Morality Vs. Spirituality Part 1

Morality Vs. Spirituality Part 1
First Written on 2nd Mar 2012

Posted  Mar-3rd, 2012
Shan Sharma

It is often contended that if one is moral, and doesn’t bother another, one is living well and somehow this is acceptable. Acceptable to whom, and acceptable for what, these remain undefined and open to discussion. However that is another subject and I do not wish to deviate from the points presented in this article.

Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good (or right) and those that are bad (or wrong). Inclusive to morality here are humanism, freethinking, and consequentialism.

In order to establish the differences between morality and spirituality lets consider a few things. First, morality is a self learned code of conduct. Life is too short to rely on a code we learn ourselves through experience and perhaps a few do’s and don’ts.¹ One can be a moral person, however, this morality lacks 1000s of years of hind sight, and furthermore it lacks foresight which can only be produced by wisdom which needs knowledge and appropriation. Therefore, it is unwise to be a moralist because it lacks definition, direction and consistent profitable implications. Spirituality on the other hand, believes, and is Spirit taught. A believer is a wise man if what he believes in produces fruits that are good.

Morality is adherence to a list of do’s and don’ts. You can liken it to a robot that is programmed to perform a task in a factory insensitive to the fact of what it is doing, why it is doing that, and what will the product be used in, etc, limited to the task itself. Spirituality is faith in action, a life of integrity according to a higher purpose, higher perception and at a much higher bar.

Another important aspect of morality as we see it is that it is only skin deep. Spirituality on the other hand produces a personality which is seeded deep within us and held fast to. Spirituality produces a personality; morality produces a pseudo personality, which relies on cause-effect based learning nurtured by ones environment. Spirituality produces a life, which is not skin deep but that which relies on our inner most being, which is in tune to the mind of God, producing an effectual lifestyle that goes way beyond morality.

Spirituality is rooted in “the Spirit of God” (Pneuma alētheia(truth) or Theos  πνεῦμα ἀλήθεια or θεός, Ruach Elohim רוּח אלהים /roo'-akh 'ĕlôhı̂ym). Are we all not looking to find love, joy, peace, longsuffering in situations, gentleness within us and to all around us, goodness, faith, meekness that produces brotherly affection, and temperance?² These are  the true fruits that produces actions that go way beyond morality and do a great everlasting work within our soul.

Spirituality is connected to the Spirit of God, as one God, who is higher than our limitations and instead of being a responder is an initiator.³ This is contrary to the notion of morality and idolatry⁴ (which is sinful), where man has to do something to make God do something in return. True Spirituality realizes that man can do nothing to please God, except believing in who God really is.⁵

1.King David’s son’s (Solomon) Proverbs 26:12 (NIV)

  12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

2.Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV)

 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

3.Isaiah 45:5 King James Version (KJV)

  5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known    me: (I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,)

4.Deuteronomy 29:17 King James Version (KJV)

 17And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them

5.Hebrews 11:6 King James Version (KJV)

    6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

“Various versions are used in order to communicate the same meaning more effectively to the reader and not for meaning interpretation.” 

   

    Famous Quote: No free democratic country can ever lay claim to greatness, if it does not construct some kind of moral proforma, a moral imperative if you will, to guide the society, and have the society recognize and respect civic trust. This moral imperative implies to every business, every profession, every university and government as well. - Jack Valenti September 5, 1921 – April 26, 2007 (Chairman & President Motion Pictures).