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SYLLABUS FOR PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY - Part II - Fall ‘10

based on: Tolle A New Earth

Introduction 

   Distinction between religion and spirituality         

   Where/why religion might have failed us              

   Truth relative or absolute

The God (concept) question

   Armstrong’s thoughts

   Does God have a future?                         

God-related means self-related 

    Arising of a new consciousness                                                

The true identity beyond the 'ego'           

   Identification                                                     

From Descartes to Sartre

    Peace that passes all understanding 

   True happiness proof of immortality       

The joy of 'being' 

    Being in the now is salvation 

Outer space, 'inner space', 'being'

   Inner space, 'gnosis', the divine 

   Where to find the 'divine'

Who/what is 'God'? 

God-connection of the Ancients

    Kenosis - Knowledge - Suffering  

   Empathy - Concern for everybody 

God-connection in 

   ‘traditional’ vs ‘evolution’ theology

The 'spiritual aspect' of God in  

   Judaism - Jesus, Golden Rule - Kaballah.

   Gnosticism (Jesus a gnostic?)

   Celtic spirituality,  

   Sufism, mysticism 

Application to practical Spirituality                           

   Truth - relative or absolute 

   Finding divine presence in the 'now 

   A Parable - and the inner body 

   Inner body, inner space, doorway to the 'divine' 

Union that is 'universe connected' 

    Breakthrough - Meister Eckhart + Fowler 

   The joy of 'being' - Entrances to the 'divine' 

   Other entrances to the 'divine' 

   Why women are more open for 'enlightenment'  

    How practical spirituality is ‘salvation’ 

Contemporary thoughts about God/divine

   Tolle, Kingsland, Geering, Borg, Tillich, John Robinson

    (M.Eckhart), Spong, Fowels, Wilber, Kushner

And so: A New Earth is not an Utopia