"I'm Spiritual; -- Not Religious..." - Heidi Heirhead (age 12), Encino Valley, Ca

Ever hear someone make the statement above?  I hear it from people all the time.  After you hear it from enough people & get to know enough of the people who say it -- I've come to a conclusion as to what it means when MOST people say it.

"I'm Spiritual; -- Not Religious...", actually means: "I choose to believe anything my undisciplined mind chooses to about warm fuzzy irrationalities because I really don't believe that understanding metaphysical concepts - ultimately matters..."

People who say things like this say it because they perceive "religion" to be equal with beliefs in the irrational. And, why believe someone else' irrational babble when you can invent your own & reshape it on the fly so as to always feel good about yourself?...

Well, having taken some time to study a specific set of writings that comprise the Scriptures compiled & translated into "The Bible" - the term "SPIRITUAL" has a very different meaning than what most people (sadly including most people who have a Bible) think it means.  You see, the Scripture talks about a God who created everything & says that this God is both a LAWGIVER & a JUDGE.

Since LAW is a subject near to my heart - and since I am also in the habit of creating things ... I can assure the rational person that this description of God as being a LAWGIVER & JUDGE transports the definition of the term "SPIRITUAL" from the warm fuzzy mental droolings of crystal worshippers into it's actual intended use of "Extrapolations of Understanding Based on Reason".

"1 + 1 = 2" <--- That is a "SPIRITUAL" concept.

Here's another: "A² + B² = C²" - you may recognize this as the Pythagoras theorem.

Here's another SPIRITUAL UTTERANCE: (Right)

Recognize it?

No?

It's a molecular representation for one of the most poisonous substances known to man.

Which brings me to the next point about "SPIRITUAL" discussions.  Talking in spiritual terms is a way of discussing intangible principles that are absolutely for REAL.  Spiritual discussion is always done with abstracts & analogs because intangible principles (like laws) cannot be seen.  However -- unlike "New Age ranting", - real Spiritual principles are often readily demonstrable, & provable.

Genuine SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING -- unlike an irrational belief (often masquerading under the title of "religion") -- gives real insight into real issues & provides real answers.  Discussion of SPIRITUAL MATTERS requires a precise definition of terms. 

After all -- if the terminology is not exacting -- there is no way to discuss principles.  Mathematics, Science & Law are examples of disciplines that require incredibly precise understanding of terminology.  According to the Scriptures -- God is a LAWgiver and Judge.  This means that God uses exact specifications & just measures when He acts.  Knowing this -- we know that theology is as precise a science as is the study of Law.  Should we be surprised then - that among the first 5 books of the Bible (the Torah) is a legal code?  And according to a writer of part of the New Testament (a lawyer named Saul/Paul) -- that the LAW of Moses contains Spiritual principles!  He even gave an example.  It is written in Moses' Law "not to muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain".  Paul said that this law has a larger scope: That the workman is worthy of his hire (or in other words - Don't make the job difficult for somebody who's working for you).

Sometimes the answer is not easily derived.  This doesn't mean there is no answer -- jut that it may take some effort to derive the solution.  often -- knowing the right QUESTION is the key to deriving the solution. 

How much does the Moon weigh?

Do you see the problem with the question?

You recall where I discussed the use of PRECISE TERMS?  The term "WEIGH" implies WEIGHT  - which is a function of MASS under the effect of gravity.  Since gravity is not a constant -- the term is imprecise.  MASS - by definition is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.  Mass is an independent measurement not dependant on another variable.

The PROPER QUESTION is:  What is the MASS of the moon?

The moon has mass, right?  After all -- it's made of stuff & MASS is the measure of the amount of stuff in an object.

How do you measure the amount of MASS in an object the size of the moon?  Some people might yell: "It can't be done..."

Oh yes ... it CAN be done and HAS been done & the answer validated!  Deriving the answer requires knowing some things about physics that most people are never educated to consider.  Did you know that the gravitational force of an object is a function of its MASS?  This is why asteroids will orbit each other.  Enough mass = gravity well.

The moon has a gravity well about 1/6th that of earth's.  Knowing the relationship between mass & gravity provides a tool to determine the mass of an object from it's gravitational force!

While some may argue that we are discussing science & mathematics -- not theology; -- I will remind you that the Bible's Scriptures define God as a God of LAW.  "LAW" is a word with a precise meaning and that meaning does not imply an "abstract rulebook".  Ironically -- religions have perverted the meaning of the term "Spiritual"!  So obtuse & mindless have most "religions" (including sects of so-called Christianity) become -- that people think that other words -- like "prayer" mean "extemporaneous talking" (PRAYER - is a legal term for a petition put before a court that cites legal basis & requests legal remedy for an imperfect situation.).  This is why it is necessary that God be a Judge. 

Judges consider the law, - the complaint; -- & then grant LAWFUL (law-based) Judgment.  Of course -- other principles of law are all considered: Jurisdiction, legal-standing & if a legal remedy exists.  Most religions (& sadly -- Christian sects) portray God as an arbitrary, abstract rule maker (& breaker).  They honestly believe that God acts on a whim - in contrast to the Scripture saying that God is no respecter of persons (is not swayed by frivolity, social titles or status).  Just judges are impartial. 

So then: A "spiritual" person is one who makes substantial use of mental faculty to understand the world beyond perceptual acuity - a world governed by laws - whether scientific, legal or mathematics derived. "The term "Spiritual" is the antithesis of "Irrational".

How does your world view hold up?