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What the Bleep Do You Know About Spiritual Metaphysics?Or New Thought Religions? Maybe what you know about spiritual metaphysics comes from the docu-film, What the Bleep Do We Know? Maybe you’re a serious student who has studied great philosophers and metaphysicians of the ages. Perhaps you have an interest in spiritual metaphysics because you’re interested in a New Thought religion. Maybe you’re already wondering what I am talking about. Let me give a little background.Metaphysics is generally defined as a philosophical enterprise that attempts to understand the nature of reality, both the visible and invisible. What is reality at its most basic, simple level? Is it dull matter, is it dull energy, or is it dynamic energy, responsive to thought? Metaphysicians, then, are people engaged in trying to answer these questions. They may be scientists, philosophers, theologians, ministers or anything else. There are scholars, teachers, and spiritual leaders in all camps. In the realm of spiritual metaphysics, where I reside, we understand the nature of reality to be dynamic, responsive energy. In spiritual metaphysics we understand the universe and everything in it, human, divine, animal, mineral, at its most basic component, to be made up of dynamic energy. In essence, everything is made up of the same “stuff.” We understand this stuff to be God-stuff, or God essence. Everything that is, is created out of God’s own being. That leads metaphysical religions, like New Thought and others to their primary truth claim, that “all is one.” These religions also affirm that the dynamic and responsive nature of the universe means that everyone has the capacity to shape his or her own experiences. You’ve probably heard of this as positive thinking, name it and claim it prayer or affirmative prayer, in which individuals seem to get what they desire just by thinking about it. Well, it is this understanding of spiritual metaphysics that underlies these types of beliefs and activities.
New Thought religions are a particular branch of spiritual metaphysics that have recently enjoyed an increase in popularity. I have been practicing one of these religions, Religious Science, for about 10 years now, and I have published a book on the subject, Beyond Christianity: African-Americans in a New Thought Church (New York University Press, 2005).
The book gives the history and development of Religious Science while also presenting an interesting case study of a particular church in Oakland, California.
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