Evolutionary spirituality

Evolutionary spirituality provides a new frontier for spiritual exploration toward a new shelter of belonging. It draws from a science-based systems view of evolutionary history and is described as

Page contents: A shelter of belonging - a tree metaphor A new frontier - a systems view of evolutionary history. Broad themes within the new frontier. A new set of assumptions and identity. Is this identity truly new? Evolutionary spirituality and existing religious/spiritual traditions.

At the outset, it is important to note that evolutionary spirituality is emerging as an authentic belief system in its own right. Therefore, individuals who identify as spiritual but not religious may find it offers them a new shelter of belonging. For more on how such a belief system can offer a new shelter of belonging see Resources/The land I now inhabit. Simultaneously, the themes found in evolutionary spirituality also offer a new frontier for spiritual exploration within established religious and spiritual traditions.

What does science have to do with spirituality?

Evolutionary spirituality draws from a science-based systems view of evolutionary history. Why does science foster a new frontier for spiritual exploration? To appreciate the relevance, it is important to recognise the components that make up a shelter of belonging. The following section outlines these components, employing the metaphor of a tree to highlight the intersection of science and spiritual enquiry.

A shelter of belonging - a tree metaphor

In response to our human longing to belong, our shelter of belonging is built upon a set of beliefs that generate an experience of identity, purpose, and values. An authentic shelter fosters a deep sense of connection with our inner self, as well as with our outer environment. For more on a shelter of belonging see my web page What is spirituality? Several components make up a shelter of belonging. They can be understood through the metaphor of a tree:

Roots: The roots of a tree reach deep into the surrounding soil, anchoring the tree firmly and providing stability during periods of drought and stormy weather. Fertile soil allows the roots to absorb water and nutrients, sustaining the tree. Roots can be likened to a deeply held set of assumptions concerning our place of belonging in the world. Assumptions gain their substance from contemporary knowledge and beliefs. Much like roots, a set of assumptions grounded in contemporary knowledge and beliefs can provide a genuine foundation for an authentic shelter of belonging.

Soil: can be likened to current mainstream knowledge and beliefs regarding the nature of reality and the origins of our world. Such understandings establish the boundary or scope of our spiritual exploration. In Western societies, the sciences shape such a boundary. Scientific knowledge is constantly developing, often in small steps. Yet, occasionally, there are significant paradigm leaps.

Trunk: can be likened to a set of beliefs assembled into a sacred narrative that gives meaning to our existence and mortality. This set of beliefs is derived from a set of assumptions, which themselves are based on scientific understandings of the world's origins and its continued existence. When our sacred narrative is coherent with current knowledge and beliefs, it resonates with our minds and hearts. We experience belonging.

Branches & leaves: can be likened to the outward expression of rituals and actions in the world.

The big shift

Given the above, our shelter of belonging does not sit within a vacuum. It draws from the soil of current science-based knowledge and beliefs. As scientific understandings develop incrementally, our shelter continues to adapt gradually. However, when there is a significant paradigm shift, our shelter of belonging can no longer adapt, so it fractures. Western societies are living through such a shift. The shift is from a mechanistic view of the nature of reality to a systems view. In line with such a shift, we are required to start afresh, and keeping our history in mind, we are to undertake the sacred task of transitioning to a new shelter of belonging. Adopting a systems view of evolutionary history opens up a new frontier, providing fresh soil in which to undertake spiritual exploration, and to unearth a new shelter of belonging that resonates with our minds and hearts . . . now.

A new frontier - a systems view of evolutionary history

In Western societies, knowledge and beliefs about the nature of reality and the origins of our world are shaped by scientific theories. Those scientific theories fostered a mechanistic view of evolutionary history for a long time. The concepts of competition and the survival of the fittest originated from them. In turn, the current set of assumptions that shape our cultural identity include humancentric and ethnocentric domination, separation, and consumerism. Such assumptions gave rise to an identity of individualism. Individualism fostered a values system that sought the flourishing of the individual above all else.

Science-based theories are now transitioning from a mechanistic view of evolutionary history to a systems view. What does the term a systems view of evolutionary history refer to?

A systems view of evolutionary history

A system is an entity that is both a complete whole, composed of interconnected elements and simultaneously a component of a larger whole. Each system is distinct in its own right, while also participating in a larger whole. In turn, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts because of the relationships between the parts. An integrated systems view fosters a principle of interconnectedness via unity in diversity.

Evolutionary history refers to a science-based theory that the universe has been evolving for 13.8 billion years, with humans arriving late in the process.

A systems view of evolutionary history shifts the traditional machine-like view toward a perspective that reality works like a network of relationships fostered by participation and cooperation. This shift in understanding the nature of reality has consequently altered our perception of the evolutionary process. The traditional view of evolution as a process primarily driven by competition and survival of the fittest is transitioning to a perception of evolution as a process primarily of relationship, participation, cooperation, and unity with diversity.

Broad themes within the new frontier

Aligning with a systems view of evolutionary history, evolutionary spirituality has fostered two predominant themes that guide our spiritual exploration toward a new cultural shelter of belonging.

1. A greater Story of Life itself - beyond humankind

A greater Story of Life itself both transcends and includes humankind. Thus, it allows us to position our collective identity within a context larger than the human experience. It addresses our age-old spiritual questions of: "Where did we come from?" and "What is our purpose?" We are part of a dynamic 13.8 billion-year Universe Story, also known as "Big History," a term coined by futurist and author Barbara Marx Hubbard. In the context of Big History, we realise that Life itself is the main protagonist, while we humans play an important supporting role. As such, we recognise that humanity is just one of the countless expressions of Life itself. At the same time, humanity has a meaningful role in Life’s ongoing creative dance of being and becoming. Therefore, we do belong, simply because we are here. Such an understanding of participating in Life’s creative dance animates our daily lived experience.

The awareness that we participate in a greater Story of Life fosters moral responsiveness. Why? When we consciously locate our identity within a Big History narrative, we can no longer view ourselves as separate, individual beings, living from a values system geared toward individual rights and the flourishing of the individual alone. Rather, the view that we are each unique beings who participate within a greater Story of Life, fosters a values system aimed at the flourishing of all life. Therefore, the theme of the greater Story of Life in and of itself calls forth personal and collective moral responsiveness.

2. The human tradition

In addition to a greater Story of Life, evolutionary spirituality has also ushered in the theme of the human tradition. The human tradition takes into account human history as a whole, including religious and spiritual traditions. Therefore, the human tradition draws from the rich tapestry of wisdom, beliefs, knowledge, values, and myths that have accumulated within the human experience from ancient times until the present. As well as taking into account previous understandings, the human tradition also transcends those that no longer resonate in the present context. The human tradition enables us to locate our sense of identity and belonging within the wider human community. In doing so, we can assimilate the wisdom of past ages without fully embracing or completely discarding the belief systems from which the teachings emerged. Such a framework for understanding ourselves-in-our-world is called an integral framework.

For more on this topic see the book Call of The Era: being the change, through changing our being

A new set of assumptions and identity

The broad themes of a greater Story of Life and the human tradition are fostering a new set of assumptions and an emerging identity.

A new set of assumptions

A new set of assumptions includes participation, cooperation, and unity with diversity set within the following understandings:

1. We belong, simply because we are here.

2. We belong as unique beings in our own right, who are also intrinsically connected and responsible to a much wider web of relationships - human and nonhuman.

3. We are enough, even with all our limitations. When we realise we are enough, we will no longer seek salvation for our world through supernatural powers. Rather, we will take responsibility for the way we think, live, act, and move within our world.

An emerging identity

Locating our collective identity within the broader themes and new set of assumptions listed above, we will be able to reimagine a new identity beyond humancentric individualism. The new identity will be shaped by the knowledge that:

1. We are each unique beings (self-systems) in our own right seeking personal wholeness in the here-and-now, while also intrinsically connected and responsive to the much greater whole of Life itself.

2. Each world culture (a system of shared norms and beliefs) is unique in its own right, while also being part of the wider global community.

3. Humankind (a system of multiple cultures and religious/spiritual traditions) is unique in its own right, while also being part of the wider community of life.

In line with an integrated systems approach, a new identity will acknowledge the both/and aspects of our nature: we are both unique individuals on a path to self-realisation and at the same time, we are essential components of a larger whole to which we are intrinsically connected and accountable.

Is this identity truly new?

Evolutionary spirituality fosters an identity that is both ancient and new. It is ancient because First Nation peoples across the globe, Eastern spiritual traditions, and mystical traditions within existing religious traditions have lived from an identity grounded by a principle of interconnectedness and participation. Therefore, we modern Westerners have much to learn from such traditions. At the same time, the identity will be new for those of us undertaking spiritual exploration within a systems view of evolutionary history. We are tasked with the sacred adventure of seeking a new personal and/or cultural shelter of belonging, grounded by a new identity.

Evolutionary spirituality and existing religious/spiritual traditions

The themes within evolutionary spirituality provide a new frontier for spiritual exploration. This frontier is not directly located within any of the world’s religious/spiritual traditions, but neither does it function independently from them. For example, there is an evolutionary movement within the Christian tradition. Evolutionary spirituality enables the world's religious/spiritual traditions to examine their beliefs and rituals in the context of this new frontier, while also drawing upon the foundational wisdom of their historical teachings. Consequently, each religious or spiritual tradition will venture into its own new frontier, aware that its distinct shelter of belonging is inherently linked and accountable to the wider cultural shelter of belonging.

Resources

Barbara Marx Hubbard, Conscious Evolution
Thomas Berry, The Great Work: our way into the future & The Dream of the Earth