The tools for
your life
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The tools for
your life
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Reviewing the CAB approach to spiritual growthBill Austin's the CAB Approach to Spiritual Growth is "an approach to spiritual growth that involves...accepting the light that exists in all of us....seeing the light we have gotten attached to" and then begin a process of 'clearing' that can be "so painful". I found the CAB approach of using the three categories ans a useful tool to break down spirituality and make it less "spiritual' if you like. The CAB elements in the CAB approach to spiritual growth of Commitment, Attitude and Balance are a good way to demystify spirituality. I have found other resources more useful breaking down the three elements. In particular you will find significant reference to the Christian perspective of the Dreamgiver series and comparisons with the CAB approach to spiritual growth.One of the issues when you have when you are writing about spirituality is that the meaning has become very broad. It could mean anything from a walk in the park to a real time encounter with God in your living room, complete with a burning book. It all depends who you talk to. In Spirituality in the Mess of History Spirituality is described as; "a
kind of a generic word to describe the hunger and thirst.......and "
does not mean much, It can be associated with lots of things. It has no
content to it. It's an adjective. It describes something living. It's
alive. It can be associated with drugs with athletics with moonlight
beaches, with mountaintops as well as it can be associated with".
As this Spiritual-Self website then aims to demystify spirituality to make it accessible to everyday people the approaches like the CAB approach are useful in developing a shared language in which for us to talk about spiritual matters. The CAB approach to spiritual growth I found useful in this regard in that it offers some breakdown of the spiritual process to aid understanding of some important elements. Although Christians would have trouble digesting the theology behind the approach its worth keeping a loving approach. Really Christians need to see the Christ in others and perhaps if Jesus were around today, Perhaps it is the company of those who seek to understand spiritual matters he would prefer rather than those sold out to religious stagnation. Thats not to say I am ready to hands down follow the CAB approach to spiritual growth myself. But instead we need to recognize the value in others and have a bigger circle of love about these matters and see God in the individuals seeking spiritual "enlightenment", as Austin clams to do. In this spirit I have picked up on the CAB approach to spiritual Growth and have brought them to the table of hospitality where we can share and discuss the issues, in the goal of challenging Christians from their fortifications inside the church. For too long divisions have led to breakdowns and fundamental differences have led to a pride and reluctance to venture outside of the comfort zones provided by our communities. We as Christians can recognize ourselves as being on a spiritual journey and not merely as sculptors of peoples behavior and culture if we are to achieve our dreams. Rather than mealy teaching people how to put up a front of holiness and behave like we think a Christian should a true spiritual encounter, one that makes a difference and is relevant to the community, and people around you, is one that is only going to happen in relationship the Dreamgiver God. If we are to develop relationship with the community we will need to go into the world and share all these treasures that we have inherited as children of a living God. When we share our treasure with the universe and like Children find in our hearts the courage to grow and respond to the dreams of the Dreamgiver then we will find true joy. Back to the top of the CAB approach to spiritual growth
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