Self and Dignity: The Spirituality of Survival
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Christopher Turner
- Source
- Religions, Vol 12, Iss 4, p 233 (2021)
- Subject
- spirit
spirituality
power
COVID-19
homeostasis
survival
Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
BL1-2790
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2077-1444
This paper examines the nature of spirit and spirituality as organic response to threat in the context of a global pandemic. Drawing from the fields of neuroscience, philosophy and theology, the author defines spirit as the biological capacity of a living organism to maintain homeostasis in response to changes in its environment. The capacity of individual human organisms to respond to changes that are perceived as threats to homeostasis with passive and active power is posited as a spirituality that is crucial for the survival of the human species. The paper represents a form of secular spirituality that is synonymous with the natural power of organic life.