a:5:{s:4:"Name";s:17:"Michael Olin-Hitt";s:5:"Email";s:23:"olinhimr@mountunion.edu";s:24:"Existing Blog or Website";s:19:"michaelolinhitt.com";s:47:"List the topic you are interested writing about";s:1420:"Abstract:  "The Braided Way: Toward a Universal Spirituality"
One of the greatest causes of division between human cultures has been religion, and any strategies to increase multicultural tolerance, collaboration, communication and community must address the destructive nature of religious separatism.  The “insterspiritual movement”—begun by Wayne Teasdale—offers a philosophical and theological approach to spiritual eclecticism (or syncretism); however, it is a movement with terminology that is cerebral and academic.  The current interspiritual discussion may provide the philosophical underpinnings of an inter-faith movement, but our culture is in need of a framework that inspires both the intellectual and the common seeker. I offer “The Braided Way” as a framework for inerspiritual practice and religious unity.  The Braided Way allows people to visualize and accept that all faith traditions are a valid, necessary, but partial element of the Sacred Mystery.  It is a visual metaphor and theological framework to accepting the diversity of our religious traditions as a resource for unity, not a cause of division.  My article “The Braided Way: Toward a Universal Spirituality” is written for the common reader, but with scholarly integrity.  It includes diagrams for various approaches to inter-faith perspectives and builds toward a new diagram for unifying diversity.  It’s a big deal.";s:64:"Current or New WordPress Login Name (We'll send you a password.)";s:9:"molinhitt";}