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Conclusion
256
Notes 258
Bibliography 268
Index 275
Contents
xiii
Preface
In the twenty-first century religion is a contentious matter. Many rational
thinkers had assumed that as humans evolved, religion would be left
behind as no longer necessary, God would not only be dead but all
transcendent beliefs would be buried by the scientific, materialist para-
digm. This has, however, not proved to be the case, and whether for good
or ill, religion remains a powerful force in today’s world.
Spirituality on the other hand is getting a much better press. People feel
that they are spiritual beings, whether or not they follow any particular
religion. Many are exploring alternative spiritualities, as attested by
the growth of Mind, Body and Spirit sections in bookshops, new maga-
zines and gatherings of many kinds of alternative groups all over the
country. The decline in church worship in Britain does not indicate a
nation of convinced atheists, rather a population unsure of what to
believe, and interested in exploring the options. The experiential side of
religion has an important role in that search for meaning, with practices
such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and circle dancing now very much part
of the mainstream.
A lively engagement was triggered in 2007 by Richard Dawkins’ best-
seller
The God Delusion
with ripostes such as Alister McGrath’s
The
Dawkins Delusion
and debates nationwide. The renowned broadcaster
John Humphreys had the biggest postbag of his career in response to his
Radio 4 series
Humphreys in Search of God
in which he interviewed
religious leaders about their faith, as part of a personal search. People
remain deeply interested in spirituality and religion, whether they are for
or against. Young people in particular, although often eschewing formal
worship, which in general means little to them, and often critical of what
they see as the gap between religious teaching and practice, do have a
holistic understanding of the interdependence of humanity and the planet,
not found in previous generations. Profoundly aware of the enormous
inequalities of standards of living, they become involved in projects at
home and abroad to help others. They travel the world and are concerned
about how what we do affects the earth’s future and so are conscious of
environmental issues. Those who engage in spiritual exploration do so
xiv
with an unprecedented awareness of the great variety of religious
traditions in existence. The number of students opting for Religious
Studies is growing, as they enjoy thinking about the Big Questions. This
book is primarily for them.
My presentation does not focus on the texts, institutions or practices of
any religious tradition, but on experiences which indicate a deeper or
transcendent level of existence. Although the actual experiences cannot
themselves be shared, the accounts given reflect their importance to
people and the profound effects on their lives. As we cannot know the
divine directly, it is through such stories that it is possible to approach the
spiritual dimension. This may be experienced within the individual
through introspection and meditation; or beyond, through relational
consciousness; or through wonder at the universe and intimations of
something beyond it. However experienced, it is that awareness, the expe-
riential heart of religion which is explored in this book.
This is a wide-ranging introduction to the subject and aims to encour-
age further, deeper study. My presentation is set out in short sections
making it suitable for reference, although it may be read as a continuous
text. I record moments which have been of deep significance to people,
life-changing events. I also recount less dramatic, longer-term experiences
which have brought comfort and awareness of a constant Presence. There
are negative experiences too and even experiences of people rejecting
religion with joy. As the field is vast, this is inevitably a personal selection,
enhanced by the experiences shared with me during the time I was writing
the book.
We cannot know the true nature of ultimate reality but sometimes it
seems as if the clouds part and there is a glimpse of something beyond
which touches people’s lives, whether our own or those of people we
know or have read about. These biographical snippets are records of such
happenings. They point the way to understanding what it means to be
truly human.
Preface
xv
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