Help with similar concept to sexuality

[RevShirls]

Before I begin, this is not a question about whether people believe in God or not. I just need a wee bit help with a concept. I have done workshops before on spirituality whereby I have compared spirituality to sexuality in that our sexuality is part of us, and we don't have to be sexual, or be involved in sexual acts all the time to have a sexuality. Our sexuality is there all the time - part of our personality. I'm comparing this to spirituality - and using the example that we don't have to be praying, attending church all the time etc to have a spirituality - its part of us etc. I'm not trying to make this a discussion on spirituality in AB as I know some people will naturally disagree with me. I used to talk about this in Britain but I'm doing a similar workshop in Sweden where I now live. The sexuality imagery doens't work so well. It's been hard enough preparing the spirituality part of it since the Swedes traditionally only speak of "body and soul" (not "body, mind, and soul"). What I need is another concept that would be like sexuality - something that is part of us, part of our lives - that I could use as an analogy to the way in which I would like to talk about spirituality.

[andy hughes]

Try gravity. An unseen concept that is part of all of us - rarely noticed, but always present. You dnon't need to think about it to enjoy its effect - it is part of what we are, and why we are what we are. Any use?

[RevShirls]

andy, thanks so much for your reply. I didn't hold out much hope for anyone actually responding to this :) Gravity hmmm interesting. I'll have to give it some thought. Just having to concentrate on looking after my wee rascal of a daughter (15 months old) until her Daddy gets home. Once I've got some peace and quiet to think, I'll let you know whether gravity will fit in to this.

[jills]

how about our inbuilt morality? it's something that we all have, that is part of all of us.....affecting what we do and how we do things.

[vittoria]

You could also give the example of the brain; it's going in the background even though you're not always consciously reflecting (pondering) on something. Blood circulation, breathing... But the gravity was a very good one.

[zgma]

I like Vittoria's suggestion, because sometimes we are aware of using our brain, or intentionally do so in a focused way, and other times it is doing its think in the background, without our awareness of it. But we always trust that it's there for us. Gravity is more steady - we don't consciously act on it or not, it just is. So it seems less analagous.

[zgma]

Ha ha, I mean "doing its THING".

[Elfin]

How about Passion? It links in with sexuality but can also cover many other aspects of our lives (beliefs, motivation etc). It is present within but not necessarily on display. Might work better with the Swedes.

[woofgang]

breathing?? You can be conscious of it and focus on it or (for most of us) it carries on happening without our conscious will, when it is affected the whole person suffers and without it we would die

[Another Dave]

Apple trees. Apple trees will always produce apples, that's what apple trees do. You don't need to constantly monitor them, or feed them ("praying, attending church"). But should you do so, you may get more out of the experience. Which is why we have apple farmers.

[RevShirls]

Thank you so much for all your help. I am sorry I didn't reply earlier but I was busy preparing the workshop for today. In my preparation I decided to mention the concept of sexuality but I also decided I would mention gravity and the brain too. However, when we got there the other minister and I decided that it would be better to focus on the theme he had prepared: "Creation" and leave my topic to another week because there were less people there than we anticipated. The group there were brilliant and we had an interesting discussion about creation. One of the guys who is a member of our church was most interesting. He is a scientist and has written the "Encyclopedia of the Elements" - so it was really great - hearing his perspective of things. Thanks once again.

[el duerino]

how about taking the direction slightly differently. say, sensuality is a part of sexuality - but we do not have to be sensual to have a sexuality. apply this to religion - religion is part of sprituality - we don't have to practise to be spiritual. not the best answer ive ever come up with, but i get the impression the idea needs altering slightly to work.I reckon something swedish would be best to get the audience interested.