Who Am I ?

Most of us are in quest of an answer to this timeless question. If you consider yourself spiritual, you probably have an active agenda that you follow. It may be specific things you do, your beliefs and very likely your approach to every encounter of life that screams for a response from you.

On the other hand, you may consider yourself a rather worldly person, in pursuit of the material goals in life, with nary a minute available to think about the possibility, the probability or even feasibility of "other" worlds. Living an ethical life, being of service to others where possible and following the golden rule, you believe, is the framework that guides your thoughts, actions and behavior.

There's a third group, that I believe falls in between these two – but with a twist. Many of us in this third group tend to be religious in nature. We subscribe to a specific world-view that prescribes many of our life's choices – from diet, beliefs and attitudes toward others to the way we wash our hands, for instance.

The information age has brought this confluence of science, reason, religion and spirituality to a state where each is affecting the way the others are pursued. Scientific advances continue to challenge age-old truisms, while the failure of science to bring us health and peace leads many to seek other avenues for answers to life's little problems. Recent debates about our very make-up raise the question of whether as humans we are "Wired for God" as Newsweek asked, or is some higher creative power behind our existence, as the Intelligent Design theorists propose.

This chicken and egg conundrum may never be solved. So many of us try to resolve it for ourselves by inquiry into the spiritual experience. Perhaps they are both true.

I grew up in a rather spiritual family, surrounded by primarily religious neighbors and trained to become a reasoning man of science. I have been conscious of this fact, and its impact on my life since my teenage years. I'm still seeking answers to some of the questions I raised for myself those merry decades ago !

I invite you to join me in a dialog so we may all learn from each other.