A Balanced-Holistic Spirituality

“the Christian creed and Christian vision (that) have in them a life and a richness that can embrace and transfigure all the complexities of human life.” -- Rowan Williams

"We live in a dangerously unstable global village; we cannot escape from one another"> Return to Episcopal Spirituality A Balanced-Holistic Spirituality     “the Christian creed and Christian vision (that) have in them a life and a richness that can embrace and transfigure all the complexities of human life.” -- Rowan Williams   "We live in a dangerously unstable global village; we cannot escape from one another, yet we are confronted daily with passionate disagreement about almost everything. I believe that the Anglican Communion, at its best, can model for the world a way of living with, rather than dying from, disagreement. "                         -- The Most Rev'd Richard Holloway   The Episcopal Church has a tendency toward a holistic approach to spirituality. You can see it in many parishes with characteristics such as: Welcoming and valuing diversity in its membership Looking for the interdependence of all life Affirming the potential of people, e.g., "the glory of God is a person fully alive"; we affirm that all people are in a process of development, we call it sanctification A discomfort with dogma and certainty; an open mindedness; within the church there are a variety of spiritual practices and different pathways to the truth. The church's corporate beliefs are gathered up, and expressed, in what it prays and does in its Liturgy; there is a grounding in ancient and traditional ways; but those who gather for that Liturgy are a diverse and exciting mix of humanity, each with a unique way of relating to God and others. Seeing life as a grand mystery. e.g., in baptizing a person we pray "Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works."