Spirituality for Atheists

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

Contemporary Spirituality

The spiritual intelligence paradigm is based on a synthesis that integrates science and spirituality, and thus enables spiritual intelligence to be experienced directly, as an innate capability, without resort to religious beliefs. The SQ paradigm therefore legitimises spirituality in contemporary secular terms [1].

Beyond Theism

Spiritual intelligence identifies with the inherent qualities of consciousness itself, which are experienced at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence, in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace. The experience of SQ is the ever-present alternative to being the ego, which identifies with the products of IQ and EQ at the object-pole of attention, in the form of states of body and mind. The qualities of SQ are thus identical to the spiritual qualities traditionally ascribed to the soul.

The experience of SQ therefore confirms that spirituality does not depend on religious faith. Spiritual intelligence can be experienced directly, without relying on belief in the existence of a separate creator being. Moreover, the experience of SQ is self-evident and undeniable, whereas religious beliefs are unprovable. The SQ paradigm therefore provides an empirical foundation for spirituality, based on confirmable evidence, in contrast to belief-based approaches to spirituality represented by religious traditions [2]. Consequently, unlike theism, SQ is compatible with present-day secular culture. SQ therefore supersedes theism as a contemporary means of associating with the spiritual dimension of reality.

Spiritual intelligence is the ever-present alternative to being the ego.

Soul and Spirit

Historically, the soul was either dismissed as non-existent by materialist science, or situated according to religious beliefs in a remote supernatural location, accessible to faith alone. But the SQ paradigm identifies the soul at a psychological location that is directly accessible to everyone in their own experience, without relying on religious faith. Being the soul means being consciousness itself, which is located at the subject-pole of attention. The energy of consciousness itself, which is known as spirit, is inherently free from modification by objects of attention, and therefore represents source energy in its pure unadulterated form. Spirit is experienced at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence, in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace. Spirit is the source of spiritual intelligence.

Related:
The Full Spectrum of Intelligence

Beyond Materialism

The SQ paradigm supersedes not only religious belief, as explained above, but also the materialist world-view, as explained below. Spiritual intelligence is experienced by identifying with consciousness itself at the subject-pole of attention, rather than with states of body and mind at the object-pole of attention. SQ thus verifies the existence of two distinct domains, located at opposite poles of attention, neither of which can be reduced to the other [3]. Consciousness itself is located at the subject-pole of attention, and everything else, including the physical dimension of existence, is necessarily located at the object-pole. 

Accordingly, from the SQ perspective, reality is essentially psycho-physical in nature, rather than fundamentally merely physical, as claimed by the philosophy of materialism. SQ thus refutes the philosophy of materialism, based on the irreducible psycho-physical nature of experiencing the world. On the evidence of direct personal experience, without resort to religious faith, SQ verifies that consciousness itself (or the soul), at the subject-pole of attention, is inherently associated with every possible experience of material reality, at the object-pole of attention.

Twi Poles of Attention

Human Operating System

Third Millennium Paradigm

Therefore, from the vantage point of SQ, it is self-evident that the material dimension of reality is not the only dimension of existence, as claimed by the philosophy of materialism, because any experience of material reality, as an object of attention, necessarily depends on the soul (or consciousness itself), as the subject of attention. The experience of spiritual intelligence therefore transcends the materialist point of view, without relying on belief in the existence of a separate divine being.

Consequently, SQ supersedes not only materialism, but also theism. These two opposing world-views (theism and materialism), representing the paradigms of the first and second millennium, have jointly dominated collective consciousness for the last two thousand years. As the synthesis of theism and materialism, in the form of secular non-theistic spirituality, SQ is therefore emerging as the new paradigm of the third millennium [4].

Secular Non-theistic Spirituality

For religious believers, spirituality is inconceivable without the existence of a God. But for those who practice secular spirituality, the hypothesis of a separate divine being is unnecessary. From the vantage point of transcendental intelligence (TQ), which is the dimension of intelligence beyond spiritual intelligence (SQ), the divine is not a separate being. The divine is self-existing self-radiant transcendental consciousness, which is the ground of all being [5]. Accordingly, from the transcendental perspective, the world was not created by something separate from the world, in the person of a separate God [6]. From the vantage point of TQ, the world arises within self-existing self-radiant transcendental consciousness, as a stepped-down modification of transcendental consciousness itself [7].

SQ and TQ

Transcendental intelligence is a highly advanced state of consciousness. As the intelligence of non-individuated consciousness itself (or the divine), TQ represents the ultimate dimension of intelligence. Transcendental intelligence can take a lifetime of dedication to emerge, after a long process of neural development based on intensive spiritual practice [8]. Thus TQ is very uncommon. But SQ is different. Spiritual intelligence represents a step down from transcendental intelligence. As the intelligence of individuated consciousness itself (or the soul), SQ can be experienced by everyone at the subject-pole of attention right now [9]. This video introduces a simple method for rapid access to spiritual intelligence [10].

Spiritual Intelligence

The evidence for spiritual intelligence is derived from two sources: firstly, the evidence of direct personal experience [11]; and secondly, the findings of scientific research [12]. With the addition of recent evidence from neuroscience, which verifies that SQ can be measured neurologically, spiritual intelligence has now been validated scientifically by a synthesis of findings from four independent fields of scientific research [13]. The empirical foundations of spiritual intelligence therefore authenticate spirituality for all, including atheists and agnostics, and those with religious beliefs, and those who would otherwise reject spirituality on scientific grounds. Clearly spiritual intelligence is accessible to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. As a shared spiritual consciousness emerging on global scale, SQ represents a higher dimension of intelligence whose time has come [14].

3Q Training

As a powerful combination of three principal dimensions of intelligence, 3Q represents IQ and EQ in association with SQ. Studies in neuroscience reveal that the experience of spiritual intelligence is correlated with hemispheric synchronisation and whole brain activation. The resulting whole-brain coherence optimises brain function and replaces the ego (the false self) with the soul (consciousness itself, the true self) by shifting from the object-pole of attention to the subject-pole of attention, which results in greater fulfilment, increased creativity, sharpened intuition, more empathy and compassion, and improved performance on a wide range of work skills and life skills. If you want to learn more, there is a Course on 3Q Training here.

Sources

The SQ paradigm is based on a synthesis combining the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the findings of modern science, as summarised in this article here.

How to Experience Spiritual Intelligence [Video]

Spiritual intelligence is easy to experience. We all experience SQ spontaneously at times. But spontaneous moments of SQ are rare and unpredictable. Therefore it’s important to know how to experience SQ intentionally. When you can engage your spiritual intelligence voluntarily, at any time of your own choosing, SQ becomes your most powerful personal resource. This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to activate SQ intentionally. Watch the video here.

References

3Q Practitioner Training Course

Do you want to accelerate your own personal and spiritual growth, and teach others to do the same? The 3Q Practitioner Training Course trains and certifies Spiritual Intelligence Practitioners.

Spiritual Intelligence is a higher dimension of intelligence beyond the ego that has access to the advanced capabilities of the true self. This Course is based on secular spirituality not on religious beliefs. Consequently, the methodology used to activate spiritual intelligence is not founded on articles of faith but on experience and knowledge, backed by evidence from related fields of scientific research. Certified Practitioners are provided with the training materials to coach their clients in spiritual intelligence, and conduct workshops in spiritual intelligence for leaders and organisations, and for the general public.

As the intelligence of the true self beyond the ego, spiritual intelligence (SQ) has many benefits that exceed the scope of intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ). Spiritual intelligence relieves anxiety and depression and the extreme pain of meaninglessness and despair that is often associated with ego states of awareness. Freedom from ego, as experienced with SQ, grants wisdom and clarity of vision, combined with more empathy and compassion, which increases creativity and intuition, and results in greater personal fulfilment and better performance on important life skills and work skills. Spiritual intelligence therefore represents the most powerful resource for personal and professional growth and fulfilment.

Widespread adoption of spiritual intelligence as a personal code of conduct raises the standard of accountability in collective governance, in response to public demand. When standards in governments and corporations are based on spiritual intelligence, the energy of love will turn into a social and political force, as never before in history. Public training in spiritual intelligence therefore heralds a new era of human rights and social justice, which form the foundation for global cooperative community, shared prosperity, and world peace.

As a 3Q Practitioner you will be equipped to introduce spiritual intelligence in the context of contemporary secular culture, and contribute to the next stage in the evolution of collective consciousness. When a tipping point is reached, the emerging next stage of collective consciousness will result in global transformation, founded not on beliefs of any sort, or on government control, or on mass media narratives enforced by censorship of contrary views, but founded instead on the inherent qualities of consciousness itself, such as love, wisdom, and peace, which everyone can experience by activating their spiritual intelligence.

For more information about the 3Q Practitioner Training Course, click here.

© 2012 – 2024, Richard Griffiths.

Meet the Author

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths is a psychologist, researcher, author, and trainer, whose mission is to provide education and training in secular spirituality, for the benefit of individuals, organisations and the community, and in preparation and support for the emerging next stage of collective consciousness. He is the founder of the 3Q Institute for Education and Training in Secular Spirituality, and former National Chairman of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the Australian Psychological Society. Drawing on his decades of research, he created a new framework that unites ancient wisdom with modern knowledge about psychology and spirituality. His work offers a new understanding of the human operating system, and a new method of experiencing spiritual intelligence that works instantly, among other significant innovations. His groundbreaking research on secular spiritual intelligence passed academic peer review, and helped to establish secular spirituality as a legitimate field of scientific investigation. He received a global Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education, and has given presentations on secular spiritual intelligence at international conferences, like the Conference on Advanced Research in Education and the Global Conference on Education and Teaching.

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