Article July 31, 1937 Issue

Spirituality

WILLIAM CURTIS COFFMAN

Much effort has been put forth throughout the centuries to teach human beings how to gain spirituality, but there still remains a general misunderstanding about it. Men have questioned the possibility of its attainment, but this should not be so since the simplicity of Christ Jesus' teaching and living illustrates it. In spite of the world's material thinking and living, however, the spiritual side of existence is asserting itself.

The misunderstanding about spirituality is sometimes due to a misapprehension of the terms used to express its nature and character. Spirituality is not a stilted piety; it is not religious emotionalism. On the contrary, it is the apprehension and application of spiritual ideas, which are the reflection of Spirit, divine Mind. Prayer is communion with God; and as through this communion the student consecrates his daily thinking to the unfolding of spiritual ideas, he attains unto spirituality.

What does it mean to be-spiritually-minded? To be faithful to Principle, to good, to Truth, is spiritual-mindedness. Spirituality is expressed in wisdom, humanity, honesty, justice, mercy, goodness, affection, and compassion. The student does not personalize error, as belonging to himself or to his neighbor, because he recognizes error as unreal. He understands also that good is impersonal. He knows that in his real selfhood he reflects God, good, and that this is true of his neighbor likewise. Should sin of any kind use him, he knows that he must let divine Love enter his thought and wipe the sin out of his consciousness.

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