Americans Growing More Spiritual, Less Religious
Recent polls reveal an increasing number of Americans who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious” —- but is it possible to worship without priests, imams, or rabbis? The new book God Without Religion shows how it’s not only feasible but far more advantageous, and offers a groundbreaking bridge between organized religion and personal spirituality.
(PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Judging by recent events like the Supreme Court’s
split decision on public religious displays and the prominence of evangelicals
of all denominations in politics and the media, it seems that Americans are
becoming increasingly devout. Yet appearances can be misleading. Despite the
mushrooming concern about politicized religion, recent polls show a growing
number of Americans seeking a connection to God free of religious doctrine. www.godwithoutreligion.com
Christian evangelicals, for
example, amount to less than 10 percent of the American population, according to
the Barna Group, a Christian polling and research organization. Further, a
January 2002 USA Today/Gallup poll found that evangelicals are far outnumbered
by the 33 percent of Americans describing themselves as “spiritual but not
religious.” Other studies also conclude that Americans are distancing themselves
from organized religion, ready for a more individualized approach to
spirituality uncircumscribed by outdated dogma. “The rise in personal
spirituality is the major religion story of our time,” observes D. Patrick
Miller in the July 2005 Fearless Bulletin.
But where’s a spiritual seeker
to turn, if not to a church, mosque, or temple? An answer—and many new
questions—lie in the book God Without Religion: Questioning Centuries of
Accepted Truths by Sankara Saranam. Saranam, an ascetic, mystic, and scholar,
proposes a path directly to God without intermediaries—a way to an increasingly
expansive spirituality through the science of intuition, or looking within.
Saranam’s investigation of spirituality originates in the mystical traditions
that form the basis of many of the world’s major religions. Mystics throughout
the ages have employed the science of intuition to arrive at a universal
understanding of life, unshackled by the need for answers from religious
authorities.
To help spiritual investigators achieve a universal
spirituality, Saranam teaches many of these centuries-old techniques for
developing a firsthand knowledge of God through an expansive identity. In
addition to inward exploration, he suggests replacing the community experience
offered by denominational settings with group discussions questioning the nature
of God. “It’s possible to enhance your spiritual well-being simply by being
curious,” Saranam explains. “Unquestioningly accepting inherited beliefs about
God promotes a narrow view of yourself and the world. To expand your
perspective, worship by wondering. The more questions you ask, the more profound
the answers will be, leading to deeper questions. Constantly challenging your
conclusions and refining your knowledge of God promotes deep spiritual growth
that takes into account the growth of all of life.” www.godwithoutreligion.com
Contact:
Hillary
Welles
The Pranayama Institute
505-231-0806
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb265612.htm