Capitalist Solutions

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Bootleg Spirituality

By Simon Patkin

I refer to the article “Keep the Spirit Alive” (SCMP September 9) by Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping where he compares the recent Hungry Ghost Festival to the Christian Eucharist. Some might quickly dismiss his stories of spirits returning from some other dimension (as fairy tales).

However spirituality is a vital part of a rational person’s life and it is too important to leave in the hands of mystics -- both Eastern and Western. Indeed there is no scientific proof of a spiritual world separate from this earth and advocates of this idea invariably end up demanding subjugation of common sense to primitive ideas of faith.

Instead the individual human spirit can be found inside humans on this earth by simple introspection as part of human consciousness. It is part of individual human happiness on earth where people can be seen in high or low spirits. It is what drives individuals to strive for their best and it must be nourished by things of this world such as great art and pride in human achievement; not self sacrifice to some mystical being that does not exist.

Today the greatest spirituality is possible in a secular society where the human spirit is left free to soar unencumbered by the demands of church and state. Spirituality based on faith is bootleg at best and ultimately leaves men unfulfilled. In the careless hands of some in the Middle East bootleg spirituality can be destructive to life on Earth.

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