It is notable that many people today demonstrate a continued interest in all that is spiritual, in spirituality, and in the spiritual life in general. It is surprising, I suppose, because in the course of the late 20th century and early 21st century, spirituality and institutionalised religion, and questions about the spiritual life in general, seemed almost at one point to have been put aside and buried for good. It is often said that Australia is one of the most secular societies in the world, and yet the subject of ‘spirituality’ refuses to go away.
Undeniably, the spiritual question, and the quest for a spiritual identity has returned to the playing field. Intellectuals, writers, journalists, scientists, physicians, you name it, are concerned about things ‘spiritual’. How often have I heard the statement, ‘I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.’ And I suppose it is a fair enough statement, particularly as many people are turned off by institutional religion. Everyone is spiritual to some degree, even a complete atheist has a spiritual dimension, at least in my opinion. Spiritual themes still make headlines in magazines and newspapers. And you only have to enter a bookshop to find an interesting array of books shelved under the ‘Spirituality’ section.
So, through the pages of this blog I would like to share what it means for me to be a human being in the contemporary world, and a particular kind of human being for that matter, with a particular kind of spirituality, and a particular kind of outlook on this life many of us struggle to live. As a one-time Anglican/Episcopal priest, who is now retired from ministry, I continue my interest in theological studies through my academic pursuits at post-graduate level at an Australian University.
History, I believe, will look upon this present time and see that we lived at the beginning of a new kind of reformation. We presently live in a world where Christians no longer have the influence they once did, faced with many challenges, one of which is that we do not have a monopoly on the truth. But it is still the job of every Christian, to be called to be the light, salt and soul of the world. The Christian tradition has its own rich spiritual traditions, somewhat lost to many in our modern age. Unfortunately, many people today would never think of looking to the Church for any spiritual sustenance, which is very sad when you think about it, due I think to a Church which has been rocked by scandal and a number of negative theologies. The Churches too find themselves in a unique position today to learn from other faith traditions, especially in the increasingly globalized context that we are now find ourselves in.
To be a same-sex attracted person in the Church today, which is something I proudly proclaim, is also a great challenge, but also a great gift. There is something in the prophetic voice which I think LGBT Christians offer the wider Church and the wider world, which even constitutes its own spiritual ethos. Throughout the Church’s history, it has often been those existing at the margins of the Church who have had something constructive and prophetic to say to the wider body of faith. Jesus himself existed at the margins of his Jewish faith and it was from those margins that he ministered to the marginalised.
I hope this blog may be of help to some, particularly those of us who feel they live at the margins of the Church. As I put down my thoughts, it might even help me to come to terms with the world and the spirituality in which I continually live, and move, and have my being.
Philip John Bewley 