THE FEAR OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
THE FEAR OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE

Summary/Abstract: From a philosophical standpoint, silence is characterized as both a positive and a negative phenomenon of complex nature. The history of interest in silence, as an essential spiritual discipline is long and often involves the spiritual discipline of solitude and they are sometimes viewed as one. The focus of this paper is the place of silence and solitude in practiced spirituality and the importance of dedicating time for silence in order to open our inner being to God’s grace and an authentic life. However, deliberate silence can be dangerous because it opens a real possibility of facing who we are before God, so consequentially leading to realizations of whom and what are our gods, idols and totems. The fear of loneliness and emptiness, awareness of limitations and death, and other unappealing realities are a part of what we may encounter in silence.

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