Transcendence?
“Transcendence is a perspective in which we can view our whole being from a higher vantage point with acceptance, wisdom, and a sense of connectedness with the rest of humanity.”
First, a definition: The Latin prefix, trans means “beyond” and the root, scando means “to climb” or “ascend”. When we refer to transcendence in this module, we will be talking about climbing beyond or rising above the self. So we’ll use the terms self-transcendence and transcendence interchangeably. Moving beyond or expanding self boundaries leads to experiencing a higher reality - a new state of consciousness that makes us feel like we are a part of the world around us. Simply said, transcendence is the combination of rising above the self and connecting to something greater. The ‘something greater’ can be anything from a cause you value, a divine power, nature, the universe, or humanity in general.
Are we talking about spirituality? Maybe, if that’s the language you use. Both believers and non-believers experience transcendence. Believers may use terms like the Spirit, God, mystical, or visions, whereas non-believers may describe these experiences as love, awe, peace or connection. Wherever your personal spiritual or religious beliefs lie, the information we will present here comes from academic researchers, many of whom are atheists themselves, studying the motivation observed in humanity to connect with something larger than themselves. It is telling that religion, defined as the concept of mystical power, is universal - it has been identified in every known culture (Glazier, 1999). According to prominent minds in the field, this may be evidence that humans need transcendence in order to be whole and to reach our highest potential.