Do you view love and relationship as parts of your spiritual path?

Question

Many churches, religious organizations, and spiritual traditions view marriage as a vocation and also a wedding as a sacrament. Other spiritual groups and people see love and relationship as parts of spiritual paths. Do you agree or disagree and why?

Answer 1

Yes, I definitely view love and relationship as parts of my spiritual path. "The greatest of these is Love" said a wise spiritual teacher once. :^) Those moments I have had of "seeing god" or being in touch with the divine have most often been when making love (whether physically or energetically) with another human being. (After that, most often while singing in a group--music in context of relationship, in other words).

As an example, my husband and I had an AMAZING experience about 5 years ago or so, wherein we seemingly traded genders while making love. We experienced a transcendent state, where we were truly in contact with the divine in each other, and "the universal divine." We were able to see the masculine and feminine aspects of ourselves and each other, and we each had a physical sensation of being the opposite gender for a little while. In that experience I gained just a glimpse of what it was to be male, to make love as a male, of being those qualities that we identify in our culture as "masculine." At the same time, I was present to everything that I loved and honored about my partner that was female and feminine, in a way I had not been up to then (though I've always prized his feminine side). And in having this experience, we each were able to better understand and honor these qualities--both/all/no genders--in ourselves. I came out of the experience profoundly changed, and said "if everyone could experience this, there would be no war." I truly believe that.

For me, the path of my relationships, the path of polyamory, the path of accepting myself as a whole, sexual, loving, passionate, complex person--all of these are part of my spiritual path. In accepting these things, in understanding them, in embracing them as good and true and right *for me*, and in standing up to tell the world about this--not hiding or living in fear because of who I am--I have grown and changed beyond recognition. I am still changing, still growing, still learning, still on the path. Where that path ultimately leads, I'm not sure, but my journey is full of love, and that's no bad way to live.

I really like the questions you are asking, Caleb. :^) Feel free to contact me directly if you are interested in a more in-depth conversation on the topic of polyamory in particular.

Answer 2

The spiritual path is a path of self-discovery. Love and relationship are essential parts of this self-discovery. It is through love and relationship that we learn about ourselves, what makes us the way we are, what we can do to make ourselves better persons and so to be a blessing to others.

As to marriage or similar unions, I view them as a sacrament. It is not the church which imparts the sacramental quality. It is the couple involved who make this happen through their committment to each other. In the sense that vocation means "a calling", yes, I think marriage and similar unions are just that.

Answer 3

I do.
I was an atheist most of my life.
I still have leanings like not believing in Angels and a personal god who can be bribed,etc.
Then I met a man who is a spiritual person. He is an atheist, too, but he believes in a path, and bringing love and compasion into the world by your actions.
Through knowing and loving him, I have come to a peace and joy I never knew existed. I am on a path, now, I think about it 24/7. I want to live in the right this minute, and be there for my life, my family and my work.
It is wonderful to feel this way.
Even when he is gone from this plane, his life will inspire me to continue.
I know what I want to be when I grow up-alive.

Answer 4

"Many churches, religious organizations, and spiritual traditions view marriage as a vocation and also a wedding as a sacrament."

Only the Catholic Church does.

Me and my man are Traditional Catholics. Only those married inside a Catholic Church have a sacramental marriage. We have chosen Matrimony as our vocation. There is also Holy Orders as a vocation and your final choice is just the "single life" which there is no sacrament.

Answer 5

I agree with that. I think the love we share with others helps us understand better a little bit of what God's love can be like. Besides, how can we love a God we haven't seen, if we can't even love people we do see? So, I reckon every relationship is a learning experience, whether in the context of marriage, or just co-workers, or whoever.

Answer 6

God does not recognize civil divorce. So, in God's eyes, you are living in sin. This coupled with the fact that your "husband" is also psychologically and emotionally sick and is mistreating you gives you all the reasons you need to get away from him and be safe. See a lawyer about a divorce for legal purposes. Talk to your priest about an annulment for religious purposes. When all this business is taken care of then look around and find a good man to marry in the Church. With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 7

How could we not be built for relationships? We communicate and have emotion. If trees had those things, they'd be enjoying relationships too. I think as far as the spiritual path goes, yes, I agree. I have grown exponentially through relationships I've had through my life, including my Mother, friends, and my husband.

Answer 8

i feel that marriage is a comittment to both you, your, spouce and to God. If you are a spiritual person and You believe that something other that lust brought you and your partner together then it would be very easy for you to want to include your higher power in your relationship. Walking this path is better with GOd involved than without him.

Answer 9

agree!!

if you are on the same path you will find the right person, you won't find them in the bars or clubs.

the same mind set on faith brings you closer together
don't believe you should live together prior to marriage and a good church marriage council prior to marriage is great.

Answer 10

I think love is a feeling and a marriage is a partnership. nothing religious about it. its pretty plain and simple, no need to make it more then it is.