Radio listener responds to Moore's approach

Danielle Marie Winterton writes "A Spiritual Compass for a Simulated Society" after listening to Thomas Moore talk about his new book, A Religion of One’s Own, on WNYC with Brian Lehrer. Winterton writes, "I draw from pagan, Christian, and Buddhist teachings, literature, and traditions, so I was pleased to hear Moore describe the rich rewards of developing a moral compass that uses aspects of different religions that are personally compelling to each individual. He likewise hit the mark in focusing on spiritual or religious ritual as a kind of liminal space in which one is able to step outside of the simulated field of choice produced by consumerist environments." She also shares:

". . . I found myself wondering as I listened to him how to avoid solipsism and relativism while balancing a need for spiritual and religious personalization, and how to find the right balance of respecting scripture and holy text without idolizing them or taking them out of context and using them to further our own furtive egotistical projections or selfish motives.

My only remedy, however tenuous, is that contact with other people can hold us accountable, prevent us from becoming too slanted and specific in our views, and so it is crucial to seek out these soul-mate relationships in friends, colleagues and family when we cannot find them within the confines of an organized religion."