Welcome to the Everyday Unity Blog
Welcome!
This is a journal that explores positive unity-oriented spiritual ideas and practices.
As a in long-term 12-step recovery, my journey towards peace, forgiveness, self-acceptance, and acceptance of others has been a long and windy road.
I don’t think my journey has been unique. I think that many people have struggled, as I have, to make sense of our lives, to love our neighbors, to be accepted for who we are, and to find expressions of this in our faith, spiritual practices, and in our community gatherings with others.
This journal supports a journey on the road to recovering a common humanity.
In this blog I try to write about non-dualistic ways of thinking and being in the world, and practical applications of love. I'm interested in deconstructing those aspects of our lives that hurt, separate, and divide us.
About me
I’m a human being/becoming, a guide, a storyteller, and a friend. In my life, I intend to promote kindness, love, and compassion in its many forms. I see myself as a spiritual person, interested in connecting with the spirit of love in this world.
I see God, the Universe, in everything and everyone. With no exceptions.
This does not mean that I have an understanding of how it all works, just that this is my starting point
What is “Non-dualistic thinking and theology”?
Non-dualistic theology is a philosophical and spiritual perspective that moves away from the idea of fundamental dualities or separations in the ultimate nature of reality. In contrast to dualistic views that often posit a clear distinction between, for example, the divine and the material world, non-dualistic theology emphasizes the essential oneness or unity of all things.
In the context of theology, non-dualism often challenges traditional religious concepts that involve a strict separation between God and creation, spirit and matter, or sacred and profane. Instead, non-dualistic theology suggests that there is an inherent unity that transcends these apparent divisions.
One prominent example of non-dualistic thought is found in Eastern philosophies, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. In the Western context, non-dualistic perspectives have also been explored in mystical traditions and some branches of Christian theology, where the emphasis is on the unity of the individual soul with the divine.
Overall, non-dualistic theology encourages a shift away from binary thinking and a recognition of the interconnected and indivisible nature of existence. (Thanks ChatGPT)
What is “Deconstructing”?
Deconstructing mean to critically examine and analyze a set of beliefs, breaking down the traditional interpretations and structures.
This process aims to promote a deeper engagement with the essence of Jesus' teachings and their relevance in contemporary contexts.
Deconstruction involves questioning assumptions, exploring alternative perspectives, and understanding the historical and cultural context in which these teachings emerged.
Deconstruction seeks to uncover the underlying meanings, challenge dogmas, and encourage a more nuanced understanding of the message, allowing for a fresh and thoughtful interpretation that goes beyond conventional or rigid interpretations. (Thanks again ChatGPT)
This would be seperate from the institutional or religious interpretations, which frequently were formed to pronote or protect the institution, and in the process loss thier spiritual significance that was present at the source.
What is “Pan-en-theism”?
Pan-en-theism is a concept that addresses the theological issue of God’s relationship to the world by proposing that the world is “in God.” The term is derived from the Greek pan-en-theos and means “all-in-God.”
The term is often understood as a third option over against the alternatives of pantheism (“all is God”) and classical theism (“God is absolutely separate from the world”). Over against these two alternatives, panentheism emphasizes the closeness between God and the world (God’s immanence), as well as maintains that God is more than the world (God’s transcendence).
Panentheism is a theological perspective that acknowledges the presence of the divine or the sacred within the entire universe while also maintaining that the divine extends beyond and transcends the physical world. In essence, panentheism suggests that the divine is both immanent (present within the world) and transcendent (existing beyond the world).
Unlike pantheism, which posits that the universe itself is divine, panentheism asserts that the divine is more than the sum of its parts and encompasses everything. The universe is seen as existing within the divine, but the divine also extends beyond the universe.
In panentheism, there is a dynamic relationship between the divine and the world, where the world is viewed as a manifestation or expression of the divine. This perspective is found in various religious and philosophical traditions, including some forms of Christian theology, certain schools of Hinduism (especially in Advaita Vedanta), and elements of process philosophy.
In summary, panentheism holds that the divine is intimately connected to and present within the world, while simultaneously transcending it.
Thanks Sky, for lifting up my thoughts toward a fuller understanding of "Life" and living spiritually in the materiality. The "wholeness", "oneness" of everything and everyone is a comfortable vibe for me.
Thank you Sky.