The broadness and diversity with which spiritual practices and movements erupt can be confusing. Some of these include secular, pluralistic, Christian and non-Christian, aberrational and unorthodox. In the realm of religious beliefs, there are the Lutherans, the Protestants, the Catholics, the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Episcopalians. This list could go on and on…let us not forget the other forms such as the Jehovah’s witnesses, and the Seventh day Adventists. While many of us are familiar with those last two, some of the more secular practices of alternative spirituality are less familiar.

Pluralistic beliefs encompass those that embrace the theory of more than one or two kinds of reality existing. This group may worship a god, but believe that, while the Bible could be mostly right, there are other explanations that are right as well…that there is not one absolute truth about anything. While searching his soul for his own definition and belief system to anchor himself in, John Hick, a devout Christian and minister had this to say,”…it was evident that the same thing was taking place in them (synagogues, temple, mosque and gurdwaras) as in a Christian church—namely human beings opening their minds to a higher (divine) reality, known as personal and good…” While the alternative spirituality practiced by those with pluralistic belief systems seem open to embrace other religions, as they believe that not only one is right and the rest are wrong, they cling to perceiving absolutism as false.

Metaphysics, like fortune telling or the reading of tarot cards could also be considered alternative spirituality. This practice focuses on the unexplained and the unnatural. Occultism is famous for its beliefs in the spirit world and their ability to speak and act for those who have already crossed over.

The arguments against and for alternative spirituality are theoretical and intellectual, but all forget one aspect that can not be perceived, was already foretold and is for everyone: God died on the cross so that we can have eternal life with Him. There is nothing disputable, no evidence, no written word that would be able to disprove this fact. It is not a theory, not an educated guess. It is a fact.

Any religion could be given the title alternative spirituality in that each of us chooses an alternative to that practiced by others to express our worship and to give our praise to the one to whom we believe deserves it. As we make these choices, and as we dig down deeper than our simple minded friends, maybe there is more, maybe you’re wrong. How will you ever know unless you put as much time into researching something that you will choose to worship as you do when you choose to buy that brand new LCD DVD HD plasma screen TV. Seems kind of silly, doesn’t it, that we just “become Catholics” because our parents are and that if we take the right classes, we’ll be accepted into the church. I’m not worried about being accepted by any entity down here…what about you?