Contemplation is a reflection or an observation thought with deep consideration, but in context to religion, it can be described as a “spiritual meditation; concentration of mind and soul upon God” (Dictionary.com, 2016). As outlined by Thomas Merton, contemplation is believed to be intellectual and spiritual life’s highest expression, filling people with gratitude, realisation of life and reality and a way to make our reason and faith complete. Contemplation, spiritual or non-spiritual, can affect everyone whether or not the individual lives a religious or secular lifestyle. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all demonstrate within each religion the different yet similar ways contemplation affect the adherents. It is hypothesised that religious
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Catholicism become a separate denomination of Christianity after the Great Schism which occurred in 1054, causing the religion to have three main branches, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant. Catholics look to God as the central deity in the form of a Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Contemplation in Catholicism has a repetitious mention goal of allowing the adherents to acquire a connection with God, with the focal point being Jesus. It is believed a metaphorical sacrifice of oneself can lead to reaching contemplation. In the words of Thomas Merton, “to enter the realm of contemplation, one must in a certain sense die, but this death is in fact the entrance into a higher life… a death for the sake of life” (Merton, 1999), contemplation is about the sacrifice we have to make in order to receive the benefits it holds such as the gifts of awareness, gratitude, completion of reason and faith, awe of being and a realisation of life. Once a catholic has entered contemplation, they are then required to surround themselves with the presence of God, chill with God and finally gain connection with God, letting him speak to you. This connection can typically be achieved through meditation, mental prayers and repetition of mantras by listening and reflecting, focussing on breathing, entering altered states and the imagination of images. Contemplation in Catholicism has many benefits besides the relationship with God including self-understanding, sense of completion, awareness and realisation of life. Although Catholicism centralises contemplation as a form of reflection, it does have some similarities to Reform
Catholicism become a separate denomination of Christianity after the Great Schism which occurred in 1054, causing the religion to have three main branches, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant. Catholics look to God as the central deity in the form of a Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Contemplation in Catholicism has a repetitious mention goal of allowing the adherents to acquire a connection with God, with the focal point being Jesus. It is believed a metaphorical sacrifice of oneself can lead to reaching contemplation. In the words of Thomas Merton, “to enter the realm of contemplation, one must in a certain sense die, but this death is in fact the entrance into a higher life… a death for the sake of life” (Merton, 1999), contemplation is about the sacrifice we have to make in order to receive the benefits it holds such as the gifts of awareness, gratitude, completion of reason and faith, awe of being and a realisation of life. Once a catholic has entered contemplation, they are then required to surround themselves with the presence of God, chill with God and finally gain connection with God, letting him speak to you. This connection can typically be achieved through meditation, mental prayers and repetition of mantras by listening and reflecting, focussing on breathing, entering altered states and the imagination of images. Contemplation in Catholicism has many benefits besides the relationship with God including self-understanding, sense of completion, awareness and realisation of life. Although Catholicism centralises contemplation as a form of reflection, it does have some similarities to Reform