The Universe of Being': Some implications of an idea
This article reflects and builds on the notion of a non-personal Universe of Being', a parallel realm of all essences in nature and human beings, with which we are connected via what William James called the higher part' of our soul. After reviewing that idea, its root in the inexplicabi...
| Published in: | Journal for the Study of Spirituality |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
[2018]
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| In: |
Journal for the Study of Spirituality
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| Further subjects: | B
spiritual but not religious
B Conversions B Substance B Good and evil B Being B Existence B Essence |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This article reflects and builds on the notion of a non-personal Universe of Being', a parallel realm of all essences in nature and human beings, with which we are connected via what William James called the higher part' of our soul. After reviewing that idea, its root in the inexplicability of evil and its advantage of not requiring a theodicy, there follow reflections on its implications for the daily life of any person who believes in a higher power acting in the world, but does not understand it as a personal God or Father. From that notion derives, first, the urge to look at things and humans around us for their content in being (essence) behind their appearances. On that content are grounded, on the one hand, a deep respect for nature and for its messages and, on the other hand, the need to reach out to the inner life of fellow humans (empathy) and to create being/good in daily life. Second, the notion encourages the efforts of the human soul to reach out to the Universe of Being itself, with the qualification (stressed by James) that attaining such connection depends on the self-surrender of the former to the welcome invasion' by the latter, rather than on the works of the human intellect or will. |
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| ISSN: | 2044-0251 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the Study of Spirituality
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/20440243.2018.1523083 |