A spiritual trend for some time now has been in the use of the word rhythm.
Yes, we might use the word in the sense of wanting to keep a balance (rhythm) between work and rest. But some of what’s out there sounds formulaic and/or like a newly discovered spiritual cure-all.
Just to set the stage, these are from actual book titles and subtitles:
- Soul Strength: Rhythms for Thriving
- Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram
- Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus…
- Following Jesus’ Rhythms…
- Rhythms for Life
- Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest
- Sacred Rhythms
You’ll often see words like holy and transformation in titles and marketing for these types of books, which also tend to reference kundalini, channeling, Hinduism, ascended masters, a world peace agenda.
A Buddhist website that told of “being in rhythm” with the universe threw in some New Age wording, like “aligning… with the God energy.” It also smacked of the health-and-wealth evangelists: persevere to get this right, and you’ll surely “get what you want.”
Some resources initially appear Christian but actually mix the world religions, falsely representing Christianity.
Lauren Artress (Episcopal priest) saw the labyrinth as a “spiritual tool meant to awaken us to the deep rhythm that unites us to ourselves and to the Light that calls us from within” (quoted in Roger Oakland’s Faith Undone, p 68, 69). In that same section of Oakland’s book, Doug Pagitt (sometimes described as a “progressive evangelical pastor”) encouraged the labyrinth experience because it “invites the body into a rhythm of moving around and moving toward the center, then back out.” (Not sure how an around-and-toward rhythm enhances our Christianity.)
One writer said, “God has graciously given us spiritual rhythms to help us encounter Him in deeper and more intimate ways.” Another source asks, “What is your current meditation rhythm?” And certain spiritual retreats will guide leaders “in establishing sacred rhythms to sustain their life in leadership.”
Interesting, too, that different sources claim a different number/pattern of the so-called rhythms.
The Rooted material marketed to churches considers seven rhythms. Richard Foster discussed the “four-part rhythm” of Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises. Another book on Ignatius’s ideas had a “12-step approach.” One product related to counseling—though it didn’t use the term rhythms—indicated that we have eight feelings. These were charted to align with a list of eight problems and eight tools for handling them. (I had trouble getting past the idea that of our supposed eight feelings, seven were bad and only one good. Scripture?) Another tool will help you “craft a set of habits and rhythms,” with ideas gleaned from “ancient Christians.” (Translation: “ancient Christians” means medieval monks and nuns, not Bible-times believers.)
Sacred Rhythms was billed as “a way of life that works.” The writer looked to “the monastic tradition of creating a ‘rule of life’ that allows for regular space for the practice of the spiritual disciplines.” You, the reader, should choose “to establish your own sacred rhythm.” So, while other books seem to have determined my rhythms for me, this book wants me to determine my own rhythm? Hmm.
The more I look at the complicated (and contradictory) promises and numbers, the more muddled I get. Maybe I’ll just save the term rhythm to describe ’60s rock!
It is beyond annoying when these people all agree to use certain words that they think makes them so hip. In the secular world the new word to use seems to be “ELEVATE” If you are paying any attention to the secular writers then you see that nearly every article written uses the word ELEVATE. It’s such a joke. Or maybe all the writing is now done via AI and AI is responsible for all the ELEVATE junk.
Timely post! I had just seen something about “Rhythm” and wondering what insight you could give me on it. Thank you!