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America has “lost it’s soul.”  I see that statement here and there in my online news feed. What does that mean exactly? To me “losing our soul” means that our basic, founding values have eroded completely. The Golden Rule. The pursuit of justice and freedom for all. Stewardship of our resources. We no longer have a moral compass that guides our behavior. In place of basic morals we have a selfish nationalism that wants to deny membership to others. The election of Donald Trump provides all the illustration that I need.

That is what people and cultures do: lose their souls. It is human nature to morally drift here and there, like a flag blowing towards the east, then back to the west. Churches, temples, or mosques use assorted means to guide people back to shared values. That is their role, to impose checks and balances on our base nature. The problem is those religious institutions are run by the same vulnerable humans with the same faltering commitments to goodness. Enter money, greed, power.  People leave churches or switch to conservative churches that promote selfishness, hate, and nationalism.

Several people have suggested that churches may experience growth in the next few years, in response to the fear wrought by Trump’s grand entrance into our politics. That reminds me of the years following 9-11, when many people did, in fact, return to church. They didn’t stay long, though, because what they found was the same old judging, hypocritical church. So, what good is it if people once again return to church, hoping to find some soul? 

Where and how can we find our individual and collective souls in the face of ineffective religious institutions? The answer will be different for each person. As part of my soul-tending, I read, walk on the beach, hike a forest trail, kayak, pray, write, volunteer. Early on I embraced the mystics, studied the desert fathers, and sought solitude, factors that still inform my spiritual quest. Others will stay in the church and work to reform it once again. Small groups of people will seek something new and untested. The brilliant philosophers will figure out a new paradigm for human morality (Ken Wilber, but he is extremely difficult to read, and I usually give up). Many people will seek in their own way, isolated in their journey.  There never has been one, pure, right way. Yet we need SOME direction.

My solution? Find your spark, your passion, your joy. That is where the door opens. We all must intentionally seek to be better people, moved by the spirit. My favorite quotes:

Be the change you want to see in the world

Ask, seek, knock