Humanitarian traits through spirituality in American culture

Humanitarian Traits Through Spirituality in American Culture

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The state of affairs in today's American culture and society are simply a reflection or a 'shadow' of the inherent spiritual poverty which permeates today's society. If American society continues on its present course, America will crumble from within due to spiritual neglect and moral decay highlighting the poignant and critical need for some form of spirituality characterized by higher principles to serve as a guide to Americans in contemporary times.

Spirituality in the context of this present study does not by any means represent 'religion' per se and most emphatically spirituality in the present context does not represent denomination but instead spirituality in the context of this present study is representative of the potentialities of humankind which are either manifested through positive or negative outcomes. These outcomes are either positive or negative depending upon the state of spiritual affairs in this country and whether positive or negative that which is within the archetypical man is reflected outwardly and projected into the American society in an act of creation combined with ongoing evolution of that archetype and whether that be for the 'good' or positive or the 'bad' or negative results in today's culture and society.

I. Spiritual Poverty

Chris Thomson writes in the work entitled: "Spiritual Progress and Spiritual Wealth" that the Native American Indians held the white people to be devious and dishonest and that following the devious means, modern weapons and superior numbers" which overcame the North American tribes "the meaning of spiritual poverty became all too apparent. Gone were the health, happiness dignity, wisdom, deeper meaning and ecological living that were common among many of the tribes before the white arrived." (ND, p.1) These things are stated by Thomson to have been replaced with "poor health, loss of dignity and loss of meaning." (ND, p.1) the Indian nation became inundated with white culture including "alcoholism, obesity, addictions, depression, suicide and sexually transmitted diseases...and...many of them have now resorted to running casinos for the want of anything better." (Thomson, ND, p.1) Thomson states that were the elders of the native American Indians alive in today's contemporary times that the epidemics, disease, and despondency of today's people in America could be attributed to "spiritual poverty." (p.2)

II. Spirituality in the Context of This Study

Spirituality in the context of this present thesis does not refer to what is popularly known as 'religion' but instead references the inner spirituality of humankind in terms of the principles and practices of the individual as they go about their daily lives in the American society. Thomson relates that in today's world the wise elder is seldom sought and even less able to be found because these individuals are "no longer valued or even recognized" and the result is a high price that society must pay. Just as was the case at the time that the native American Indians were overcome by the developed world in today's world where spiritual poverty exists society suffers what is a "whole range of problems." (ND, p.1)

Carl Jung wrote that his work had empirically proved that "...the pattern of God exits in every man..., not only the meaning of his life, but his renewal and the renewal of his institutions depend on his conscious relationship with this inner pattern." (cited in Hill, 2006, p.1) This requires that one "go deeply within himself, below ego, beyond personality, into the realm of his spiritual heritage and his soul's core..." And through this to learn the proper use of one's own will. (Hill, 2006, p.1)

Hill (2006) writes in the work entitled: "Money and the Spiritual Warrior" that archetypes "exist within the deeper levels of both the individual and collective human psyches." (2006, p.1) These archetypes were described in the work of Carl Jung as "primordial, universal energy patterns developed over eons of time and moving throughout the world and human history" and carrying what is a "...full range of positive and negative possibilities." (Hill, 2006, p.1) These archetypes however, are impossible to know "...through intellect alone." (Hill, 2006, p.1) These archetypes are stated by Hill to "inform our behavioral patterns and attitudes, and are found in symbols, myths, art, dreams and cultural stories." (p.1)

III. Spiritual Potential is Both Positive and Negative

Hill states that one of these spiritual archetypes is the 'Spiritual Warrior' which is innately characterized by manifestation in financial success however the fundamental nature of this archetype can be both positive and negative and may manifest improperly due to immaturity and impulsivity and as well this archetype may be "run by the shadow, in all its narcissistic glory, as warriors without wisdom or compassion." (Hill, 2006, p.1) the impacts of globalization have served through its very structural nature to "gather wealth at the top, sponsor government subservience and foster self-serving beliefs." (Hill, 2006)

Hill writes that the archetype of the warrior negatively impressed upon the economic culture characterizes the state of affairs in the United States and the "shadow warrior's violent nature" stated to be clearly evident in today's American culture. The material structural flaws in the American dream are a representation or a shadow if you will of the structural flaws in the spirituality of today's American society. For example, Hill states that estimations hold that 1/3 of the women in America are physically abused by their significant other and approximately 14% to 30% of today's children in America belong to a street gang and with 100,000 children carrying a gun it is no surprise that "every three hours a child was killed...in 2000...by a gun." (Hill, 2006, p.1)

IV. Proper Use of Will for Common Self-Interest

Spirituality carries with it the intent and capacity for humankind to work together in coherence for the self-interest of the entirety of those comprising the society and through the proper use of 'will' brings about necessary changes and removes imbalances in the society and replaces them with balance and harmony. Hill writes that the materialistic worldview is just as a thumbprint "...indelibly set" upon today's society coloring the very fabric of society in what are "drive and addictive behaviors that not only distort relationships, but also warp the basic natural instincts themselves." (Hill, 2006, p.1)

V. Spirituality of Man has Physiological, Biological and Genetic Basis

These statements are not made upon the basis of religious dogma but instead are physiologically and biologically as well as genetically-based since it is known that the DNA of the human being is that which "...lays down the blueprint for the early development of the fetus and the infant, the continuing development of the brain of the young child depends critically on the environment" since ongoing anxiety present in the mother of a child results in the baby's prefrontal lobes growth being retarded. This brain region is linked to "...empathy intuition and spiritual experience. Anxiety shunts the developing neuron pathways to focus on the lower reptilian brain, seat of the survival processes." (2006, p.1)

Religions are according to Thomas Berry "...too pious; [and] corporations too plundering..." And any possible change of "...recovery of the natural world will require not only a new economic system, but a conversion experience deep in the psyche of the human." (cited in Hill, 2006, p.1) While Jung certainly did not write from a viewpoint colored by religiosity his statement as follows very sharply resembles the principles accounted for in many of today's religions and that holds that pressures in today's world would force the human being to go inward "drive to find new meaning...to enter the unknown depths of our own psyches in the hope of redemption." (as cited in Hill, 2006, p.1)

Summary and Conclusion