“Naturalistic Spirituality, Religious Naturalism, and Community Spirituality: A Broader Pragmatic View”

This essay explores the rich insights of the American pragmatist, Josiah Royce, on spirituality, and religion, Kegley argues that Royce expounded a naturalistic spirituality and a religious naturalism but in doing so, he expands one’s view of spirituality and religion, giving it a rich community flavor. Spirituality, for Royce, is about deep connection, meaning, and joy. It is about individual meaning and unification accomplished through loyalty to an ideal and connection with others in a community of loyalty. For him, religious spirituality is not about certainty but attitude toward the universe. A most profound contribution of Royce to the discussion of religion and spirituality is his recommendation that the most fundamental choice of every person is his or her loyal love for the whole universe which leads in turn to reverence for the relations of life.