time working through them, you won’t know if you’re a good match with them or not.
Do this instead. Read. Read as much as you can from as many different religious and spiritual traditions as you can. Read with an open mind – don’t analyze every page to see if it confirms or rebuts what you already think. Simply learn what other people believe and do. Then contemplate what you’ve read. Keep at it till you’ve got a good idea of what’s important to you, so you can find a spiritual tradition that supports your values and your priorities.
* I find that Pagan Patheos is has a ton of the most current events and latest writings by some wonderful Pagan bloggers; I go this website on a daily basis!
