# spirituality

> philosophical and theological term

**Wikidata**: [Q168796](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168796)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spirituality

## Summary
Spirituality is a philosophical and theological term that functions as a cognitive process and a core component of religiosity, broadly encompassing religious orientations, devotion, and altered states of consciousness. It is deeply interconnected with academic disciplines and manifests through various movements, books, and the lives of numerous historical and contemporary figures ranging from Christian saints to Sufi scholars and New Age teachers. This concept serves as a foundational element for understanding human interior mental awareness and the diverse spectrum of religious and spiritual involvement.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition:** Spirituality is defined as a philosophical and theological term.
*   **Classification:** It is categorized as a cognitive process, a form of religiosity, and a concept of devotion.
*   **Related Concept:** It is closely linked to "spiritual but not religious," a distinct category with 17 sitelinks.
*   **State of Consciousness:** It relates to "religious ecstasy," an altered state characterized by reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental awareness.
*   **Founding Date:** The Universal White Brotherhood, a religious movement related to spirituality, was founded on January 16, 1948.
*   **Notable Book:** "The Power of Now," a significant text in the field, was written by Eckhart Tolle.
*   **Historical Figures:** The term encompasses figures born as early as the 19th century (e.g., Andrew Jackson Davis, 1826; Ethelbert William Bullinger, 1837) and as late as the mid-20th century (e.g., Alex Grey, 1953; Erik Davis, 1967).
*   **Global Reach:** Connected individuals hold citizenship in diverse nations including the United States, France, Germany, Indonesia, and Poland.
*   **Academic Scope:** The concept is associated with the academic discipline of study, with 50 sitelinks indicating its scholarly relevance.
*   **Movement Types:** It includes belief systems akin to Theosophy and New Age, such as the Great White Brotherhood.

## FAQs
**How is spirituality defined in relation to religion?**
Spirituality is a philosophical and theological term that acts as a component of religiosity, broadly encompassing religious orientations and devotion. It also exists as a distinct concept known as "spiritual but not religious," separating personal spiritual experience from organized religious structures.

**What are some key historical figures associated with this field?**
The field includes a wide array of historical figures such as Symeon the New Theologian, a Christian saint and monk, and Mirra Alfassa, a spiritual leader and collaborator of Sri Aurobindo. Other notable individuals include the British marine biologist Alister Hardy and the Sufi scholar Michel Chodkiewicz.

**Which specific movements or organizations are linked to spirituality?**
Significant movements include the Universal White Brotherhood, founded in Bulgaria in 1948, and the Great White Brotherhood, which holds beliefs similar to Theosophy. These groups represent organized efforts to explore spiritual concepts and religious orientations.

**What literary works are central to understanding spirituality?**
"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle is a primary text associated with the concept. Additionally, the field is supported by the writings of authors like Timothy Freke, Dewi Lestari, and Frithjof Schuon, who explore various theological and philosophical dimensions.

**How does spirituality relate to altered states of consciousness?**
It is intrinsically linked to "religious ecstasy," a state defined by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and spiritual awareness. This connection highlights the experiential and cognitive processes involved in spiritual practice.

## Why It Matters
Spirituality matters because it provides a framework for understanding the human condition through both philosophical inquiry and theological practice. As a cognitive process, it allows individuals to navigate complex interior mental states, offering a pathway to expanded awareness that transcends standard external perception. Its significance is amplified by its integration into academic disciplines, where it is studied alongside religious orientations and devotion, ensuring its relevance in both scholarly and practical contexts. Furthermore, the concept bridges diverse cultural and historical gaps, connecting figures from 19th-century Anglican clergy to contemporary New Age teachers, thereby fostering a global dialogue on the nature of existence and consciousness.

## Notable For
*   **Broad Classification:** It uniquely serves as both a cognitive process and a theological term, bridging the gap between mental activity and religious doctrine.
*   **Diverse Lineage:** The entity encompasses a vast timeline of figures, from 19th-century scholars like Ethelbert William Bullinger to modern gurus like Andrew Cohen.
*   **Cross-Disciplinary Reach:** It connects distinct professions including marine biology (Alister Hardy), painting (Alex Grey), and politics (Katherine Zappone) under a single spiritual umbrella.
*   **Specific Altered States:** It is the primary context for defining "religious ecstasy" as a state of expanded interior awareness.
*   **Movement Formation:** It is the foundational concept for specific movements like the Universal White Brotherhood and the Great White Brotherhood.
*   **Literary Impact:** It is the subject of influential works such as "The Power of Now," which has achieved significant recognition with 15 sitelinks.
*   **Cultural Synthesis:** It integrates traditions ranging from Hasidic Judaism (Kalonymus Kalman Shapira) to Sufism (Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee) and Christian mysticism (Symeon the New Theologian).

## Body

### Conceptual Framework and Classification
Spirituality functions fundamentally as a philosophical and theological term. It is structurally defined as a cognitive process, indicating its role in mental operations and thought patterns. Within the broader landscape of human belief, it is a subset of religiosity, a concept that broadly encompasses religious orientations and involvement. It is also intrinsically linked to devotion, a specific religious concept. Beyond organized religion, the term extends to the "spiritual but not religious" category, representing a distinct demographic or mindset. A critical component of this framework is religious ecstasy, an altered state of consciousness characterized by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and spiritual awareness.

### Historical Figures and Theologians
The history of spirituality is populated by a diverse array of scholars, saints, and teachers. Symeon the New Theologian stands out as a Christian saint, monk, and theologian with citizenship in a specific historical region. In the realm of Christian clergy, Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi served as an Italian Catholic bishop from 1857 to 1914, while Ethelbert William Bullinger was a British Anglican clergyman and biblical scholar active from 1837 to 1913. The tradition also includes John O'Donohue, an Irish writer, priest, and philosopher who lived from 1956 to 2008. French contributions are significant, represented by Louis Lavelle, an academic from 1883 to 1951, and Jean-Yves Leloup, a theologian and writer. The Sufi tradition is represented by Michel Chodkiewicz (1929-2020), a French author and scholar, and Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, a Sufi religious teacher born in 1953.

### Modern Teachers and Authors
Contemporary spirituality is shaped by numerous authors and teachers. Eckhart Tolle, a German spiritual teacher, is a central figure, known for his book "The Power of Now." Other notable authors include Timothy Freke, a British writer, and Sam Keen, an American author, professor, and philosopher. The field also includes figures like Andrew Cohen, an American guru, and Andrew Jackson Davis, an American spiritualist who lived from 1826 to 1910. International voices include Dewi Lestari, an Indonesian writer and singer, and Abimbola Adelakun, a writer from Nigeria. Frithjof Schuon, a Swiss philosopher, poet, and painter (1907-1998), contributed significantly to the philosophical underpinnings of the field.

### Movements and Organizations
Organized spirituality manifests through specific movements and brotherhoods. The Universal White Brotherhood is a religious movement founded in Bulgaria on January 16, 1948. The Great White Brotherhood represents belief systems that are akin to Theosophy and New Age movements. These organizations provide structured environments for the practice of devotion and the exploration of religious orientations. The concept of "spiritual but not religious" also functions as a distinct entity within this ecosystem, representing a non-institutional approach to spiritual life.

### Interdisciplinary Connections and Professions
Spirituality intersects with a wide variety of professions and academic fields. It is recognized as an academic discipline, with 50 sitelinks indicating its study in professional and educational contexts. Individuals with diverse occupations are linked to the concept, including Alister Hardy, a British marine biologist (1896–1985) who also served as a politician and writer. Alex Grey, an American painter and performance artist born in 1953, connects visual arts with spiritual themes. Erwin McManus, a Salvadoran minister, and Katherine Zappone, an American-born Irish politician, demonstrate the concept's reach into ministry and public service. Other professions include historians like Erik Davis (born 1967) and yogis like Marshall Govindan, a Canadian writer and practitioner.

### Geographic and Cultural Scope
The entity spans a global geographic scope, with connected individuals holding citizenship in numerous nations. These include the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Poland, Canada, and Switzerland. This diversity is reflected in the backgrounds of figures like Johannes Jørgensen, a Danish writer (1866–1956), and Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, a Hasidic rabbi and scholar in Nazi-occupied Poland. The concept also encompasses Mirra Alfassa, a spiritual leader and occultist with citizenship in France, India, and other regions, highlighting its transnational nature.

### Specific Works and Publications
Literature plays a crucial role in the dissemination of spiritual ideas. "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle is a primary text with 15 sitelinks, serving as a key resource for understanding modern spiritual practice. The works of authors like Timothy Freke, Dewi Lestari, and Abimbola Adelakun further expand the literary canon. These texts often explore the philosophical and theological dimensions of the term, providing frameworks for devotion and the exploration of altered states of consciousness.

### Cognitive and Experiential Aspects
At its core, spirituality involves specific cognitive processes and experiential states. It is defined as a cognitive process, suggesting it is an active mental function rather than a passive belief. This is exemplified by religious ecstasy, an altered state where external awareness is reduced while interior mental and spiritual awareness is expanded. These experiences are central to the concept of devotion and the broader category of religiosity. The term also encompasses the "spiritual but not religious" identity, which emphasizes personal experience over institutional affiliation.

## References

1. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q443727)
2. Nuovo soggettario
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. BBC Things
5. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
6. UMLS 2023
7. Quora
8. FactGrid
9. National Library of Israel
10. KBpedia
11. GF WordNet
12. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)