Recommencations
Chapter 15 in Thesis – On the Universal Meaning and Significance of Spirituality –
As discussed, a successful idea may open up more questions than it closes. In this section, I will give my three main recommendations for the further academic development of the ideas of this thesis.
Theoretical and Empirical Validation
The first general recommendation corresponds to the limitations discussed above. As discussed, I have provided many potentially novel and controversial ideas on the basis of evidence, reasoning and conjecture. Therefore, my first recommendation is for scholars of different perspectives to treat these ideas in their work, to either validate the ideas from their perspective or point out their flaws. I would also recommend scientists of different disciplines to consider these ideas when formulating their hypothesis and generally to test some of the ideas that might relate to their interest.
Towards a Universal Understanding of Spirituality
The original title and vision for this thesis was in fact “Towards a Universal Understanding of Spirituality”. A universal understanding of spirituality may be a vital piece in the reconciliation of spiritual knowledge and therefore of the spiritual renaissance. It is therefore my general recommendation that such an understanding be promoted by interested scholars and scientists. There is much work ahead for such an understanding to mature. First of all, we need the varieties of spiritual phenomena and knowledge found on the spiritual scene to be understood under a universal paradigm of knowledge such as the experiential approach. Then we need people to integrate this universal knowledge into unifying theories, frameworks and bodies of knowledge. One strategy I will recommend as a part of this integration process, it to focus on identifying individual unifying principles, which may illuminate universal patterns across spiritual paradigms, and which may be integrated into bigger frameworks as the accrue. We also need this universal spiritual knowledge to be interpreted by scientists and scholars of different worldviews, as well as by thinkers of different spiritual traditions so that they may benefit the people of those worldviews and traditions. What I have attempted to provide in this thesis is the rationale as well as a potential intellectual foundation for this project, but the project is still ahead, and it is a big project. One that I intend to contribute to myself through my own perspective, and one I hope others will also be inspired to contribute to from their perspectives.
Expanding the scope of reconciliation in width and depth
As discussed in the thesis, spiritual practices and knowledge are already in the process of being understood and reconciled by science. However, this may just be the beginning of a bigger process. There are many traditions and practices which received attention. Studying these would be an expansion of the breadth of the spiritual reconciliation, and I would therefore recommend scholars and scientists to take an interest in the traditions, ideas and practices of spirituality which have still not received sufficient attention. However, there is also another dimension to the expansion of the reconciliation of spiritual knowledge, a dimension of depth. Many of the traditions and practices which have been explored have not been explored at the deeper levels. For instance, the tradition of Buddhism has seen an increasing level of scientific attention, but most of it has been directed at the entry level benefits of the particular practices of mindfulness and loving kindness. I recommend scholars and scientists to direct more attention to the deeper levels and potentials of the traditions and practices that fall under the purview of science in the future.
Review
In general, if the idea of the spiritual renaissance is valid, it is clear that it is only in the beginning and that there is still a long way to a potential spiritual golden age. On the most general level, my recommendation is for anyone with an interest and who can contribute to the development of the spiritual renaissance will find their own way to do so. Should enough people be inspired to do so, then we may indeed one day see the days of the spiritual golden ages.
Author – Sagi Andersen