New, Emergent Spirituality

The following articles began life as part of our Friday Food n Therapy series.  There was such a widespread response to them, we have collated several of them here on a separate webpage.  Dare we say - enjoy!?!?  Nahhh, rather, read and be challenged about the future direction of the church as it seeks to respond to, and provide a biblical alternative....

1] ‘Spirituality’ – an Emerging Buzzword

It doesn’t seem that long ago when to mention you were interested in spiritual things was a definite no-no in public conversation in Australia.  Not any more!  “Spirituality” is rapidly becoming not only acceptable, but positively centre-stage!  With emphasis at times on “stage” it seems…

But just what kind of spirituality is this exactly?  Probably “exactly” is the last word one would use to define it!  What kind of content are we talking about?  It’s hard to say.  For instance…

Is this sentimentality, or is something else stirring away?

Some of our older brigade would remember Benjamin Creme – a leading spokesman for the New Age movement in the early 1980’s.  He paid for full-page adverts in leading newspapers around the world in 1982 announcing the soon-coming of Lord Metraiya – the Christ!  At the height of the Toronto Blessing in the mid 1990’s, Crème was asked for his opinion of this spiritual phenomenon, which was sweeping through many churches and movements at the time.  His reply was (and still is) thought provoking…

Creme said that the whole world is at present moving into a higher level on consciousness, and that "people are reacting to new energies entering our planet.  As these energies daily increase in their potency, more people will find themselves responding in either subtle or obvious ways.  How their response manifests will depend on their personal views.  If they have a fundamental view of life, politics, or religion, then these energies will enhance their views" (Interview late 1994).  He added these energies are emanating from the Christ (ie. Lord Metraiya), and dissipate doubts and fears, leaving a sense of peace and equilibrium which is all part of the purification of the world….

Man is at the centre of this new spirituality, not God – and especially not the God described in the Bible! The God who, in the words of Francis Schaeffer, “is there”…  Outside of, and independent of mankind.

What is it about vague spirituality that seems to hook people in so easily?

Ed Murphy, in his Handbook for Spiritual Warfare, P237, offers an insight…  "In Joshua 24, God’s man, Joshua, knows he will soon die and leave the fickle nation he has led since the death of Moses.  He knows these people too well.  He knows they are still sensual, worldly, and wide open to religious spirits which deceive their followers by first meeting most of their selfish physical and emotional needs."

If there is validity in Jesus’ ominous warning in Mat 24, that religious deception would be the prime sign of the End, perhaps we are nearer the last of the last days more than we realise…

2]  The deaths of Steve Irwin and Peter Brock

In September 2006, two iconic Australians met untimely deaths by accident.  There was an unprecedented outpouring of popular grief.  And then rock star, Billy Thorpe (Some people I know think that I'm crazy) died suddenly.  Commentary flowed thick and fast from life-after-death experts like, ah, um, fellow muso's, racing drivers, and even one sort-of minister....  Here's some samples....

In September 2006, the untimely deaths of two “heroes” of Australian culture and media occurred – Steve Irwin, the crocodile man, was killed by a stingray while filming a wildlife documentary, and Peter Brock, arguably Australia’s best-known racing driver, died in a rally-car crash.

Neither had (to the knowledge of our circle of contact, at least) ever professed a personal faith in God through Lord Jesus Christ, nor pursued a practising, “walk-the-talk”, Christian lifestyle.  Some years ago, through his de facto partner, Brock was quite publicly introduced to Hinduistic meditation, and a range of Eastern spiritual practices which at one point caused GM-Holden to withdraw their sponsorship of him (after he enthusiastically promoted a scientifically debunked “energy polariser” in his cars).

In our western world today, it’s uncool to have no religious ‘faith’ when it comes to dealing with death and the afterlife…..  A Sydney newspaper published the attached “cartoon”, after massive media coverage of the deaths of the “crocodile man” and the (05 GM-Holden) racing car driver.

Note they are depicted as ascending together into the afterlife….  Several times, the media coverage emphasised the ascension of these “good” men (although in the past year Brock’s personal life had been publicly soiled, after he walked out on a 28-year de facto relationship [and three children], to move in with the wife of a fellow racing industry man – who assaulted him publicly for stealing his wife – [apparently this is still regarded as “adultery” in the racing car fraternity…]).

In one interview, while debating whether the rally Brock was killed in should continue, the promoter of the event said he was sure Peter Brock was “looking down” right now urging them to continue!  Other reports included that Irwin and Brock were now “angels”….  Conscious beings – that could communicate with those below…

Welcome to the new undefined, unsubstantiated, unreferenced, spirituality of modern Western humanity – one where there is no judgment day, no reckoning, no externally-defined definitions or commands to live by, and no need of a Saviour….  SCARY!!!  Can you not ask yourself the awful question, “what if they’ve got it wrong???  What then???” 

3]  Billy Thorpe’s departure into Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven??? 

Since our previous circular on the new spirituality and its departure from objective reference points, we have had a very public funeral for one of the stars of Australian rock music – Billy Thorpe died of a sudden heart attack at 60.  He was farewelled by 7000 people appropriately at the Sydney Entertainment Centre,  Here is a media report of the occasion.  

This is a most timely real-time example of what others are analysing in the emergence of a new spirituality that is devoid of accountability and judgment (the word is almost a swear word now!), while offering a balm at the point of death, when all belief and way-of-life systems come up for examination.  The people quoted below were serious about what they said!  Scary…

And in the midst of it, we have a representative of the “Christian” church offering platitudes of hope….  Based on??….  "No matter what though, no matter what, we believe that God has a very special place in his heart for rock 'n' rollers."  

4/3/07  Herald-Sun report:  Organisers had stressed the event would be a memorial service and not a rock concert, but when the music started there was no stopping the 7,000-strong audience from joining in.  Some of the biggest names in Australian music, including INXS' Garry Beers, Normie Rowe, Harry Vanda from the Easybeats, Col Joye, John Paul Young and Reg Mombassa, turned out to pay their respects to Thorpe, who died last week from a heart attack, aged 60.  

After starting with a minute's silence, the Reverend Bill Crews (well-known Sydney Uniting Church minister) delivered the eulogy on a stage adorned with guitars and a coffin.  "Each one of us here is different, and each one of us has our own beliefs, and our own outlooks," Mr Crews said.  "No matter what though, no matter what, we believe that God has a very special place in his heart for rock 'n' rollers." 

Actor Brian Brown said Thorpe was a proud Australian who every man wanted to be.  "Like most blokes from the suburbs I wanted to be Billy Thorpe," he said in his tribute.  Brown, 59, said he was looking forward to having a few more beers with his beloved friend when they met again upstairs.  "I look forward to arriving in that place that we sometimes don't think exists, but at a time like these it sure does," an emotional Brown said.  "And see that grinning face come walking up to me, saying, 'Jesus, what kept ya Browny?''" 

Actor Jack Thompson also delivered an emotional tribute that he ended with a number on a harmonica.  "Deep in my heart, a desolate howl still echoes," a teary Thompson said.  "We have lost a loved one."  Singer Little Pattie, journalist George Negus, and long-time friend and manager Michael Chugg recalled some of the humorous and memorable moments they shared with Thorpe over the years.  Olivia Newtown John performed a heartfelt rendition of Over The Rainbow.  "I'm so honoured to be here for Billy, he was such a good friend to me," Newton John told the audience.  "I'm here because I love him." 

The crowd joined Max Merritt in a rendition of his song Slippin' Away, before he said goodbye to his peer:  "I love you Billy, I love you".  But it was Thorpe himself, from decades of concert footage, who got the crowd on its feet, singing along to what was probably his best-loved hit - Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy).

At the conclusion of the service, Thorpe's coffin was escorted from the stage, to cries from the crowd of "you rock Billy!" and "give ‘em hell, Billy".  Rev Crews summed up the feeling in the auditorium: "If love alone could bring us back to life, Billy would be jumping around on stage right now".

The memorial ended with footage of a recent Thorpe performance of Somewhere Over The Rainbow as glitter rained down over his coffin.  Thorpe is survived by his wife of 35 years Lynne, and daughters Rusty and Lauren.

Other comments:  Included a discussion by Mike Carlton and Peter Fitzsimons on 2UE about the public discussion that Billy Thorpe had now joined Elvis, John Lennon, Hendrix, and other late great rockers in the band somewhere over the other side, and that Thorpe had not come to join them, but to take over!  The discussion went somewhat Monty Python as Carlton ruminated on what this band would be doing in heaven, when Fitzsimons pointed out that Lennon was an avowed atheist with no time for any concept of God (let alone Jesus, Saviour of sinful mankind), and that his last great song, Imagine, had become the anthem of the anti-God brigade.  He mused that possibly they may be congregated in the “other place” (no one dares mention hell anymore in plain language)!  Carlton got quite agitated by this and would not consider it even a possibility.

4]  The Quest for (non-demanding) Spirituality

We have looked occasionally over the past couple of years at developing notions of “spirituality”.  It was a word us oldies rarely heard expressed in secular society – either in personal conversation or in the media.  But now the media regularly embraces it!  People talk about their “quest for spirituality” in positive, life-affirming terms.  Isn’t this wonderful!?!?  After decades of being told that in polite society one never discussed politics, sex, or religion….

Here’s a recent quote.  If you are one of our overseas acquaintances, the name Paul Roos will mean nothing to you.  In 2005, he coached our local Sydney Aussie Rules team (of which we are humble members!...) to their first (national) premiership in 72 years!  Talk about the biggest losers!....

Then, in 2006, against the odds, he took them to the Grand Final again – to lose by ONE POINT.  In a game where an average score can be 110 to 80, that’s the narrowest margin (technically, one point is the result of “kicking a behind” – a term which has always had the shrinks searching for deep, hidden, Freudian meaning from their clinical reference books….).  Players fell on the ground, exhausted and stunned by how close they had come to a (rare) double-header premiership.

Over the years, other coaches hung out to dry by such a narrow loss on the Big Day Out, wept, got angry, stumbled for words, and left depressed….  Not Paul Roos.  He congratulated his losing players, said, “there’s always next year, boys”, and then went on holidays with his wife and children…  The media remarked on his calmness of spirit, and lack of agony (the kind that makes coaches age prematurely).

His response to the Media?  He gets his inner calm from his “spirituality”.  But, before Christian Aussie Rules supporters (and especially us Sydney Swans’ supporters) sing hallelujahs, here’s a quote from a very recent article….  Read the language carefully…  Selah….

…Roos is a thinker.  The football code responsible for Warwick Capper and Sam Newman has also given us a man who meditates, does yoga and ponders the meaning of life.  He and Tami discovered meditation in 1999 when they went on a course run by guru Deepak Chopra.  "It's an extension of who we are as a family," says Roos.  "It's about trying to get some balance in your life.  It's about spending time with yourself, clearing your thoughts and putting things in perspective."

He meditates five days a week, typically in the morning, for about half an hour.  It's a personal thing and a spiritual one.  Is he religious?  "No body's ever asked me that before," he replies, a reminder that he's more accustomed to questions about goals that come off a player's boot than the personal ones that swim around his head.  He and Tami are both Catholics but that doesn't define them.  "I believe in an afterlife," he says.  "I believe there's a creator.  I'd be interested to read the Bible, to be honest.  I've got a real interest in spiritual things but we're not as a family locked into any particular belief system."

That book he's reading on the afterlife is about the experiences of people who believe they have died and come back - gone part of the way to the other side.  "If somebody suggests a book, I'm happy to read it.  There are some fascinating books to read that put footy and life in perspective.  It does give you some really good balance, particularly when you're getting beaten.”  -  Neil McMahon, the Sydney Magazine  Feb 2007

Words with “content”??  Spirituality that is “Catholic”, yet “undefined”???  Hinduism in Western terminology?  “I’d be interested to read the Bible”….  In a land where there are more Bibles available than people!?!?  And you don’t get burned or beheaded for reading it??  Words with meaning???

At the other end of the spectrum, we have Charles [Chuck] Colson saying…

The results [of the survey] reflect the shift away from traditional religion, like Christianity, to what Americans have come to call vaguely "spirituality."  This shift enables people to enjoy the emotional and psychological benefits of religion without any restrictions on personal freedom.  The problem is that's there no evidence that this kind of religion can build the kind of society for which the respondents [of the survey] yearn.  On the contrary, the "firm line" they desire between good and bad comes from people subordinating their own opinions and desires to the requirements of their faith.  As James Davison Hunter points out, it's this submission and accountability to religious tradition that is the real source of morality.

And having spent time in prison after the Nixon Watergate scandal, Colson ought to know…..  Interestingly too, Islam is Arabic for “submission”!

True spirituality MUST be informed from outside our own circle of understanding and subjective values.  This is a crucial issue in any society conditioned to set up its own gods (idols) – gods that have been shaped from “within” the same system - that seemingly (short-term at least) satisfy the God-created thirst for spirituality, yet make few demands on the people for change, repentance, commitment for “forsake everything and follow”.

No wonder Jesus’ core message is so unpopular today.

(Matthew 10:32-39)  "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.  Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.  Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

(Mark 8:34-35)  Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

And a horrible postscript....  Since the Sydney Swans really got into the collective yoga recovery sessions, etc (publicly aired in early 2008), their injury rate, and team cohesion, and win rate have all plummeted!  No one has fingered this in the media as the journo's try to identify the reason(s) for the dramatic slump.  We could've told 'em...  Even poor old Mad Barry Hall's attempts at anger-management have come unstuck, and he has become, by the late 2008 season, a runaway train wreck, running about belting people and abusing players and umpires....  Still, it only a game and we mustn't make a judgment on the spirituality of anyone (or any team)!