tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post8811000249214150774..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: Rest Areas On The Spiritual Roadcolkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-14858651671558267142008-10-16T05:02:00.000-06:002008-10-16T05:02:00.000-06:00Re: incorporating all of the stagesWhile it still ...Re: incorporating all of the stages<BR/><BR/>While it still has its challenges, the Unity Movement founded by the Filmores has been relatively successful in doing that. I say relatively because the movement still has to deal with all the "humanness" attitudes and issues we all deal with, but the movement has fostered and encouraged an attitude of acceptance at all levels of the other levels. It also has fostered an attitude of acceptance for the differences in cultures and beliefs. <BR/><BR/>Mainstream christian level 1 & 2 traditionalists frequently attack the movement as a cult, even though the movement meets NONE of the criteria. I suspect that these would be found to be the same traditionalists that support Sarah Palin, the war in Iraq, gay-bashing and other clearly anti-Christ platforms.COL55https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057765287988790129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-70699188731014935932008-10-15T21:29:00.000-06:002008-10-15T21:29:00.000-06:00Colleen, thanks for your reply. I think I need to ...Colleen, thanks for your reply. I think I need to rewrite a sentence I wrote because it didn't come out right at all. In referring to yours "It may be that a real community can't function without all the levels of spiritual development because communities must reflect the balance all organisms strive to achieve, be they biological, social, or spiritual." I really think you are in the truth here, but I am not sure if it would come about if Stage two people insist upon their view being the be all and end all and eliminating others and labeling them as "out" of the Divine loop." <BR/><BR/>In order for Stage II's to adopt a stage four mentality they would have to include those who are at stage 4 or higher into their community. An environment would have to be fostered to allow for that spiritual growth in the community. <BR/><BR/>Do you think that the major religions are in a preparation stage for this type of growth to take place?butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-43210160242621610032008-10-15T20:08:00.000-06:002008-10-15T20:08:00.000-06:00It's almost as hard to state universal spiritual t...It's almost as hard to state universal spiritual truths as to live them out - but living them out is what I think it's all about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-63784831638617129572008-10-15T14:09:00.000-06:002008-10-15T14:09:00.000-06:00But here's the interesting thing butterfly. Stage...But here's the interesting thing butterfly. Stage II's can adopt a stage four mentality in certain environments and establish truthful and effective communities with stage fours.<BR/><BR/>The trick is to establish a non threatening environment which insists on all points of view being heard openly and without judgment. It's pretty much the kind of environment a good therapist tries to establish. <BR/><BR/>This isn't to say that a stage two will then become a stage three or four, but in that given environment they can let go of the need to hang on to external boundaries because the environment itself establishes safe boundaries.<BR/>What happens when they go home is a different story. This does however, explain why retreats can be so emotionally effective for stage II people even if it doesn't translate throughout their entire life or completely change their world view.<BR/><BR/>Leon most certainly saw the world from a stage four perspective, but that allowed him to understand and appreciate that the world itself did not function from his same perspective---much less his tribe.<BR/><BR/>Leon ultimately was about homo transcendant, as are some of the rest of us who became a part of his life. I'm pretty sure we all agree that one won't get to play in the quantum universe unless one has attained an appreciation for stage four spiritual understanding. <BR/><BR/>All the great spiritual traditions teach a stage four understanding of our connectedness as the doorway to homo transcendant. It's what the Good News was all about.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-17071430960885340952008-10-15T13:48:00.000-06:002008-10-15T13:48:00.000-06:00Thanks Colleen. It is great to have you back! What...Thanks Colleen. It is great to have you back! What you have presented here is brilliant and helps to define these different stages of psychology/spirituality. <BR/><BR/>Leon was a great spiritual teacher because "he taught which ever level his audience was at." That would mean he had to know the different levels, know the people in the audience, not be critical or judgmental towards the particular stage the audience was in to whom he was to teach something spiritual. It sounds as if he had grasped St. Francis' concept of the importance of being understanding over being understood. I can imagine that Jesus also taught this way and took into account the stage or stance one had in their spiritual development or understanding.<BR/><BR/>You are right about every major religion having these different stages within them. Thomas Merton comes to mind in the Catholic faith as one who was in an advanced stage of spiritual development whereby he began studying other religions with an openness that could not come from a Stage Two.<BR/><BR/>Martin Luther King, Jr also stands out as someone who realized these different stages and profoundly changed our world in a positive way.<BR/><BR/>Mahatma Gandhi is another who transcended to a higher stage of spiritual enlightenment.<BR/><BR/>"It may be that a real community can't function without all the levels of spiritual development because communities must reflect the balance all organisms strive to achieve, be they biological, social, or spiritual." I really think you are in the truth here, but am not sure if it would come about if Stage two people are either "in" or "out" of the Divine loop. It would take spiritual tolerance at all stages for unity and harmony to occur, as well it would mean the discipline of self-censorship at times at all stages and especially for the spiritual leader to teach tolerance, love.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.com