In Reply to: Re: Human nature? posted by anovagrrl on April 01, 2004 at 17:28:45:
Phylosophy is related to thinking patterns, reason, logic, the natural man in the pursuit of understanding, of creating strutures to understand seemingly unrelated events and phenomena. It is the structure we use to make sense and navigate our daily world.
Spirituality is related to the soul, to the intangible gelling of different events or stimuli that result in something new. It is the world of miracles we accept without proof, the faith of things not seen. It is what gives us human experiences further and beyond the natural, maybe even closer to emotions. I think phenomena such as love, hate and fear are within the realm of spirituality.
These two continua are related and each one of the 4 poles would probably feed the others but in this second case, both poles (spirituality and philosophy) are being constructed and can acquire individual qualities as time and experience go by.
One must have flesh (a brain) to funtion at the philosophical level (which is thinking and reasoning, acquiring mental experiences, the role of memory). Likewise, the spirit can be seen as the object or the environment where spirituality resides and thrives.
A more simple way might be to see it this way: The first duality is of the containers while the second duality is of the content. I am not totally comfortable with this but I am willing to at least put it on the table in search for another analogy.
I think it is important to make these distinctions in order to separate our actions and our self from those natural behaviors and limitations of our human nature. Also, to see the qualities and characteristics of each one might help us realize the best venues to find our own particular healing path.
It may not work for everybody but one of my personal needs is to find explanations and for things to make sense. I don't work well in environments of uncertainty, others do.