Marginal Christian Spirituality: An Example from a Dutch Meditation Group

Abstract

Spirituality is one of the forms of religion that seems to thrive in secularised Western societies. It has become an umbrella term for a variety of experience-oriented religious practices in Western societies. The popularity of spirituality is clearly visible within Christian settings, both inside and outside churches. This paper explores the nature of ‘marginal’ Christian spirituality, i.e. Christian spirituality outside the churches, through a case study of a meditation group in a Dutch spiritual centre founded by Jesuits. It will be shown how meditation as a free experiential space stimulates the diversity of individual meanings, both traditional and alternative. Hence, meditation in this case is a method which affirms religious individuality. Exercise I am the stream And I flow beyond myself I am the river And I pour myself into the sea I am the sea And I evaporate into nothing I am the cloud And I am losing my hold In rain and snow My form fragments Who can love me When I appear and disappear Again and again You are water, says the water Water, my child, you are me Whether ice or fog You are me Love yourself, then you love me And everywhere you are safe in me. (Visser 1)1