Metaphysical Spirituality
Tony O. Harris, M.Div
[email protected] [email protected]
PH: (804) 721-9217
Submitted for Lyceum Conference, April 2011
Metaphysical Spirituality 1 Man has a need to understand his/her origin and to understand his/her origin is to go back to the first principal, which is the Creator. It is almost vaporous, attempting to understand an elusive Creator. The more we learn, the more there is to learn is man’s experience trying to understand an infinite Creator through the faculties of a finite mind. In my approach of understanding the subject of metaphysics I choose to work through the lenses of the Habiru priesthood, the shaman, the mystic and intuit. One has to understand the writings of the sacred text through language, symbiotics and context. The understanding of signs and the interpretation of signs is called semiotics “Aliquid stat pro aliquo” (something stands for something else). A sign is an indicator pointing to a deeper meaning than that which appears on the surface. Symbols, signs and language are rooted in culture. Symbols are the unconscious language or unspoken language of the subconscious mind. Relative to this writing is from the lens of the priestly order, the handlers of spiritual understanding and the realm beyond the physical manifestation of the world we live in. Within the religious orders beginning as far back as the Oral Torah, there have been orders of sacred wisdom such as Schools of the Prophets, Hermenites, Masons, Rosicrusians and the Illuminati. There are mystery schools like the Enochians and order of Solomon all attempting to understand the hidden wisdom most traditional religions reject as heretical because it goes beyond their dogma, ritualistic practices, idolatry and control. The protagonist and antagonist struggle of science vs. religion in relation to the Church can be attributed to a lack of understanding that GOD is science and science is a precursor to understanding GOD because GOD uses science and we call it “miracles.” Stemming from this are branches of study such as symbology, cryptology, and ciphers.
In the book of Genesis there are two accounts of the creation narrative (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2), one written by Yahwistic writer (J) and the Priestly writer (P). The distinction between the two is that (J) was concerned with kronos (chronology) and (P) ascribed to interpret the course of events from a priestly understanding or spiritual lens. The priestly order encompasses knowledge outside of subjective knowledge (“Priori”) and embraces the experiential or intuited knowledge (“a Priori”). Formative traditional religion is based on what is handed down and metaphysical spirituality embraces that which comes through intuition, personal revelation, and the acceptance of an existence beyond what is seen in the material realm. GOD can be felt, GOD is in all things and everything, GOD is omniscient “All Science”. For the metaphysicist there is an unseen realm parallel to the material realm of which we exist, faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. GOD is spirit, without form, He just is and He is creator of that which is seen and unseen. This unseen Creator can be felt, heard or intuited but never seen according to the writings of the Hebraic text, no man shall see GOD and live. His presence and holiness is too much for the created to bear in its degenerate state of falleness. This transcendent GOD exists outside the bounds of time, space and limitations. It is humanity that is bound by kairos (time), Kronos (sequential time) and limited to being in one place at a time whereas our creator is outside of linear time, everywhere at once and no-­‐where is our creator not according to the psalmist in Psalm 139:7-­‐12 ~ “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the Metaphysical Spirituality 2 sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” The language of the creation narrative subjects us to via the chiasm of language (la langue) and speech (la parole) in the rendering of the theoretical concept of ex nihilo “Out of nothing”, according to Genesis – GOD created the cosmos out of nothingness. This argument dates back to the early church fathers, surely GOD can do all things and all things are possible but the fallacy of the language would indicate that GOD is nothing if the essence of all created things is the material expression of GOD, pressed out of Himself, controlled and held in balance by His will as well as His intent. It is this very concept the mystic attempts to understand and interpret, this same concept, which led to the exile of early theologians, banished as heretics and persecuted by their traditional-­‐static counterparts. Out of the concept of nothingness progresses to substance and essence in the anthropological make up of humanity as well as the most controversial divinity of Jesus the Christ. According to the text: Genesis 1: 26 ~ “Let us create mankind in our image, in our likeness.” There is a definite distinction between “Image” and “Likeness” which caused a twenty year rift in the council of Nicea (during the fourth century), the question of like / similar substance “Homoiousios” and same substance “Homoousios.” Verses thirteen and fourteen of Psalm 139 says: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” The understanding and flow of this concept I am progressively working towards is the imago dei “Created in the image and likeness of GOD.” Humans are divine beings possessing the very essence of GOD within the construct of their being. We are earthen vessels containing the very substance/essence of GOD our Creator. According to Genesis 2:7 it is recorded “then the LORD GOD formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being”. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience” (FR. Pierre Teilhard De Chardin).
From this caveat it is revealed that the substance breathed within the earthen vessel was the exhaled essence of GOD and that which was breathed is the true being of man suggesting again that the substance and material GOD utilizes to animate/create is not nothingness but that which is GOD Himself (Spirit, breath, Pneuma), thus we learn the ontology of man by deciphering symbiotically and linguistically the contextual meaning of text with the priestly lens. The concept of imago dei and the divinity of humanity being misunderstood through syntax and Lingui led many to be labeled as heretics, denounced from positions of theological prominence. The posturing of religion versus science prompted theologian Galileo to leave the Academy of religious study because he would not consider that GOD and science were not the same entity or therein a GOD that utilized science as a means to construct supernatural occurrences. To the mystic the thought of GOD applying the principals of physics to hold the universe in balance is not rejected, as in the miracle of the swimming axe head in II Kings 6: 4-­‐7.
Metaphysical Spirituality 3 What would the story of Joshua be without GOD defying the rotational movement of the earth to cause the sun to continue to give its light (Joshua 10:13), “So the sun stood still and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.” What would the narrative of Jesus walking on water be without the laws of physics (John 6:19) or Jesus using the laws of materialization and dematerialization to walk through doors (John 20:19), even the laws of transmutation in the multiplying of the fishes and loaves (Mark 6:39-­‐44). These are the things metaphysical spirituality encompasses. Individuals like St. Anthony, Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross, devout practitioners of asceticism, lived disciplined lives, taking vows to put their flesh under subjection that the Spirit may have greater manifestation. Attributed to this devout lifestyle of prayer and heightened spirituality, it is said St. Anthony was gifted with the ability to cast out demons and communicate with animals, Teresa of Avila was given the ability to levitate and was reported to be seen flying over the roof top of the monastery, and St. John of the Cross was called the mystic doctor because he could diagnose the ills within an individual and lead them spiritually back to right relationship with GOD. It is also said that he had an uncanny ability to counsel people through revelation knowledge. For some an ascetic life means abstaining from strong drink, taking on the vows of poverty, becoming servants to their community and for some living in absolute solitude known as eremitical (Hermit like), some take on the process of emptying (Kenosis) themselves through centered prayer known by some as “Hesychasm” which is the practice of emptying the mind, stilling the body, a time of silence and deep reflection. This practice is believed to separate the individual from the noise and busy activity of the environment that is perceived as distracting. Participants of this practice do so with the intent of quieting the body and mind to hear the voice of GOD which GOD has determined to communicate in a still small voice instead of the loud sonic voice as depicted in the Old Testament writings where the very utterance of His voice caused thunder, lightening, the earth to quake and the sound of many trumpets blaring-­‐contrast Exodus 20:18 and I Kings 19:11-­‐12. The practice of clearing the inner house, purging away the undesirable attributes and attitudes of one’s-­‐self opens the way for “Theorea” the divine vision or revelation that comes from the union of the soul with GOD. These are the ways of the mystic-­‐
to bring understanding to the traditions and ritualistic forms within the church, to stand between two realms (seen and unseen) and make sense of it via the interpretation gained through the process of illumination, this is the way of the shaman. Modern day mystic Caroline Myss says, “We are mystics without monasteries”. In “Entering the Castle”, Myss’ adaption of the “Interior Castle” written by Teresa of Avila, Myss depicts the human body as the exterior container for the soul which is a mansion having many rooms and inhibited by archetypes, memories, shadows, demons and the things that prevent us from right alignment with GOD. It is stated in scripture that GOD is a Holy GOD and His Spirit will not dwell in an unclean temple. This is also reflected in the hermeneutical basis of John 14:2 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going”, “The coming of the Kingdom of GOD is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of GOD is in your midst.”(Luke 17:20-­‐21) Other translations say, “The Kingdom of GOD is within you.” Metaphysical teaching focuses on development of the inner person and Metaphysical Spirituality 4 not a heaven to be obtained in the sky somewhere but an actualization of the Kingdom within. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst” (I Corinthians 3:16). According to Myss we are to confront the entities within our castle, our egos and negativity, sweep our rooms clean, seal the entrances and progress to the next room or level until we have access to the station where GOD will impart special entrance beyond the veil and into His Holy Presence. This is the crux of spiritual metaphysics of which the traditional church has shunned and calls the new age movement. It is the practice of humanity working its way back to his/her original state as intended by GOD. It is transcendence towards our divine self. The core principal of these metaphysical teachings is encountering a compassionate Creator and experiencing the unconditional love commonly known as “Agape” and is very different than the expression of love shared among humans which is relegated to eros of which we get the word erotic and phileo which is a friendly love. Agape reaches beyond these characteristics and when experienced by humanity it is described as a gift from GOD. From this idealistic concept it is taught that we are to love not only our neighbor as ourselves but all of creation from the plant life to animal life to creatures under the sea and even mother earth herself. There have been great strides in organizations to feed children, feed the homeless, PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals), organizations such as the World Wild Life Fund who strive to maintain nurturing environments for endangered species. Scripture says that faith works by love and the synthesis of this Agape is found in the scripture that states, “GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” The greatest draw of any religion is the display of love when one recognizes that we are all connected as the sons and daughters of GOD, that we are created in His image and likeness. We are the divine expression of GOD pressed out in the material realm. In the Christian faith we are to be imitators of Christ “Imitatio Christi”, demonstrating the same works and acts of love that Jesus displayed for humanity. When you love someone you respect them, reverence them, you want to help them, and you want the best for them. When you love someone you don’t do things to hurt or harm them. When love is expressed and flows freely it does not seek its own or oppresses another, love does not allow one to mistreat or abuse someone else. It is said that love conquerors all, love covers a multitude of sin. It appears that this thing called love is a cure-­‐all for that which ails mankind; Love builds up, providing us with praxis for harmonious living whereas hate tears down and destroys. There have always existed schools of wisdom, mystery teachings and various sects alongside mainstream religion. In the Old Testament we see Schools of the Prophets led by Elijah, and Elisha. There were teachings and practices not only held by the Prophets but also by the religious Priests such as in writings of the tetragrammaton, pronunciation of sacred words, rituals, and kabbalistic teachings. The influence of other cultures within the Jewish traditions stemming from their assimilation into the Egyptian culture and the Babylonian culture, as well as the Hellenistic culture can clearly be seen. Magic and miracles work side by side in the Bible as displayed in the story of Moses casting down his rod and it being transformed into a snake and the magicians of the Egyptian Pharaoh casting down their rods simulating the same act as Moses. Later we encounter communication with the dead or Metaphysical Spirituality 5 necromancy in the story of Saul consulting the witch of Endor. The use of tools to divine such as the ephod, lots, cards, dice, and astrology were all used. It is said that even Solomon was given the power to rule over demons after being given a ring by the angels and it was the wisdom of the demons that built his great architectural empire. This information was usually reserved for the elite and the privileged as education was generally taught in the academies of religious institutions. Religious sects arose saying they held sacred wisdom and they were labeled as Gnostics. In certain royal families they employed these men of wisdom as advisors. The practice of metaphysics worked alongside mainstream religion, even in the practices of the Church such as the laying on of hands (mentioned as a form of blessing or cursing or as a method of healing) as sanctioned in the Old Testament and New Testament writings. Fathers laid hands on their sons as a rite of progenitor and hands were laid on individuals to transmit healing as mentioned in Acts 16:18 “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Timothy issues a warning in his writings to lay hands suddenly on no man (I Timothy 5:22), the reason could possibly be paralleled in the Eastern medical practice of Chakra alignment where it is taught that certain points within the body called meridians are passageways for the transmission of flowing energy to and through vital organs within the body. If these meridians are blocked it can cause negative reactions or damage to the host. This method of transmitting healing has been documented by the American Medical Association (AMA), but called “Touch Therapy” to make it more appealing to mainstream society. According to touch therapy research a person should be hugged or touched at least four times a day to maintain emotional health and emotionally rewarding relationships. (Helene Rothschild, Family therapist, intuitive counselor and author of “All You Need Is Hart!”)
The understanding of semiotics (symbols) in relation to metaphysics and religion progresses into the medical profession. The symbol of healing in medicine is attributed to the rod of Asclepius (the son of Apollo the Sun god) Greek practitioner of medicine and healing arts. The rod of Asclepius is depicted as a rod with a snake coiled around it. The serpent was associated with rejuvenation and renewal because snakes shed their skin. Akin to the rod of Asclepius is the Caduceus, which is depicted as a rod flanked by wings and two serpents coiled around its shaft. I find this symbol relative to the human spine, which sends messages to the brain, and I relate the wings of the Caduceus to be the symbol of the messenger Mercury that wore winged shoes. In the Hindu practice of Chakra alignment and Kundalini yoga, the serpent messenger that travels the spine is called Kundalini. Kundalini is usually depicted as red or golden because it suggests life, fire, and energy. When Kundalini energy is misappropriated it can result in destructive or negative energy that affects the nervous system, causing mental and emotional imbalances and may often result in somatic pain due to Kundalini being blocked from freely traveling up and down the spine. When Kundalini is coiled or balled up at the base of the spine the result is sciatica, which in Western medicine is described as a pinched nerve, the pain travels up and down one side of the body, usually the lower regions of the back and down the legs. Metaphysical Spirituality 6 It is believed that kundalini relates to neurons contained within cerebo-­‐spinal fluid that is absorbed into the limbic (sensory) system of the brain. As a neurotransmitter-­‐ Kundalini ascends into the brain (via a nerve shaft called an axon which is derived from the Greek word meaning axis) much like a serpent (the messenger/signal) passes onto a synaptic knob for the processing of complex information that is transmitted onto receiving neurons which relay information to a dendrite which has many branches and distribute signals to other regions of the brain. Dendrite means tree, having many branches and often called the tree of life. These signals then travel to the cerebral cortex (crown chakra). Kundalini is housed in the sacral/sacrum region of the spine and is believed to be the centre for sacred knowledge. Ironically sacral in the Greek language is the word sacred. The journey of Kundalini energy (sacred wisdom) from the sacral region to the brain looks much like a traveling serpent or hooded cobra spoken of in the Egyptian culture. It is understood that GOD consciousness is likened to a spark or bright light known as illumination. When synapses misfire the messages are distorted and the system is overloaded and cannot interpret the messages. When this occurs the body responds with seizure like symptoms. The seat of man’s consciousness is the brain to which I would like to relate to the Ark of the Covenant (which is carved from a single piece of wood) spoken of in the book of Exodus chapter 25, verses 16-­‐22. The brain has two hemispheres right and left yet it is one unit, likened to the ark of the covenant which consists of the ark being the base, the mercy seat above the ark and two cherubim facing one another on opposite sides with their wings outstretched. The commandments are contained within the ark reflecting the laws and words of GOD. GOD communicates with man from the mercy seat, which is above the ark and stationed between the two cherubim. In my analysis of this configuration, I see the cherubim as the left and right brain. The most highly developed area of the brain is called the cerebral cortex of which I associate the words cerebral, cerebellum and cherubim. According to the text the Ark of the Covenant was constructed of wood and pure gold. The seat of consciousness (the mercy seat) is often depicted as a golden light or halo in works of art. In the readings of basic neurological functions, I discovered that neurons contain positive and negative electrical charges that are interpreted as signals that send information to receptor sites. Dendrites and axons work in unison in the process of transmitting signals and reception. The electrical charges fire rapidly as the synapses relay these signals to various other parts of the brain. Sensory overload happens when the language center cannot articulate these impulses. As previously stated when sensory overload occurs the host often has what is called a seizure, quaking, convulsions, loss of perception, hot and cold sensations, and intense smells such as something burning, sweet fragrances; unusual vocal utterances. These are some of the same manifestations attributed to the Holy Spirit (Ruach in Hebrew and Pneuma in Greek meaning breath), when Kundalini energy is released similar manifestations occur such as the trembling, quaking, tingling, cool and heat sensations, and unintelligible vocal utterances. Some individuals who have experienced Kundalini rising have spoken of being in a trance like state, having visions (theophany), hearing audible and inaudible voices, prophetic abilities and even information imparted that surpasses their own understanding (epiphany). I surmise that when GOD consciousness communicates with man from above the ark (the cerebral cortex), the synapses began to fire rapidly (illumination) and it is infinite mind communicating with finite mind. Metaphysical Spirituality 7 If the host cannot receive, or articulate this communication then the language center attempts to protect itself and short circuits the other regions of the brain, resulting in the host losing equilibrium, sensory functions, loss of perception, visual cohesiveness, hearing, smelling and vocal utterance all at once. Other names attributed to Kundalini are Chi, Qi, Qigong, Ki, and Prana (breathing method). These energies are released during the breathing exercises of meditation, practices of martial arts where the energy is controlled for the purposes of protection and defense. According to Dr. Michael Kelly a leading neuroscientist this energy has a dark side, during combative martial arts the energy can be appropriated to cause internal bleeding, disruption within vital organs and lead to death. This technique is called Dim Mak or “the Touch of Death.”1 In the practice of Reiki/Spiritual healing (the Japanese art of channeling life energy to bring harmony to the spirit, body and mind) there are at least twenty basic hand positions for the four regions of the human body (head, body, legs/feet, and back) that are assigned to bring alignment and healing for various ailments and disease. Misappropriating the life energy (Kundalini) can cause disruption and bring harm to the recipient. That is why it is very important to diagnose the client properly and gurus, sifu’s and masters of this practice warned as Timothy did, to “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” Further, I found this most interesting, one of my mentors mentioned that during the state of prophesy the pituitary gland which looks phallic attaches itself to the pineal gland which looks like a lotus flower. The two vibrate in unison sending signals to the optic nerves and the hypothalamus, resulting in what is called the “Theater of the mind, where images of future events are played on the screen of one’s consciousness.” My mentor graphically suggested that these glands are actually copulating. A closer look at how Kundalini relates to spirit and spirit to conscious: Man is a triune being; possessing spirit, soul and body. The seat of consciousness within man is the soul (the mind), the spirit acts as liaison between GOD and Man. The spirit is a conduit in that it quickens the mortal body when it is connected to the source much like connecting a radio into an electrical socket. Humanity suffered a disconnection from GOD consciousness during the fall rendering man’s conscious connection with GOD degenerate. According to the Hebrew text, GOD expressed that the day man ate of the forbidden fruit he would surely die; disconnect from GOD the Creator is a state of death. Humanity did not physically die, it died spiritually in the aspect of being disconnected or severed from the consciousness of GOD. Un-­‐regenerate man (finite mind) cannot communicate/articulate the renderings of infinite mind. Thus Michelangelo’s rendering of GOD and Adam where the fingers do not touch is a depiction of the fall and disconnect of man from GOD. The importance of the Christ was to restore man back to GOD. The Christ is often spoken of as humanities savior, intercessor, mediator, and high priest. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit fell upon man, it is not until the New Testament when Jesus comes as the conduit to connect/reconcile man back to GOD, that man is regenerated and the Holy Spirit takes residence within man. I believe that the Holy Spirit resides in a state of dormancy within man until man is awakened/quickened from his degenerate state to a regenerate state by the transforming of his mind by the washing and renewing by the word of GOD. Just as it is stated that the Spirit of GOD was Kelly, Michael “Death Touch: The Science Behind The Legend Of Dim Mak” Colorado: Paladin Press, 2001 1
Metaphysical Spirituality 8 breathed into Adam and he became a living soul, I believe that until the Spirit of GOD comes alive in man than man is dead spiritually until he is quickened through the restoration and appropriation of GOD’s word placed within the Ark of his mind, body and spirit. In the branch of science called genetics life begins at the cell level. DNA is comprised of genes where we get the terms genetics, genealogy, generate, and generation, to regenerate means to restore or rebuild. Genes form structure and carry traits that are inherent, forming characteristics of the parent cell. These cells when formed into two polynucleotides wrap (coil) around each other, they render specific informative programs as to how a protein is to be structured. This double-­‐coiled nucleotide forms what is called a double helix. The two strands of DNA are held in place by a central base. I associate the double helix with the Caduceus (a rod flanked on both sides by coiled serpents and a single coiled serpent on a rod I equate with Asclepius’ rod to RNA.) The Caduceus and Asclepius staves are said to have been influenced by the Coptic school of medicine led by Amenhotep, which the noted Greek physician Hippocrates studied. When Hippocrates returned to his native land to practice medicine he was heralded as the great physician probably due to nationalism. In the Coptic culture the symbol that influenced the Asclepius and the Caduceus is the Winged Disc of Horus. RA is the Sun god in the Coptic culture (whom Amenhotep claimed to be the son of) and Apollo was the Sun god in the Greek culture. These symbols resurface in Babylon and Israel. Historically ancient Israel was exiled and assimilated into all three of these cultures and their influence had to have had an impact on the Habiru peoples. Signs and symbols have dual meanings, reversals or inverse meanings. In the Hebrew culture snakes are perceived as evil because it was the craftiness of the serpent that led to the fall of mankind, however it is recorded in the Bible that when the Hebrew peoples were bitten by snakes in the desert, GOD instructed Moses to make a snake, put it on a pole and anyone that was bitten by a snake could look upon the serpent on the pole and live (Numbers 21:8-­‐
9) Secondly, reference to the winged disc, healing and the sun can be found in the book of Malachi 4:2 –
“But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings…”. Third, in the New Testament John correlates the Israelites encounter with the serpents to Jesus’ crucifixion in John 3:14-­‐ “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” Semiotics as it relates to culture can be seen with the Egyptians who attributed wisdom to the snake. The hooded coverings that covered the heads of the Pharaohs were held in place with a band that had a hooded cobra affixed to it. In the Egyptian culture snakes represented wisdom. Biblically Jesus said to be as wise as serpents but harmless as a dove (Matt. 10:16). The Caduceus has been adopted as the symbol used by the Hermenites and the secret order of the Golden Dawn. Metaphysical spirituality has been introduced through Unitarian beliefs through the writings of Charles Filmore, founder of the New Thought movement with affiliations with the Christian Science movement. The tenets of Fillmore’s teaching were that GOD is good, a Universal mind, GOD is wherever, whatever we need and GOD is within us. Filmore also capitalized on the concept of the Seven Churches, The Seven Stars and the Twelve Apostles as they correlate to the seven minor chakras, which are later expanded to twelve major chakras. Ellen White of the Seventh-­‐day Adventists introduced prophecy and a dispensational movement to the religious world. Meister Eckhart presented a theology that greatly Metaphysical Spirituality 9 approached the teachings of Buddha and this caused much contention with the Catholic diocese to which he belonged. Today we have many teachers and proprietors of metaphysical influences within the religious sector. Most notable of these teachings is the “Secret” a compilation of various teachers coming together to expound on how the universe works for or against us according to the energy we put into thought and practice. The Secret teaches us that our thoughts are the substance that brings things into the material realm-­‐-­‐-­‐
thoughts are things. The universe does not distinguish between good and evil; it produces what we imprint upon it and provides us with what we put out into the ethers. Helen Schuckman renders to us “A Course in Miracles” that she says she received through channeling Jesus. Schuckman presents to us teachings and methods akin to psychoanalysis geared towards a Counselor/Client methodology or Pastoral Counseling and Care sessions. There are radio programs based on the same premise of mystics rendering services as counselors, advisors and guides such as Hayhouseradio.com, which can be accessed on the Internet and provides a venue for spiritual directors to connect with the public. There are other authors like Norman Vincent Peale, Neville Goddard, Napoleon Hill, Robert Schuller and currently the tele-­‐evangelist Joel Osteen are all proponents of positive thinking. It is not unusual to hear these metaphysical teachings in sermonic discourses in mainstream ministries as the teachings have seeped into the Church and become more acceptable. It is rare that one is labeled a heretic anymore other than recent ousting of Bishop Carlton Pearson who claims GOD is a GOD of love, grace, compassion and has made a way of salvation for all mankind (Isn’t that the basis of Soteriology, the ransom theory?) The dissention between Pearson and mainstream religious order began when the Bishop purported that there was no hell; that hell is the suffering, violence and injustice experienced here on earth. Further, Pearson stated that the use of hell as a concept, as a place GOD sends evil people was derived by the Catholic Church as a means of control of marginalized people. More troubling is that Pearson revealed that these teachings were not new and taught in schools of higher learning and all his seminarian brothers and sisters were exposed to these truths but kept this information from their congregants in order to control/manipulate them into right behaviors. While Pearson has lost his mainstream congregation, he has been embraced by a larger audience of Unitarians and New Age followers as well as the following of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) believers because Pearson is offering an inclusive gospel. As many mainstream Churches are experiencing an exodus of the younger generation from its audience the youth are showing up in Churches who are more tolerant and inclusive of all groups, races, ages, sexes and classes. Whether these changes can be attributed to Christian metaphysics it definitely has a correlation with progressing from traditional dogma to a more Christ-­‐centered paradigm. From the metaphysical standpoint there is neither male nor female in heaven, all that exists in that realm are spirits and in that form gender is not specified, only loving, giving and nurturing relationships. It is only in this material realm where we are bound by gender, sexual orientation or limitation. It is known biologically that no individual is one hundred percent male or female because we all bear intersecting characteristics. Whether male or female, our origin is the same, and as the fetus matures the body orients itself, but that does not mean the spirit within that body orients, designates or Metaphysical Spirituality 10 conforms to the exterior development. It is noted that GOD has characteristics of both male and female and an inclusive language is now being utilized to address GOD as He/She, Mother/Father, Him/Her, and GOD/GODDESS. I often ask my counterparts if GOD is a male, it sure would look funny as He is addressed as El-­‐Shaddai (the many breasted one). A man with multiple breasts, it would just as well look odd if we saw a woman with more than one set of breasts. Therefore our difficulty in understanding GOD has to do with language, symbolism, culture and often speech. For many of us modern theologians we are at a meeting in the middle embracing both the metaphysical and traditional teachings of the Church. We know that GOD is a spirit and that we must worship Him/Her in the spirit of truth and we know that GOD has said His/Her people perish from a lack of knowledge. We are living within a pluralistic society and we as the leaders in the religious sector have to offer a hermeneutic that avails all peoples an opportunity to worship their individual GOD(s). We have to offer hope to a dying traditional Church as well as offer hope to a people that need answers to the questions: “Who am I, Where did I come from, Who is GOD, What does GOD want me to do, and How do I obtain the greater good?” Whether this means embracing metaphysics we do know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We have to embrace hope in a GOD we cannot see and the probability that there is an existence beyond what we can see. Our hope is in a GOD that transcends the confines of what we can see and present Himself/Herself as a GOD that can make a way out of no way, a GOD that can be whatever we need in our times of trouble. How this applies to the constructs of ministry is being knowledgeable enough to bring the various religions together, working with the similarities, respecting the cultural differences, confronting our fears, and being transparent enough to admit when we fall short in understanding (often raging has been the defense mechanism when individuals approach the tolerance of their comfort zone). In trying to ease the tension between the East and the West in a dialogical discourse towards a posturing of reconciliation is going to be a feat if proper measures of listening, empathizing, and intercultural principals are not applied. As an African American it has been proposed that in order to heal disconnect between African Americans and those of European descent, there should be a public apology and reparations paid to the descendants of the Africans that were enslaved. I do not know if that is a panacea because if the act is not conducted with care, sincerity, or genuine understanding of the effects caused by the callous acts of European forefathers then the work is of no effect. To apologize to the Eastern religious order concerning the atrocities and injustices of the past is like digging through the relics of dead men’s bones. This sentiment is better said through the sayings of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” At the turn of the eighteenth century, early American author and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson (founder of the Transcendental Movement) expressed his discontent with the dominant religious order of his day. Emerson turned away from the Church and ministry because he could not come to terms with the ritualistic practices, writing in his journal from the year 1832: "I have sometimes thought that, in order
Metaphysical Spirituality 11 to be a good minister, it was necessary to leave the ministry. 2The profession is antiquated. In an
altered age, we worship in the dead forms of our forefathers." His disagreements with church
officials over the administration of the communion service and misgivings about public prayer
eventually led to his resignation in 1832. As he wrote, "This mode of commemorating Christ is
not suitable to me. That is reason enough why I should abandon it."3
Truly as I have viewed the basic truths of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Shintoism, in
relation to Christianity, I see the commonality of man’s attempt to discover who their Creator is,
what their Creator is made of, the transcendence of self to the Higher self, salvation, life and the
after- life, application of ethics and morals to guide healthy and working relationships with their
fellow man. It is apparent that Eastern Religions tend to place emphasis on cosmic unity,
internal and external ways of living. The aim of knowledge, learning, and healing practices is
the integration of body, mind, and spirit that are considered to be different aspects of the same
oneness. This context is religiously plural while there exists within the African systems of
thought and practice are based on a spiritual ontology and pragmatic philosophy which places its
greatest value on relationality. Knowledge is acquired through intuition and revelation that
comes through participation in ritual, symbol, ceremony, and rhythm.
The focus of healing and counseling is upon the relationship existing between persons and
among groups whose intrinsic worth is to be found within the network of spiritual, familial, and
intergenerational bonds within which they are embedded. Religion and views of transcendence
are pervasive and resilient in all of African life. There is little or no separation between a
“sacred” and “secular” realm. All life is both sacred and secular. These beliefs are expressed
most clearly in rituals that are meant to foster and enhance harmonious relations between humans
and the unseen world of ancestors, gods and spirits. Ceremonies, rites, and rituals emphasize the
importance of participation, symbolic representation, and celebration.4
Dr. Emmanuel Y. Lartey offers a paradigmatic shift in the field of Pastoral Care and Counseling
to Spiritual Care of Souls in his introduction to an intercultural approach. This new praxis has
made great strides towards the healing of all peoples, in turn creating a platform for dialogical
discourse between peoples of difference even between the Eastern and Western cultures.
Characteristics of this new approach can be described as globalization through immersion of
trainees into a locale to learn the social-economic conditions and rendering services, a closer
integration into the culture to bring change and understanding while analyzing the movement of
products, lifestyle, values, class, power structures, and bringing reduction to the disparity in
capital, transportation, communication, and inequality. Internationalization is the process in
which an attempt is made at dialogical engagement, premised upon an increasing recognition and
valuing of “difference” between cultures and contexts, together with respect and interaction
between cultures, nations, and social groups. Indigenization is the least recognized of the
processes, while occurring on the margins of the global movement.
In this process, models and practices indigenous to non-Western contexts are beginning to be reevaluated and utilized in pastoral practice; in line with postcolonial cultural, social, linguistic,
Sullivan, Wilson, New England Men of Letters, New York: The MacMillan Company (1972),6 Packer, Barbara L., The Transcendentalist, University of Georgia Press (2007),39 4
Ramsey, Nancy J. ed., Pastoral Care and Counseling: Redefining the Paradigms, Nashville [Abingdon Press] 2004, 91. 2
3
Metaphysical Spirituality 12 and political criticism.5 Functionality includes healing, sustaining, guiding, reconciling,
nurturing, liberating and empowering. Finally, as long as there generalizations of “Us”, “They”,
and “Them” are mentioned at the table of discussion as it relates to pluralism and unity there will
never be a “We”.
Ibid. 90. *The author would like to thank his wife Stacy Harris for her editorial efforts in the production of this manuscript. 5