Spiritual and rational mutuality

I thought I would post this as a general comment, and an opening to discussion. As a progressive Christian who openly welcomes views of every stripe into my mind and the spirit of every person (to the extent I am humbly capable) into my heart, I think we ought really discuss the notion of "mutuality" between spirituality and rationality as a practical matter.

Here was my comment to Jeff Nall, author (I'm assuming) of a letter attempting to get progressive secularists, humanists, and "religionists" together over the things they share. See his recent CrossLeft blog post "A Call for Unity Between Secular and Religious Progressives" (http://www.crossleft.org/?q=node/1772)

JeffNall,

As a regular blogger on CrossLeft, I support your project and your intent, but I doubt that I personally could sign on to your letter in its present form, because a very important mutuality has been left out. The letter basically states (truly in my estimation) how much liberal religion has supported and grown alongside humanist values, from embrace of doubt, to care for the suffering, to appreciation of the rational mind. All of these secularists, atheists, and humanists might be comfortable with and fundamentalists perhaps uncomfortable with because these are principles already shared and held by people who don't share their type of belief in God. The true test of coalition-building is the ability to grow and learn beyond one's "easy commonality" with others based in the current values one holds. I see a missing mutuality. I welcome the value offered by logic, science,etc. How about a reciprocal agreement by secular, atheist, agnostic, and humanists to openly consider faith and the non-rational concommitantly with the rational. What does secular faith look like? What role does inspiration, forgiveness, redemption, and other values assigned to progressive religion (and claimed by all sorts) have in common and in commitment with progressives broadly.

I think we need to take a stronger stand than "putting aside our differences." I believe we need to embrace our differences in a spirit of one people and cross over into each others "land" as an existential act of faith. I shall not wield the Bible or faith as a shield against my secular brother and sister, but welcome them in their creative, spiritual, and beautiful difference. To do so is to know the secularity in me. I would ask the same of my secular brothers and sisters, to know the religion in them. As Ziggy Marley has said in his wonderful new song, "Love is My Religion": "I shall not condemn; I shall not convert" for I trust the Living spirit between us, no matter how it is conceived to help guide us and help us learn beyond ourselves. Rationality is very helpful when it comes to personal responsibility and social justice, but the non-rational helps us look beyond ourselves as mere individuals or members of society, rather as "interbeings" (as Christian-sympathetic Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh would say) connected on a cosmological level, sharing bread, and helping each other to both achieve and create awareness.

Reexamine the passage below, and see if you don't agree.

Jeff Nall:
"While our beliefs about the existence of God may differ, progressive Americans share a common tradition of humanism dating back to at least the Renaissance. Many spiritual and religious thinkers have significantly contributed to the advancement of doubt, free thinking, and the sciences, laying the ground work for the Enlightenment and modernity. There is no “cultural war� dividing us."

Progressive Americans also share a common tradition of faith (not defined as doctrine, but as hope, charity, and love). In addition to doubt, free thinking, and science, we owe much to faith, inspiration, and religion.
Enlightenment and modernity derived from progressive faith traditions attempting to liberate the minds and hearts of humans from kings and emperors by appealing to "God-given" reason and natural laws that supercede the whims of any human. That tradition has been forgotten and dishonored as superstition, or a primitive former state by many of modernity. And yet there is a certain hollowness and meaninglessness to rationality alone, isn't there? The spiritual cannot be forgotten for it drives justice and the desire to know, and this cannot be left to the side. As we go forward there are always beliefs closer to our personal center. I honor that, and indeed these differences are necessary and beautiful, a precondition for our interknowing. Let's bring them together, forgetting none of them, welcoming all to speak their voice and to hear with our deepest ear.

Zeus Yiamouyiannis, Ph.D.
Berkeley, CA