Spirituality concerns an ancient and primal search for meaning that is as old as humanity itself … Spirituality tends to be perceived as a sub-system or offshoot of formal religion. In practice the reality is quite different … Spirituality is, and always has been, more central to human experience than religion. (Reclaiming Spirituality. Crossroad. 1999. vii)
Nan Burgess
Today a fresh, liberating breath of spirituality is touching many lives both within and outside the church. This phenomenon expresses growing awareness of the dimensions of spirituality in daily living, and, naturally, incorporated in such awareness are varying interpretations. … The hope of increasing numbers of people is expressed in the proposal of Rebecca Propst that “spirituality should be taken out of the corners of our modern existence and become instead the defining point of our existence”. (Looking Into The Depths – Dimensions of Spirituality in New Zealand Short Story. Colcom Press 1996. 25-26)
Anthony de Mello
The spiritual quest is a journey without distance. You travel from where you are right now to where you have always been. From ignorance to recognition, for all you do is see for the first time what you have always been looking at. Whoever heard of a path that brings you to yourself or a method that makes you what you have always been. Spirituality, after all, is only a matter of becoming what you already are. (Source unknown)
Howard Rice
Spirituality is the pattern by which we shape our lives in response to our experience of God as a very real presence in and around us. … Our participation in the living Christ means that all human life takes on a sacred quality. The unity of flesh and spirit in Christ is the basis for taking all that is human with utmost reverence. (Reformed Spirituality. WJKP 1991. 45 & 163)
Joan Chittister
Spirituality is not meant to be a panacea for human pain. Nor is it a substitute for critical conscience. Spirituality energizes the soul to provide what the world lacks. … Spirituality plunges us into life with an eye to meaning and purpose. (Heart of Flesh – Eerdmans 1998. 1-2)
Margaret Dunn
Christian spirituality focuses us on relationship with Jesus Christ. (Harvest Field. 2002)
John North
Any definition of spirituality is not a definition but a signpost showing us the directions to search! (Refresh Editorial Group meeting 5.11.03)
Susanne Johnson
Christian spiritual formation is a matter of becoming the song we sing, the Story we tell.
(Christian Spiritual Formation … Abingdon. 1989)
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