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Was in the midst of a very nice book when the phone rang. It was Delilah (not her real name, of course) who has this uncanny knack of calling me just at the precise moment when I’m just about settled on something perfect for a lazy afternoon such as today.
‘Hi, EleAnor!’ boomed her voice on the phone… pronouncing it as ‘elyanor’.
‘Ok, if you don’t start learning how to say it correctly I’ll put down the phone in 2 counts…. 1….’
‘Aww c’mon … kiddingggggg…’ and she laughed so loud my eardrums hurt!
She loves poking fun at my frustration with my high school teacher in Tacloban back then… who just couldn’t–simply wouldn’t–never did pronounce my name right!
‘Ma’m, it’s Eleanor with a silent a.’ -- I’d stress ofttimes with a wee bit of annoyance but with respect she definitely deserved. She was terrific at her job. Still, she never gets my name right!
To which she’d reply ‘Sit down, Elyanor.’ (Bisaya gyud, pastilan!) Gaaahhh I'd breathe between my teeth. To this my seatmate (yeah, Delilah) would giggle. So much for that.
‘Ok, so what brings this call? It better be good. I’ve got a good book which I’d like to finish.’
Delilah replied….. ‘You remember Carla?’ (A new friend we both met.)
‘Yes. Why?’ I replied.
‘Well, she’s having this rift with Jenny.’ (Another friend.)
‘Over what?’ I asked with piqued interest pushing my book aside.
‘It looks like a tiny difference which now seems to have been blown out of proportion.’ Delilah replied now being serious.
‘Over what nga?’ I wanted to know.
To make a long story short, the subject was about being …religious or spiritual. These two friends were bashing each other for being one or the other. Well, that’s as much as I’m going to tell you about my friends. I will say this much though that my friends patched up things in a manner which didn’t harm the friendship in a way (fortunately) but let’s just say that they simply agreed to disagree. Which, I think, is a smart way to deal or handle issues which may be difficult to resolve.
The issue though was something that isn’t nor can be simply confined between or among friends alone, I must say. Because it happens just as much in ordinary lives everywhere among many and diverse people.
I may have read up a few things about those two words….. And to roughly quote
............
Religious ----- imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly
Spiritual ------ relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things
There are some pretty clear ways in which religion and spirituality differ. --Religion: This is a specific set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. --Spirituality: This is more of an individual practice.
Those who speak of spirituality outside of religion often define themselves as spiritual but not religious and generally believe in the existence of different "spiritual paths," emphasizing the importance of finding one's own individual path to spirituality.
Many people use spirituality to refer to their interior life of faith and religion.
A religious person may be spiritual, but a spiritual person is not necessarily religious.
Unquote.
.............
.
But it really doesn’t matter on which side of the fence you are. To my mind, both are equally worthy and acceptable. Each with its use or uses. If one or the other makes you a better person, that’s fine.
To impose one's beliefs on others or try to change them can cause much division. Because they rightfully have theirs. Judging people for what they do or do not do with their beliefs is rather shortsighted, don't you think? Speaking up when you feel like you should is fine. You have your voice. But try to temper it with kindness. Hurting people for whatever reason, good or bad, is no excuse to act mean. Express your opinion go ahead but that is all there is to it. Don't go further thinking that they should listen to you because you think and believe that yours is right. If change should come they should want it or cause it themselves. The decision to change is an internal thing. Comes from within, not without.
People are as diverse as the North and South poles. With differences as the color of their skin or the size of their eyes…. the different languages they speak…. the diversity of habits and comfort zones.... the different sets of preferences, likes and dislikes, loves and hates, or how they were raised or educated. Each as flawed as the other and each with their respective beliefs and influences, too. People live by their respective histories as laid down by the Divine. That's the journey set out for us to travel.
So religious or spiritual is not the issue -- shouldn't be ..... unless we shortsightedly make it so triggered by the ego and pride.
Was in the midst of a very nice book when the phone rang. It was Delilah (not her real name, of course) who has this uncanny knack of calling me just at the precise moment when I’m just about settled on something perfect for a lazy afternoon such as today.
‘Hi, EleAnor!’ boomed her voice on the phone… pronouncing it as ‘elyanor’.
‘Ok, if you don’t start learning how to say it correctly I’ll put down the phone in 2 counts…. 1….’
‘Aww c’mon … kiddingggggg…’ and she laughed so loud my eardrums hurt!
She loves poking fun at my frustration with my high school teacher in Tacloban back then… who just couldn’t–simply wouldn’t–never did pronounce my name right!
‘Ma’m, it’s Eleanor with a silent a.’ -- I’d stress ofttimes with a wee bit of annoyance but with respect she definitely deserved. She was terrific at her job. Still, she never gets my name right!
To which she’d reply ‘Sit down, Elyanor.’ (Bisaya gyud, pastilan!) Gaaahhh I'd breathe between my teeth. To this my seatmate (yeah, Delilah) would giggle. So much for that.
‘Ok, so what brings this call? It better be good. I’ve got a good book which I’d like to finish.’
Delilah replied….. ‘You remember Carla?’ (A new friend we both met.)
‘Yes. Why?’ I replied.
‘Well, she’s having this rift with Jenny.’ (Another friend.)
‘Over what?’ I asked with piqued interest pushing my book aside.
‘It looks like a tiny difference which now seems to have been blown out of proportion.’ Delilah replied now being serious.
‘Over what nga?’ I wanted to know.
To make a long story short, the subject was about being …religious or spiritual. These two friends were bashing each other for being one or the other. Well, that’s as much as I’m going to tell you about my friends. I will say this much though that my friends patched up things in a manner which didn’t harm the friendship in a way (fortunately) but let’s just say that they simply agreed to disagree. Which, I think, is a smart way to deal or handle issues which may be difficult to resolve.
The issue though was something that isn’t nor can be simply confined between or among friends alone, I must say. Because it happens just as much in ordinary lives everywhere among many and diverse people.
I may have read up a few things about those two words….. And to roughly quote
............
Religious ----- imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly
Spiritual ------ relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things
There are some pretty clear ways in which religion and spirituality differ. --Religion: This is a specific set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. --Spirituality: This is more of an individual practice.
Those who speak of spirituality outside of religion often define themselves as spiritual but not religious and generally believe in the existence of different "spiritual paths," emphasizing the importance of finding one's own individual path to spirituality.
Many people use spirituality to refer to their interior life of faith and religion.
A religious person may be spiritual, but a spiritual person is not necessarily religious.
Unquote.
.............
.
But it really doesn’t matter on which side of the fence you are. To my mind, both are equally worthy and acceptable. Each with its use or uses. If one or the other makes you a better person, that’s fine.
To impose one's beliefs on others or try to change them can cause much division. Because they rightfully have theirs. Judging people for what they do or do not do with their beliefs is rather shortsighted, don't you think? Speaking up when you feel like you should is fine. You have your voice. But try to temper it with kindness. Hurting people for whatever reason, good or bad, is no excuse to act mean. Express your opinion go ahead but that is all there is to it. Don't go further thinking that they should listen to you because you think and believe that yours is right. If change should come they should want it or cause it themselves. The decision to change is an internal thing. Comes from within, not without.
People are as diverse as the North and South poles. With differences as the color of their skin or the size of their eyes…. the different languages they speak…. the diversity of habits and comfort zones.... the different sets of preferences, likes and dislikes, loves and hates, or how they were raised or educated. Each as flawed as the other and each with their respective beliefs and influences, too. People live by their respective histories as laid down by the Divine. That's the journey set out for us to travel.
So religious or spiritual is not the issue -- shouldn't be ..... unless we shortsightedly make it so triggered by the ego and pride.
A very balanced and well written article on this ticklish subject.
ReplyDeleteThank you, KP. No piece goes by your watchful eye without receiving your kind comment and inspiration. Thank you so much. So nice to see you. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDelete