Truly Spiritual

By Greg Adelberg
University of Kansas

There is no doubt that human beings use both religion and the idea of God as a crutch. But are religion and God manifested ideas, or are they real? The answer to this is that there is simply no answer, only beliefs as to what it might be. Although I do believe in a supreme being, an ultimate God, if you will, I do not hold religion in the same light as most. I am Jewish, but I like to think more that I simply belong and associate myself with a distinct group of people, an extraordinary culture which struggles to survive. I have confidence that this religion will succeed, but like most religions in our present day world, I believe it is far from its true source. People take their religions too seriously and begin to believe more in their religion and its practices themselves than in the basic idea of God.

I am a spiritual person, in fact more now than ever, but according to most I am not. In Judaism, like most religions, one must subscribe to a certain set of codes or laws and perform various traditions in order to be viewed as a spiritual or religious person. In my religion a male must perform certain rituals, pray in a certain way, and abide by strict dietary food laws. At a synagogue, at least, a male must wear a head covering and dress in a certain fashion in order to be considered religious. To me, this is far from the truth and the opposite of what it really means to be committed to God. I consider myself close to God based on my actions and my emotions. I constantly ask myself: Am I a good person? Do I have compassion for life? Do I put others before myself? Do I feel connected to the world? Do I feel spiritually enhanced? These are the goals in my life and the ones which I constantly try to achieve. I try to obtain a sense of clarity and peacefulness in my life and try to be happy no matter what my life may be missing or seeking to conquer. I try and stay true to form and don't stray too far into the materialistic way of life. Whether or not I might dress a certain way or commit certain actions that a book instructs is not important to me, nor does it even come close to my understanding of what it means to be religious or having faith in God. My dedication to God is through the understanding of how I will contribute to the world in order to make it a better place, not just for Jews but for all mankind to inhabit.

In Buddhism, the first step to attaining Enlightenment is to feel compassion for all forms of life. This is attained by understanding how everything in this world is connected and by seeking to understand life's true nature. I wrote this article during the Jewish holiday of Passover as I was thinking about what God and Passover meant to me. I believe that Passover is the time of year to think about one's own life and realize if it needs to be enhanced or re-directed. I take this time to increase my own logic and to try and think for myself. I try and connect with God in ways most people don't recognize or even care to take advantage of, which I believe are through the natural things we encounter in our everyday lives. In our world today, the idea of God is used out of character as people combine it with their own beliefs in order to oppress. Once people’s actions become misguided, their spirituality will soon follow (if not the reverse). If one really believes in a God figure, then one must also believe in compassion for all of God's people and must realize that all humans derive from the same place and ultimately the same original sources of faith.

Originally born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Greg Adelberg grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois. Adelberg attended Solomon Schechter Day Schools until 13, then went to Ida Crown Jewish Academy in West Rogers Park for high school. He will graduate from the University of Kansas this May with a degree in American Studies. His future plans are somewhat undecided, although Adelberg knows he will be involved in working at social change at a local level. He enjoys listening and playing music, playing with his dog, traveling, hiking, relaxing with friends, and flat out enjoying life. If Adelberg summed up his whole life in a few words it would be to take it easy and continue to experience new things.

[Posted 5/25/06]