CARING ABOUT WORDS Why I’m talking about this

Because I think we will all be better at being Secular

If you don’t care for the word “Spirit” people if we spend more time reflecting on Spirituality
what’s involved in being a person.
then feel free to leave it behind. I’m just
trying to get a conversation going about
Maybe you think a lot of what I say in here is
what it’s like to be like us (humans). I
obvious. I’m hoping you do— I set out not
find that certain words help me under-
to convince but to describe simply what I Spirituality
stand myself and others better. Here’s a
bunch— which are your favorites?
find human life to be like. So maybe it’s ob-
vious. But perhaps my definition of spiritual-
(without the
Which ones speak to you? ity could also be “thinking deeply about what Supernatural)
is totally obvious.” These basic experiences
awareness beauty care change choice
of human life are what we all share. I am
commitment communication commu- hoping that a greater sensitivity to these ex-
nity compassion consciousness consid- periences (on a daily basis) will produce more
eration courage creativity death develop- open, honest, self-reflective, and considerate
ment difference dignity discovery earth humans.
emotions enlightenment evolution
exploration family flourishing forgiveness
freedom future god good growth
happiness health help hope humanity
humility holy imagination infinitude
interconnection joy justice knowledge
learning life limitation love maturity
meaning memory mercy mystery nature Please note!!
openness past partnership peace person
present process questioning recognition Want to talk about this?
Feel free to contact me This pamphlet is
reflection relationship respect
responsibility right risk sacred self Matthew Lowe not about Christ
science song spirit story struggle 1is2is1@gmail.com or any other God,
suffering technology thankfulness
thought time transcendence trust truth
OR and thus may or
uncertainty universe valuing virtue Talk to anyone else you see. may not get you
wholeness wisdom work world I mean, into heaven.
I’m not the expert on being a person.
Care for these words by thinking of You tell me
them often and weaving them into what it’s like
your actions and relationships.
 What does it mean to
Be a Spirit?
Simply put, OBJECT
+ are parts that always exist in relation to
SUBJECT
=
SPIRIT
OBJECT = being a thing.
Includes:
Existing.
Being made out of matter.
Being subject to change.
Being subject to time.
Having a beginning + an end.
Having an appearance.
Being part of the world.
SUBJECT = being a human mind.
Includes:
Knowing you exist.
Knowing yourself as a mind + a body.
Knowing. Feeling. Desiring.
Valuing. Believing. Planning.
Acting. Evaluating. Learning.
Organizing. Re-organizing.
Reflecting. Communicating.
Being part of the world.
Why the word “Spirit”?
Because it's a word that people use to point
to human greatness, depth, uniqueness, pos-
sibility, interconnection and connection to
“something greater.” While a religious view-
point would hold that we access those quali-
ties through the supernatural, I am pointing
out that we also discover those human quali-
ties through our natural experiences.
“YOU ARE A SPIRIT”
means that, as a person, you are both object
and subject. We can try to separate the
mental from the physical, but body and mind
each other and to the greater whole—
You.
What happens when you mix
OBJECT + SUBJECT ?
Many minds, many thoughts, many actions
Everyone’s walking around with inner
monologues, with opinions, ideas, philoso-
phies, and faiths. Everyone’s walking around
with a limited, personalized encyclopedia of
the world. Every mind is molded by its body
and by its place in the world. And every
mind has a body to act itself out through.
Tending a Body
The challenges of caring for (cleaning, feed-
ing, clothing, guarding, exercising, pleasing,
valuing, judging, etc.) a body should be clear
to anyone with a body.
Relationships (Other Spirits)
Learning to be a body and mind is complex
enough, but to do so around other people
learning to do the same is far more compli-
cated. We are all shaping and being shaped
by each other, to some extent.
Time
All objects have a ‘biological’ clock, but sub-
jects can hear it tick. Simple objects ‘live’ in
the present; subjects waver mentally be-
tween the past, present, and future. We find
(and lose) ourselves in time.
What is Spirituality?
To me, spirituality is about
giving caring / careful attention
(AKA “taking care”)
to the fact that one is a spirit.
Spiritual Virtues
• “Meta” activities — Stepping Back
A “meta” activity occurs any time we step
back and reflect, examine, acknowledge,
recognize, name, consider, question, value,
or re-value an activity. Attempting to see
ourselves “from above” is a spiritual
practice, a form of caring/careful attention.
• Respect for the Unity of “Opposites”
Spirituality is not about choosing the mind
over the body or vice versa, but rather
recognizing their dependence on each
other. It is a spiritual virtue to realize and
embrace the relation/tension between
apparent opposites.
• Learning / Openness
It’s a long road, and a lot of spirits are
traveling it at the same time. Since no one
can be the “expert” or “master” spirit, we
need to offer, seek, and receive help
whatever help we can.
• Dignity, Humility, Responsibility
Being a spirit is complicated, and we learn
as we go! (see above) A careful spirit
respects the process of life, and finds
dignity in it, for oneself and others. Seeing
ourselves as in process, we gain senses of
humility and responsibility towards the
journey.