Classification of Spirituality

Traditional and Modern

School of Spirituality
•Transcendentalism
•Unitary Universalism
•Theosophy
•Anthroposophy
 Transcendentalism

• is a philosophy that centers on the belief that spirituality

cannot be achieved through reason and rationalism, but
instead through self-reflection and intuition. In other
words, transcendentalists believe spirituality isn’t
something you can explain; it’s something you feel. A
transcendentalist would argue that going for a walk in a
beautiful place would be a much more spiritual experience
than reading a religious text.
Some of the transcendentalist beliefs are:
• Humans are inherently good
• Society and its institutions such as organized religion and
politics are corrupting. Instead of being part of them, humans
should strive to be independent and self-reliant
• Spirituality should come from the self, not organized religion
• Insight and experience are more important than logic
• Nature is beautiful, should be deeply appreciated, and shouldn’t
be altered by What Is Transcendentalism?
Unitary Universalism /Unitarian Universalism
is a creedless religion, meaning that it does not require members to adhere
to dogma, or a specific belief system. Its celebrate diversity of beliefs while
affirm and promote seven principles:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our
congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within
congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:
• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures,
which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create
and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront
powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power
of love;
• Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our
neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results
of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of
life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
 Theosophy
The various forms of theosophical speculation have
certain common characteristics.
The first is an emphasis on mystical experience.
Theosophical writers hold that there is a deeper
spiritual reality and that direct contact with that
reality can be established through intuition,
meditation, revelation or some other state
transcending normal human consciousness.
•Theosophists also emphasize esoteric doctrine. Modern theosophists
claim that all world religions contain such an inner teaching, and
much attention is devoted to deciphering the meaning concealed in
sacred texts. In addition, most theosophical speculation reveals a
fascination with supernatural or other extraordinary occurrences and
with the achievement of higher psychic and spiritual powers.
Theosphists maintain that knowledge of the divine wisdom gives
access to the mysteries of nature and humankind’s inner essence.

•Finally, theosophy displays a characteristic preference for monism—

the view that reality is constituted of one principle or substance,
such as mind or spirit.
 Anthroposophy
• The word ‘Anthroposophy’ comes from the Greek (anthropos
meaning ‘human’ and sophia meaning ‘wisdom’). Translated it
means ‘wisdom of the human being’. It can be understood in
contemporary terms as ‘an awareness of one’s humanity’.
• There are two threads working together within Anthroposophy: an
expansion of perception and knowledge (spiritual realism); and, the
development of individual responsibility for actions (ethical
individualism).
• Anthroposophy provides an individual path of spiritual development,
visible in the arts, in social forms and practical initiatives.
Categories
of
Religion
 WORLD RELIGION

The major religions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism,

Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and Judaism)
differ in many respects, including how each religion is
organized and the belief system each upholds. Other
differences include the nature of belief in a higher power,
the history of how the world and the religion began, and
the use of sacred texts and objects.
 INDIGENOUS RELIGION
• Six percent of the world’s population practice indigenous religions, which
include “African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native
American religions and Australian aboriginal religions”(Pew Research
Center, 2012)
• Other indigenous practices are the following; witchcraft, healing rituals,
shamanism, ancestor worship, and spirit possession.
• It is perceived as simple, primitive, or complex.
• Indigenous beliefs or folk religions are often associated with specific groups
of people typically based on ethnicity.
 NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT
• New religious movement (NRM), the generally accepted term for what is
sometimes called, often with pejorative connotations, a “cult.” The term new
religious movement has been applied to all new faiths that have arisen
worldwide over the past several centuries.
• NRMs are characterized by a number of shared traits. These religions are, by
definition, “new”; they offer innovative religious responses to the conditions of
the modern world, despite the fact that most NRMs represent themselves as
rooted in ancient traditions. NRMs are also usually regarded as
“countercultural”; that is, they are perceived (by others and by themselves) to
be alternatives to the mainstream religions of Western society, especially
Christianity in its normative forms.
 References
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/new-religious-movement
• https://monikalaschkolnig.com/inner-strengthacademy/modern-spirituality/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/theosophy
• https://uucsh.org/learning/what-is-uu/
• https://blog.prepscholar.com/transcendentalism-definition-movement#:~:text=Transcendental
ism%20is%20a%20philosophy%20that,through%20self%2Dreflection%20and%20intuition
.
• https://www.anthroposophy.org.nz/anthroposophy/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/
• https://www.everystudent.com/features/connecting.html