Integral Christianity

Stages of Development used by Paul Smith in his book, “Integral Christianity”

I have three books next to one another on my shelf: Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World by Ken Wilber (2006); Integral Consciousness: The Future of Evolution, by Steve McIntosh (2007); and Integral Christianity: The Spirit's Call to Evolve, by Paul R. Smith (2011).

All three books draw on the notion of Spiral Dynamics - "a model of the evolutionary development of individuals, organizations, and societies initially developed by Don Edward Beck and Christopher Cowan based on the emergent cyclical theory of Clare W. Graves, combined with memetics. A later collaboration between Beck and Ken Wilber produced Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi). Several variations of Spiral Dynamics continue to exist, both independently and incorporated into or drawing on Wilber's Integral theory."

Paul R. Smith had a nearly half-century of leadership at Broadway Church in Kansas City, Missouri which evolved into a model of an intregal church described in his 2011 book. Broadway Church fell on hard times after the pandemic and after 151 years of ministry has closed in 2023; the building was sold to become an event space and hotel called Melrose Abbey.

For several years prior to his death in 2024 Paul Smith developed a close relationship Luke Healy "co-founder of Integral Christian Network (ICN), a Christian mystic, gatherer, and spiritual pioneer." ICN is "a global community of dedicated mystical practitioners for the loving evolution of Christianity and the world" that offers "WeSpace online groups of mystical practice participating in embodied awakening, in devotion and engagement with divine presence, Jesus, spiritual guides, and one another.."

Healy says, "After a long search and a 8-year dark night... I came to the end of my mind as the answer. Then resurrection. Awakened to new energy, new love, new ways of being. The Integral framework has provided the map. The Christian mystics are pointing the way. My heart is alive with “the deep surge of love” as Teilhard de Chardin calls it."

To learn more about Integral Christian Network’s approach you may take their online course: WeSpace & Whole-Body Mystical Awakening. "Through a series of six sessions, Paul Smith covers the foundational practices and elements of an embodied, mystical Christianity for the further emergence and empowerment of the loving evolution of the Christian tradition." Join the Course. ICN also has a podcast, books, recordings and video, and Luke Healy provides weekly Evocations & Invocations of Divine Vitality WeSpace enrollment requires a commitment of eight total meetings over 4 months. ICN also has weekly Sunday gatherings on Zoom at 8 a.m. PDT.

“We cannot reach our own ultimate without emerging from ourselves by uniting ourselves with others, in such a way as to develop through this union an added measure of consciousness.” ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Many Traditional (literalist/fundamentalist/heirarchal) churches in America are tribal and have alligned politically with the far right as they perceive their survival threatened. Modernist mainline churches are generally diminishing as their older members die. According to Paul Smith the Postmodern church "embraces the marginalized, diversity, personal growth, advocacy of justice issues, eco-friendliness, and altered states of consciousness which make it a launching place for the next state, integral church." Where is evolution leading next?