I received an article this morning that made me raise my eyebrows. In it the author shared her definition of “spiritual wellness.”
“We each have our own, individual spiritual journey, and Spiritual Wellness deals with how we seek meaning and purpose in life, our connection with the universe, and a relationship with a higher power, if we so choose. You can explore Spiritual Wellness as part of a faith-based community, but it’s not necessary. Spiritual Wellness means clarifying your beliefs and values so that you can truly live by them.”
Isn’t that just a warm, fuzzy, “spiritualized” version of existentialism in which you create meaning for yourself by knowing what you believe? What if your beliefs are wrong, are you still well?
If person #1 believes A, and person #2 is firmly committed to not-A, are they both still “well” because they both have clarity about what they believe?
It amazes me that people will apply a whole different set of criteria for spiritual wellness than they do for other kinds of wellness. Assume a scenario in which my car is not functioning properly. I take it to two different mechanics and one tells me that I need a new gas filter, but the other tells me that I need to put sugar in my gas tank and that will give me a sweet ride. Is their advice equally valid if I have clarified my belief that they are right and live by those beliefs? Will my car be “well” if I put sugar in the tank just because I believe that is the right thing to do and live by my belief?
No one would presume to believe such foolishness. But when it comes to spiritual beliefs it seems that there are many who jettison all common sense and spout nonsense such as that in the article I received.
“We each have our own, individual spiritual journey, and Spiritual Wellness deals with how we seek meaning and purpose in life, our connection with the universe, and a relationship with a higher power, if we so choose. You can explore Spiritual Wellness as part of a faith-based community, but it’s not necessary. Spiritual Wellness means clarifying your beliefs and values so that you can truly live by them.”
What utter nonsense. Would I have physical wellness if I believed that the key to health was a diet made up entirely of Snickers Bars and Pixie Stix? If I clarified that belief and can truly live by it?
Just as there are positive and negative treatments for my ailing car, and positive and negative treatments for my ailing body, there are also positive and negative treatments for my ailing soul. And, contrary to what the quoted statement says, it is not the individual who determines what will provide meaning, purpose, and “spiritual wellness”, it is God who determines what provides meaning, purpose, and “spiritual wellness.” I am grateful that the God who determines what provides meaning, purpose, and spiritual wellness has shared clearly with us how we can be spiritually well.
