New Paradigm
As a new synthesis of psychology and spirituality, the SQ paradigm clarifies how the spiritual dimension of intelligence can be experienced directly as an innate capability without resort to religious faith [1]. The evidence for spiritual intelligence is drawn from direct personal experience and from the findings of scientific research [2]. The SQ paradigm thus validates spirituality on the basis of empirical evidence [3]. As a secular form of spirituality, spiritual intelligence thereby supersedes earlier paradigms that have dominated collective consciousness for the last two thousand years.
First Millennium Paradigm
Theism
Premise
Theism is based on the premise that the way to know the truth about reality is to believe something with conviction.
The first millennium paradigm is theism, which is belief in the existence of a creator God [4]. Religious belief was prevalent well before the first millennium, but during the first thousand years of the common era, monotheism became established as the dominant paradigm worldwide. However, over the course of the last century, the prevalence of religious belief has greatly diminished. Religious beliefs by definition are based on insufficient evidence, because if the evidence was sufficient, belief would be unnecessary.
Today many people seek something more authentic, based on personal experience and reliable evidence, rather than on unverifiable religious beliefs. Nevertheless, in traditional cultures and in conservative sectors of mainstream society even today, religious beliefs are still broadly accepted as the norm. But from the contemporary secular perspective, the first millennium paradigm represents a relic of historical interest that is now outdated and redundant as a worldview.
Second Millennium Paradigm
Materialism
Premise
Materialism is based on the premise that the way to know the truth about reality is not to believe anything (as in the first millennium paradigm), but to understand the world on the basis of the evidence, as interpreted by materialist science.
The second millennium paradigm is materialism, which is the belief that only material objects exist [5]. The ultimate conclusion of materialism is that human beings are nothing more than physical and mechanical robots. Materialism gained mainstream cultural support during the latter part of the second millennium, after the scientific revolution in seventeenth century Europe. With the official endorsement of orthodox science, materialism gradually replaced theism as the dominant paradigm worldwide.
Nevertheless, the viewpoint of materialism has diminishing support today, in actuality, beyond the confines of the science lab, the boardroom, and the academe. In the course of daily life, and in the bonds of close relationships, it’s a different lived reality. Many people feel beyond the limits of the mind’s rationality, to embrace the heart, and its intuition of infinity, which brings a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to life. Even from a secular perspective, life isn’t just a bunch of atoms.
Reducing everything to its material components is diminishing of life’s true richness, in the view of many people on the basis of their personal life experience. Consequently, the stark materialism of the second millennium paradigm has declining appeal today, even in a secular context, because it fails to resonate with many people’s deeper intuitions about the nature of reality.
Third Millennium Paradigm
Secular Spirituality
Premise
Secular spirituality is based on the premise that the way to know the truth about reality is, firstly, to experience reality, not to believe anything about reality (as in the first millennium paradigm), and secondly, to understand the world on the basis of the evidence, not from the perspective of materialist science (as in the second millennium paradigm) but from the perspective of post-materialist science.
The third millennium paradigm is secular spirituality [6], which represents spirituality based not on belief but on empirical evidence derived from personal experience [7] and from scientific findings [8]. Secular spirituality unites the material dimension of reality with the non-material dimension (consciousness) in an integrated understanding of the whole, based on a post-materialist [9] scientific understanding of the world. In recent years many forms of secular spirituality have emerged [10]. However, the basis of all forms of secular spirituality is our innate capability for spiritual intelligence.
The spiritual intelligence paradigm combines the non-materialism of theism (as a premise) with the empiricism of materialism (as a methodology). Thus the principles underlying theism and materialism combine to form the foundations of spiritual intelligence. SQ therefore represents the synthesis of theism and materialism, and thereby supersedes the paradigms of the first and second millennium. Consequently, spiritual intelligence is emerging as the new paradigm of the third millennium.
Spiritual Intelligence
The qualities of spiritual intelligence are the native qualities of consciousness itself, which are experienced at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence, in the the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace [11]. Moreover, as an innate dimension of intelligence possessed by all, spiritual intelligence can be experienced by everyone, religious believers and non-believers alike [12].
Therefore, celebration knows no bounds. Everyone who ever hoped for a better world has reason to rejoice. A new era is beginning to unfold, guided by the spiritual dimension of intelligence, representing the next stage in the evolution of collective consciousness.
Human Operating System
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 [13]. 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 [14], 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.
© 2013 – 2024, Richard Griffiths.
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