Two Types Of Spirituality ... Faith And Knowledge

The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually,of processing information arriving at our many senses
when one mentions spirituality, the first thought inin many contexts. It allows us to look beyond the
many people's minds is that of religion. While religion isbasics and outside of the accepted comfort zones to
an aspect of spirituality, spirituality is not an aspect ofcomprehend the ideas and ideals of other entities,
religion. Spirituality covers other areas of belief asboth physical and spiritual.Opening Your MindAs part
well. Put simply, spirituality is the all-encompassingof our being, we all have the need to believe in
arena of belief in something greater. This can be asomething greater than ourselves. There is a part of
god, oneself as the greater being, or simply, theus that has to belong. Many people fall deeply into
life-force or essence that surrounds us all. But,organized religion because it provides the camaraderie
society and religion lead their followers in manyand a focal point for their community as well as a
different directions replacing the core meanings withbasis for the moral code of the community. These, in
moralistic and idealistic terms in hopes of garneringaddition to the faith-based answers to the big
attention by answering those big questions pertainingquestions, provide a comfort zone and a foundation
to life, death, the after-life, and a god.Faith vs.for many. However, by opening one's mind and
KnowledgeWhile many religious zealots view the ideaexamining the many facets behind these big
of knowledge-based spirituality as agnostic, indeed, itquestions, one can develop and acquire the true
is not. As a matter of fact, even agnosts believe inanswers within one's own context.What is the key?
something, which provides them an alternative stanceContext-free rationalization. Of course, context-free
to organized religion and gods. You have to believe inis a little strong as we must all have a context, or a
something to take a stance!Faith-based spirituality ispoint of reference, that we can use to compare
the belief and trust that things will be as they will beinformation and apply our rules and belief systems.
in the future. It is the acceptance of the greatHowever, open experience and vast knowledge can
mysteries of life and death for which religion andprovide us with multiple contexts that we can use to
society teaches that there are no definitive answers.devise a wider view of a particular piece of
Such an approach to spirituality creates a fear-basedinformation. This wider view is what is called an open
environment based on gods who are vindictive andmind. The open mind has no safety zone as it is
uncaring. Believers place their lives into the hands ofalways risking it's comfort zones in search of new
an unseen being in the hope that all will work out forinformation and new ways of examining situations
the best.Knowledge-based spirituality is theand other beings.What's next?Acquiring this
understanding and kinship of all and the desire toknowledge and ability to move across many contexts
achieve and progress through life toward one's ownis not a simple task as it requires the ability to
Vision and goals. The great mysteries become topicsacquire, accept, and process information outside of
of personal research and, with an open mind,our current context. It is a chicken or the egg
answers can be acquired from the environment andsituation; however, it is a decision that we make as
the Universe. This type of spirituality invites one tohumans to initiate such a move.By opening our minds
set aside fears and examine the information andand perceptions, we allow our conscious minds the
entities of the surrounding environment. One has theability to communicate more freely with our
chance to take life into one's own hands and guide itsubconscious minds. In doing so, the vast amounts of
along a path to one's own desires.Hatred andinformation available in the collective unconscious, The
FaithOne of the problems of today is that, in ourGrid, The Universal Library is available to us, simply by
world, wars, hatred, and bias begin in the morallooking. Consider the idea of opening the mind as a
grounds established by religion and society. Religionprimer for what follows once you are able to use
creates a solid separation between different factionsyour mind to its fullest capabilities and acquire
of humanity. These factions take the core ideals ofimmeasurable knowledge from all entities across the
society and mutate them to suit the needs of theirUniverse and throughout time.This is the true meaning
particular beliefs. In the end, when societal boundariesof spirituality. The knowledge and desire to exist with
are breached, and control languishes over the ranks,and within the Universal essence. To accept and
uprisings and bitter conflicts begin to restore order.acquire knowledge that is freely available to you
The stronger of the factions wins and forces theirthrough time and space. Finally, the knowledge to use
beliefs on the weaker.In faith-based factions, fear isthis information in a way that is beneficial to you, as
instilled and faith that a great hereafter exists. Peopleprotecting and projecting yourself, you are providing
fight to maintain their beliefs because they've finallya pathway for others and the betterment of your
forced their conscious minds to accept thecommunities.Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D., is a published
unanswered questions based on invisible andauthor, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master,
unfounded guesses by their noblemen. The battlesand technical writer living in Las Vegas, NV. Edward
are fought to ensure that their foundations andworks with people to help them strive for a richer
comfort zones are not affected by the infidels oflife. He also authors books, articles, and screenplays
the intruding factions.However, with knowledge-basedon topics ranging from career success through life
factions, fear is minimized and the great hereafter isorganization and fulfillment. Check out some of his
right here and now and continues on forever.recent print and electronic books as well as his
Knowledge provides the mind with a greater degreearticles covering various life-changing topics!