Spirituality and Experiential Consciousness
Vicki Hutton
CRC Press eBooks October 18, 2023 DOI: 10.1201/9781003298489-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that animals can be spiritual beings in their own right, with spirituality defined as experiences that increase meaning, purpose, or quality of life and promote flourishing. Contends that human domination and disconnection from nature diminish animals' opportunities to realize innate spirituality, and that people may resist recognizing spirituality in animals they slaughter or harm because doing so risks cognitive dissonance. |
Abstract
This chapter introduces the concept of spirituality as part of an animal’s experiential consciousness. Describing animals as spiritual beings can be controversial as it encroaches on a domain jealously guarded by some humans for centuries. Animals and nature have been described as conduits to human spirituality, but this chapter examines the notion of respecting animals as spiritual beings in their own right, based on a definition of animal spirituality as experiences that increase the meaning, purpose or quality of whatever life resides at the centre of an animal’s being and promotes flourishing. Play and being in the moment have also been cited as examples of spirituality in animals. Some animals demonstrating spiritual experiences in keeping with these definitions are examined. However, in contemporary society where many animals are disconnected from members of their own species, other living creatures and their natural environment, human domination has diminished opportunities for realisation of an innate spirituality. There may also be a reluctance for humans to accept a spiritual existence in the animals they slaughter for food or negatively impact in other ways, as to do so would run the risk of the mental conflict of cognitive dissonance.