Posted by Phil on November 20, 1998 at 14:14:54:
In Reply to: Re: Enlightenment and Contemplation posted by Janine on November 17, 1998 at 16:42:48:
It sounds, Janine, like you're reducing the differences between Eastern and Western spirituality to a matter of culture, or semantics. I don't think it's that simple, but I certainly don't want to deny your point either about grace and the Holy Spirit.
Is it possible that there are different kinds of experiences of the one God, and that the manner of faith with which we approach the divine determines, to some extent, the kind of experience we will have?
If so, as I believe it to be, then the various faith traditions help to form different faith attitudes and intentionalities. Certainly, each tradition demonstrates a wide variety in this regard, but, to use one example, approaching God as personal/relational calls forth a very different kind of faith than approaching God as impersonal.
See what I mean?
Phil