The following 12 questions
are general enough
to be answered by all spiritual paths within
Unitarian Universalism.
If each spiritual path is described using
the same framework,
then comparisons and contrasts can be made
more easily.
Both kinds of participants
in the Spiritual Paths Project
(those with a spiritual tradition and
those without)
might find the following questions helpful
for describing and presenting their spiritual
paths.
What additional questions should be asked?
1. How do you describe your form of spirituality?
Distinguish it from others.
2. What does "spirituality" include and exclude from your point of view?
3. For example, how does a "spiritual experience"
differ from an emotional
response?
4. Does your form of spirituality involve a world-view or metaphysical system?
5. Does your spirituality involve any supernatural
(or non-obvious)
beings, entities, forces,
influences, or tendencies?
6. What are the benefits of your form of spirituality?
7. How does your form of spirituality deal with death?
8. Does your form of spirituality involve any ritual practices or spiritual exercises?
9. What do critics of your form of spirituality
say
—and how do you answer
them?
10. If your spiritual path were mistaken or
distorted in some way,
how would you uncover the
errors or recognize the distortions?
11. Have corrections already been incorporated into your spiritual
tradition?
How will any future changes take place?
12. Where can seekers learn more about your form of spirituality?
Created
2000; Revised 11-18-2009; 10-27-2010; 4-12-2012; 2-11-2015;
If you would like to see how one person answers these twelve
questions,
go to Existential
Spirituality described by James Park.
Another
format answering most of these questions
will be found in the following cyber-sermon:
Introducing
Existential Spirituality.
Return to the opening page of the Spiritual Paths Project.
Return to the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM page.