The Language of Spirituality

Alan York compares objective and mystical ways of seeing our world, arguing that the language and logic of science is quite inappropriate to describing the spiritual world. Science looks at the world through objective eyes, creating descriptions of phenomena which are agreed by all observers. Water flows downhill. An electrical current makes lightbulbs shine..

Alan sees the basis and origins of religion worldwide in an original mystical spirituality, common to all humans and seen in different cultures across the globe, leading to structures of religious organisation and belief, differing from one another only to reflect those different cultures.

The key question is about the language in which these different world views are expressed. Science uses objective language; religion does not, it uses allegorical language through story, myth and legend to express ineffable and inexpressible truths.

Spirituality (as opposed to religion) is indeed, often, expressed through the latter, but also through wordless means via human deep experience of the world and self, through meditation, prayer and worship. This mystical experience can also be experienced and expressed through art, poetry, music, architecture, literature, and theatre.

Deep personal experience is the key here, which some may view as entirely subjective, but none the worse for that. It is still a human experience, and Alan is basing all his conclusions on human experience.

Understanding the, thus, quintessentially different language of spirituality may help us resolve some muddles about brain, mind and spirit.