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Spirituality
is the most important essence of well-being. Why is it, then, that too
many people overlook it? Certainly there are enough who believe in
a Creator not to consider making Him a much larger part of their life.
His energy is constant and always around us. Polls taken repeatedly show
that upward of 85 to 90 percent of people believe in Creation and,
therefore, a Creator; so why is it that there is such a dirth of
reliance on Him for help in times of need -- especially illness? Numerous
studies have pointed out that those who have spiritual beliefs (or a
defined religion) -- as high as 80 percent in some studies -- enjoy
better health, live longer, recover from illness more quickly and with
fewer complications. They suffer less depression and have fewer chemical
addictions, have lower blood pressure, and cope better with serious
disease -- such as cardiovascular disease and most chronic diseases.
Isn't the word getting out? What's holding up the parade? I' have some
ideas, and I plan to share some with you in this room. They won't be
secret, so you can pass the on with my blessing!
In
The Shrink's Theory room in which I included a schematic (a figure)
showing the flow of God's energy to include both humankind's mental
and physical functions, unfortunately, from viewing it, you aren't
impressed with the serious implication that God's energy never changes.
It cannot be hindered -- increased nor decreased. This is an
absolute! Remember I said I believe in and sustain my action by
absolutes. Any scientist worth his/her salt will agree that energy
is an absolute. And this isn't a fact lost to those of the past, either.
In Ecclesiastes 3:14 (KJV) are these words: "I know that,
whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it,
nor any thing taken from it . . . . ". I don't think that it
can get any clearer than that, do you? It is but a mere step in faith to
conclude that if whatever God did cannot be changed -- nothing put to
it, nor any thing taken from it -- we have a constant supply of His
energy with us at all times. In discussing why I developed my
theory, I mentioned that scientists have had an intense interest in the
mysterious energy (not to me, it isn't mysterious) outside of human
consciousness -- that it held many unanswered questions. Since
everything (repeat - everything) exists because of this energy,
it follows that the energy is part and parcel of everything that exists.
Albeit that energy cannot be added to nor taken from, it can/does
take on different forms -- according to the architecture of that which
form it takes. Light is energy, a tree is energy, a rock is energy,
every inanimate object is energy -- every animate object is energy.
The difference among all these is only understood or recognized by the
manner in which the energy us used -- or the architecture of the object
made up of the energy. Humankind is a particularly unusual form of
energy -- no one can doubt this. From my perspective, our being special
creations (given special architecture), and being created in God's
energy image, it follows that He intends His energy be utilized by us
for whatever purpose humankind finds need! not the least of which is to
live, survive -- and abundantly. There is no human drive as strong or as
urgent as the drive to survive. We see it in every thing around us. One
frightening instance, is the great concern that, our having used
antibiotics to destroy invading bacteria to such a high degree that we
have, we've sparked a survival drive in the bacteria such that they are
becoming resistant to the antibiotic that formerly killed them. (Their
survival mechanism is at work.) The search is on to find more
lethal antibiotics (or other techniques) to kill the newly resistant
species! Sometimes too much of a good thing, turns bad! Aside from this,
though, our use of our Creator's energy is more important. Another
absolute from which I take my cue is that everyone is endowed equally
with our Creator's energy, so have no difference on this special basis.
If only we considered each other as equal in our Creator's eyes, perhaps
we could meet more amicably on other "grounds." What is your
opinion? Also see to right column.
You'll
recall from the schematic I included in The Shrink's Theory room, I
placed God's energy source above the energectic circle icon at
the top? The direct line from the Source to the new dimension
that I added to the conscious/unconscious paradigm (the sub-unconscious
-- the spiritual dimension) exists, and is a bi-directional
arrangement. The sub-unconscious and its functional brain
architecture are the foci of the energy of our Creator. It is
this wonderful arrangement that needs more attention in our culture--
all cultures. Lacking our using it, or not being aware of its existence
certainly doesn't allow humankind to engage the main support system
of our existence. A variety of obstacles are present that cause this
disuse.
I cover many of them in my book Why
Not Do God?,
links to where it is available are sprinkled around this web site.
Barriers that interpose between the sub-unconscious and the
unconscious, and ultimately the conscious, are culprits that interfere
with sanative and salubrious use of our Creator's energy. It is a
tragedy that this is the situation. So much of humankind's discord can
be attributed to these interposing issues. I mentioned I would list a
few of them, and I will. Let's look at spirituality in a broad
sense for now. There are many ways in which spirituality is expressed by
humankind. Some express their spirituality through religious involvement
(Church, Synagogue or Mosque -- other places of worship). This can take
many forms, praying, meditating and fellowship with others who attend
the places of worship. Early Christians didn't have churches as they
might be today. They met in various places chosen to express their
spirituality -- their devotion to Christ. Dining together for purposes
of worshiping and loving the Lord was called an agape. Agape is a
form of love that is the ideal, too. It is a totally pure of
reservation love, and is represented in its purist form by God's
love for mankind. The Holy Bible contains the words that express how the
Lord worked his thoughts into the ways of his followers -- all mankind,
really. It is unfortunate that expressing spirituality can be such
a cause for strife among people. If each were to absolutely (my
belief, again) accept that being creatations of God, each is endowed
with His spirit, we could all meet on common ground, doing away with the
pettiness of cultural and learned limitations. The world's people have
lost the fact that God doesn't play favorites -- all are equal;
therefore the foolishness of fighting among ourselves (killing in all
manner of ways) would be settled amicably. However, man sins as he
is wont to do. Some people express spirituality by feeling in tune with
nature and the universe; some express it through music, meditation or
art -- or by doing good things for others -- although, this
latter may have some pathological aspects to it. I won't go into
it, but it is covered in the chapter in my book telling about love
of self compared to love of self in God! be careful with some
invitations to do good things to work your way into Eternity!
No
one knows exactly how a person's spirituality or belief affects their
physical or emotional health. Some who study these issues suggest that
the healing or health is attributed to hope. Even though the researchers
concluded that "hope" assists the immune system in its
function to help fight off opportunistic diseases -- even to such a
degree to be measurable -- the abstractness of hope scarcely
would tell what the mechanisms are, as I see it -- much like the
abstractness of love is a real problem with which to deal. Others think
that spiritual acts such as meditation or prayer -- especially when they
bring about their relaxed states -- are the answer to the changes in the
salubrious welfare of those using them. The relaxation reduces
muscles tension and can lower blood pressure (as I reported happens
when the parasympathetic function of the autonomic nervous system is in
charge. Remember?) Still others believe that it's the social contacts
that spirituality provides (when expressed in groups such as Churches,
Synagogues and Mosques.) Most don't know it, but it is true, that prayerful
silence or prayerful passive quiet, prayerful supplication
have very positive effects on human health and healing. It is my belief
that during these times (and notice I say prayerful) is when the
clutter of the conscious and the unconscious is at its lowest, and the
benevolent influence of the sub-unconscious is at its extreme. Prayerful
attitudes imply a different mind set from non-prayerful attitudes --
the mind set is that the person believes in a Creator. My
belief is that the explanations most still offer give credit to
"something" that is relegated primarily to the physical
attribute of humankind (much as the conscious/unconscious model closed
itself off from the spiritual). My position is that unless the spiritual
dimension (the sub-unconscious) is factored in, there won't be
much good come from just being quiet, silent or idle supplicating
-- expecting health or healing mostly from chemicals (that all have side
effects) or purely physical treatment. I believe that more recidivism
results when there is a lack of using the spiritual dimension -- and
especially not using it prayerfully.
However
one tries to rationalize that we are free to express our spiritual
dimension, we are not. There are obstacles preventing its use. The
obstacles appear to be from at least three sources: (1) Societal
obstacles (laws) -- laws against expressing one's faith whenever,
wherever with no hindrances. The separation of Church and State is an
illusion -- foisted on us by badly interpreted laws. No where in the
United States Constitution does it state that religious expression
is forbidden -- actually, it is demanded not to be. It only states that
there will not be a National or State selected religion or religious
expression. Do the research, you'll see. I get so upset when I hear such
rabid statements and expressed concerns that mere prayer at a public
gathering, or at a school assembly are forbidden because it is
against the "Constitutional" demand that there be separation
of Church and State. Isn't it strange that it is against the
"separation of Church and State law" to have the word God
mentioned in public speeches when it is part of the oath taken when a
person testifies in court -- or when a President is sworn in at his inauguration?
On every currency bill are the words" In God we trust", and
it's part of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America.
Why is is so frightening to some to mention God, or beseech His help to
get us through the stress and distress we suffer fo often? I don't know
about such hypocrisy. (2) Therapist obstacles: Not wanting to mess
around with value systems, most therapists steer away from talking
about, or dealing with a patient's religious beliefs -- or their
spiritual beliefs, period. Also, most are "products" of the
"closed-end" therapy training (conscious/unconscious)
paradigms. However, more therapists than before are recognizing and
instituting spirituality into their models -- a healthy sign. (3)Then,
there are client or patient obstacles: lack of knowledge of spiritual
importance, lack of family values based on religious tenets, rebellion
against church doctrine, growing into "new age" beliefs and
poor modeling by not only peers, but those in position to influence.
These are some of the obstacles that interfere with our expressing
our most important spiritual dimension -- our contact with our Creator.
There are others, I'm sure; and other persons have listed them. Research
will turn them up.
