What is Interspirituality?

What is Interspirituality exactly? Here’s a dispatch from my 7 years as an Interspiritual minister.

Brother Wayne Teasdale’s 1999 book The Mystic Heart debuted the word, “Interspiritual.” Since then it has become a movement that provides guidance and spiritual sustenance to a growing population: the spiritual but not religious.

Faith without belief

Often in speech “faith” is used interchangeably with the word “belief.” But they are not the same. I offer you Karen Armstrong’s definition of faith: “The conviction that life has ultimate meaning and value, despite all the dispiriting evidence to the contrary.”

Notice there’s no mention of God, or a prophet, no creeds or commandments. Those are all in the realm of belief. We can think of beliefs as the homes of our faith—our faith shelters and grows within our beliefs. Like houses, which are built on the materials and principles available to the architect at the time they are built, beliefs change from era to era and region to region.

As an Interspiritual minister I am concerned with that which does not change; I am concerned more with the ground of faith rather than specific structures of belief. My work requires that I move from house to house, covering my head or removing my shoes, but always embodying my faith—my conviction in life’s ultimate meaning.

This conviction is enough. I hold space for others to remember, or lead them to discover, life’s meaning—their meaning.

My ministry/ Interspirituality in action

As a chaplain I am with people suffering, making sense of their lives, saying goodbye, and themselves departing from this world. As a celebrant I help people cross thresholds—both joyful (weddings, coming of age) and sorrowful (death, funerals)—with eyes and hearts wide open. We are guided by the heart, the intention, the person, Spirit itself. While we may use tools such as pre-existing rituals, prayers, or scripture, they serve—they don’t lead—an experience.

Working as a chaplain in a medical setting I often hear the phrase “patient-centered care,” as opposed to disease-centered care. I feel that the Interspiritual approach is person-centered spirituality instead of belief-centered spirituality.

The more I learn and experience and encounter others in sacred space, the fewer beliefs I have. I don’t know what happens when we die nor exactly how creation came about. But my faith only strengthens.

You can learn more about my understanding of Interspirituality, and my journey to becoming an Interspiritual minister, on my about page.

More from the blog