Hi there,
This is purelu personal and in no way is intended to reflect the beleifs of
HMA members:
Are you feeling defensive? Your mail disturbs me.
Some thoughts:
A religion is an organisation that is set up by "the people who interpret it
and claim to be authorities on the matter"; "the matter' being spirituality.
Spirituality is a purely personal thing; a person can be spiritual or even
religious without necessarily belonging to a religion. Morality varies from
one culture to another and is usually tied into a social groups' religious
beleifs.
Organised religion has been a useful tool in the past to organise, educate
and unite people. However, there comes a point where to be truly spiritual,
one has to break away from the conditioned responses and beliefs and form
ones own, hence spirituality. How can we do this if we are told that we are
wrong and must conform to someone elses definitions?
Midwifery all over again.
Arwa, in charging Janet with ignorance, are you claiming to be an expert on
all things religious?
Marina
----Original Message Follows----
From: "sunnah haid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: spirituality
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 22:12:34 PDT
Dear Janet
Whilst i believe your intentions were honorable and sincere in your synopsis
of spirituality and religion, i would like to say i strongly disagree with
your notion of religion and that it oppresses women. If you would like to
increase your knowledge i have some books on women in islam that may alter
your view point. I dont beleive that infact any religion suppresses or
oppresses women, i beleive it is the people who interpret it and claim to be
authorities on the matter, do. Actually, I have a really good article on
women in islam, but i dont have a scanner...i have it on disk some where at
home, when i find it i will send it as an attachment on the ozmidwiferylist.
Ignorance my friend breeds prejudice, and we as midwives (or not) should
begin to remove the barriers, even if we dont agree with anothers point of
view, our difference should unite us.
lots of love
arwa
>From: Ross Perry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>To:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: spirituality>Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 19:20:25 +1000>
>Its unusual for anyone to discuss spirituality. I am surprised to find
>so many people who think the same way I do.To my mind spirituality is
>about relationship between all things, living and not living.As in
>Chemistry if you break things down long enough eventually all that is
>left is pure energy or a positive life force which is the essence of all
>things.Religion, on the other hand, is a power structure which is set up
>fundamentally to control or direct other people (usually women). You
>will observe that women have no authority in most major religions but
>are expected to do most of the work.It is also easy to see the
>destructive influence of organized religion in almost every country in
>the world. Kosovar, Serbia and Bosnia are merely the latest victims in a
>long line.However,genuine spirituality seems to bring people together
>and encourage healing and hope.(ther is ample evidence of religious
>people who are also spiritual) I wonder what we can do to encourage
>people to get in touch with their own spirituality because Iam convinced
>that all major positive change comes from people following their
>collective spirit or collective unconscious.But beware that this
>positive change often flies in the face of established religion.I think
>that a discussion about spirituality is important for midwives because
>we are in the process of rapid change and need all the resources we
>have, but also because our profession has a strong spiritual and ethical
>component which underpins our care.>Love to all,>>Janet Perry
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