The pile of new spiritual literature is growing like a landfill full of
disposable diapers; they serve the purpose for a couple of hours (in
much the same way) and then need to be thrown out - because
unfortunately they don't evolve, can't be reused, and are too
difficult to recycle. Some of these books pollute our social
environments longer than the half-life of plutonium. Witness the
ongoing success of the ubiquitous bestseller, The Celestine
Prophecy.
Arguably, aspects of our post-modern society create a void of spirit
and meaning in many people's lives. A number of trends work to
fill this void: rising religious scrutiny and criticism; increasing
interest in old faiths and paganism; obsessive "success and
empowerment" speakers and workshops; and attractive social,
environmental, and even separatist movements. Leading the hordes
are a bevy of self-styled gurus and marketing wizards.
More and more, people are cobbling together their own personal
faiths from what they remember from Sundays as children, books
read (bought, borrowed, or referred), with a dash of Ann Landers
and a few bumper sticker sayings thrown in for good measure.
Homebrew spirituality may work, but only if it is started with the
right ingredients. Study the classics - the Bible, the Koran, the
Bhagavad Gita. Read some Eastern philosophy - Confucianism,
Buddhism, and Tao. First find some substance, then add the sauce
and spice afterward.
Even if you don't feel up to the classics, all modern and/or new age
spiritual literature isn't garbage. Thomas Moore's Care of the Soul
is a deep refreshing well, where Redfield's The Celestine Prophesy is a
Mr. Turtle Pool. Wander through Carlos Castaneda's maze before
skipping down the lane with The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
Bad new age literature is like fast food. If you have a balanced
spiritual diet a little Celestine can't hurt, and might even be tasty
and fun (even though you know it provides nothing but empty
calories). A drive-thru burger is nectar to someone who has never
eaten decent food. But if fast food is all they ever eat, they will be
unhealthy, get sick, and ask, "I just finished eating... why am I still
hungry?"
Derek Hall
©Muse Magazine
