15 December 2010
Intermission
Points discussed in the group
People who are living with a negative experience, or people who have lived a negative experiences in their life, what kind of spirituality can we propose?
As we see the basic problem today facing the faith formation of the young is obviously the difficulty in making the young realize the role of a personal God in their lives. Their experience of their own selves and that of the world does not offer them any direct connection with God. So as educators what can you do to bring about this relationship with a personal God in the lives of the young? Do the activities that we propose to the young favor a personal relationship with God? What kind of a God-image are we projecting to our young? Does it make them more frustrated or does it create an attraction in them?
What kind of an image of God have you created for yourself right from your childhood? Has it undergone some changes as you grew up? If yes, has it been for better or for worse? What image of God do you have right now? What are the factors that have played a role if you have undergone a change in your image of God? Who are the people who have played a role in it?
Very often it is said “values are not taught but caught”, in this light how important you think has been the role of the family in forming religious values in your lives? How strong has been this role of the family in your faith formation? Do you think that the existence of the families is a real need for a better world? In the present context of “composed families”, “gay families” etc. how are these things going to have its effect on the faith formation of the children?
To youth: In the history, there has been many ‘types of spirituality’ proposed by the adults (elders) for the young addressing the challenges of particular period. The demanding need is to have a spirituality from the young for the young, taking into consideration the existing challenges. Therefore the question is: What would be a ‘spirituality’ (that includes the dimensions of experience, reason and responsibility) that you propose for the youth of today?
To the parents, animators and educators: There is an essential and qualitative difference between ‘human-spirituality’ and ‘christian spirituality’. The personal experience and the historical revelation of God are the fulcrums of christian spirituality. Faith is an attitude of dialogue with God who calls everyone to meet Him in ways he reveals himself. Taking to heart these fundamental aspects of christian spirituality:
Man is not religious by birth. But he can become a religious being. The person gradually enters into rapport with God through natural psychic process. If man is not naturally religious then what is that which orients him towards God and the religious message? It is his impulse, his desires, his personal experience of God.
Man has a natural desire for God. But he has also certain negative tendencies which can tend to lead him astray. There are many religious life styles and spirituality which in one way or the other speak of helping the person to reach God, the Transcendent. But they also advocate perverse practices. For eg., human desire for happiness and longing for sexual pleasure has given rise to the so called religious practices advocated by Rajneesh and Osho. So,
There are different spiritualities and religious movements: Christian spirituality, spirituality like Franciscan, Salesian, Ignatian etc., Hare Rama Hare Krisna movement, New Age spirituality, Art of Living, Yoga etc. There are some common elements in different spiritualities and movements. At the same time there are some differences.
Intermission
India/Sri Lanka (English-speaking) Group
Varghese, Patrick, Augustine, Srimal, Lijo, Tessa
Varghese, Patrick, Augustine, Srimal, Lijo, Tessa
Points discussed in the group
People who are living with a negative experience, or people who have lived a negative experiences in their life, what kind of spirituality can we propose?
- To make young to reflect on their life… what are the spiritual, religious needs of man?
- Did you ever felt the need of God as a spiritual need, which will have to be fulfilled?
- If you are asked to review your spiritual life, what will be the aspect.
What kind of an image of God have you created for yourself right from your childhood? Has it undergone some changes as you grew up? If yes, has it been for better or for worse? What image of God do you have right now? What are the factors that have played a role if you have undergone a change in your image of God? Who are the people who have played a role in it?
Very often it is said “values are not taught but caught”, in this light how important you think has been the role of the family in forming religious values in your lives? How strong has been this role of the family in your faith formation? Do you think that the existence of the families is a real need for a better world? In the present context of “composed families”, “gay families” etc. how are these things going to have its effect on the faith formation of the children?
To youth: In the history, there has been many ‘types of spirituality’ proposed by the adults (elders) for the young addressing the challenges of particular period. The demanding need is to have a spirituality from the young for the young, taking into consideration the existing challenges. Therefore the question is: What would be a ‘spirituality’ (that includes the dimensions of experience, reason and responsibility) that you propose for the youth of today?
To the parents, animators and educators: There is an essential and qualitative difference between ‘human-spirituality’ and ‘christian spirituality’. The personal experience and the historical revelation of God are the fulcrums of christian spirituality. Faith is an attitude of dialogue with God who calls everyone to meet Him in ways he reveals himself. Taking to heart these fundamental aspects of christian spirituality:
- How do we live and express our Christian spirituality?
- How do we transmit this spirituality or how do we help our youngsters to imbibe or personalize these essential aspects?
- Do we create an environment of authentic christian spirituality that helps our youngsters to be inspired to live this spirituality? (The values are not taught but they are caught. So too spirituality)
Man is not religious by birth. But he can become a religious being. The person gradually enters into rapport with God through natural psychic process. If man is not naturally religious then what is that which orients him towards God and the religious message? It is his impulse, his desires, his personal experience of God.
Man has a natural desire for God. But he has also certain negative tendencies which can tend to lead him astray. There are many religious life styles and spirituality which in one way or the other speak of helping the person to reach God, the Transcendent. But they also advocate perverse practices. For eg., human desire for happiness and longing for sexual pleasure has given rise to the so called religious practices advocated by Rajneesh and Osho. So,
- How can we deal with these two desires – good and bad – to evolve a way to living our life and to enter into rapport with God?
- In spirituality the human desire and experience have a great influence. There are many people who have some negative experience of rejection, exploitation, depression. What spirituality can be proposed for such people who undergo negative experiences?
There are different spiritualities and religious movements: Christian spirituality, spirituality like Franciscan, Salesian, Ignatian etc., Hare Rama Hare Krisna movement, New Age spirituality, Art of Living, Yoga etc. There are some common elements in different spiritualities and movements. At the same time there are some differences.
- As Christians how do you respond to the presence of such diversity and multiple spirituality?
- What could be your attitude towards Christian way of living the faith and the other person living a particular Spirituality?
- What are the challenges of Christian spirituality in the context of great diversity and multiple spirituality?
Text: Srimal
Photos: Augustine, Patrick, Lijo, Srimal, Varghese
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