Spiritual Materialism

Posted on September 28, 2007
Filed Under Journal, Spirituality, Movies, TV and Media |

The Car: Man’s spiritual vehicle A few years ago, I had the misfortune of catching a particular TV advert (something I usually tend to avoid). With the growing trend of materialistic-spiritualism - I thought this a good time to comment on that advert…

The advert began with a view of a garage door…white text appears on the screen saying “Karen’s Dome”. The screen then progresses to another garage door, stating “Mark’s Chapel”…then another; “John’s Church”, then a forth “Clair’s Cathedral”. Finally, the screen goes to a garage door that opens, slowly a car moves out, accompanied by the words that slowly form…”For those that Believe”…then…”in driving.”

And thus our spiritual and ethereal development is cheaply brought. In our present scientific age where the spirit and soul are not taken seriously – or at best, seen as something indefinable - the impact of symbolism such as this shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Many people have trouble understanding and seeing just what exactly spirituality is. In truth it is a need within us as strong as the need to eat, to breathe…and works within us in the same manner as physically exercising the body. However, most cannot see this need until until it demands attention. Just as those that sit all day do not notice their level of unfitness until they run. It is when this need is discovered that a void is found, and the mind will begin on a quest of discovery. Eventually questioning the entire world around us, pulling apart its scientific reasoned construct, and realizing for the first time that our reasoned awareness is less than skin deep.

It is in this vein that the ethereal knowledge is discovered. When the right key is turned, when we ask an individual a pertinent question that causes them to look within and discover the ethereal. Not through being told, but rather by having their attention focused into a place that enables them to question their sure reasoned knowledge. This is where it begins, and inevitably the individual will be drawn onwards in self and universal discovery of ethereal knowledge that exists within us all.

So then, we are presented with a problem when the attention is diverted - not within to this spiritual realm - but rather towards materialistics that are given labels normally reserved for spiritual forces and learning of the soul. Very simply and smoothly we are shown that a Cathedral belongs to an Individual. That a realm of spirituality is in effect a possession of a person.

Such thoughts only further serve to harden the human free will; strengthening our resolve and hardened belief that our ego is a central aspect of the world. Sitting in my Cathedral, with my car as a spiritual vehicle…what precisely is there for me to learn?

But then neither the advert nor its concept are there to teach.

In the absence of self reflection we are bound to physicality. Thus this question can be posed; how far does physicality reflect reality?