spiritualize
Elevate beyond material
To spiritualize is to give a spiritual meaning or interpretation to something, often reframing the material or mundane in religious or transcendent terms: He spiritualized his illness as a test of faith.
The word can also mean to elevate or purify, removing worldly concerns: meditation that spiritualizes the mind.
Sometimes used skeptically to suggest explaining away the literal: Critics accused her of spiritualizing passages that should be read plainly.
Raise emotionally or physically
- sanctifyMake officially holy
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- ennobleConfer dignity upon
- exaltPraise with great intensity
consecrate · hallow · transfigure · glorify · divinize · beatify · venerate · sublimate
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- incorporealNot made of matter
- intangibleNot physically present
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
- celestialOf the sky above
astral · dematerialize · sublimation · rarefied · disembodied · immaterial · numinous · luminous
Surpassing usual limits
- ascensionMovement to higher position
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
moksha · liberation · samadhi · enlightenment · illumination · epiphany · gnosis · self-realization
uplift
Raise emotionally or physically
exalt · consecrate · hallow · transfigure · glorify · divinize · beatify · venerate · sublimate · refine
ethereal
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- incorporealNot made of matter
- intangibleNot physically present
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
celestial · astral · dematerialize · sublimation · rarefied · disembodied · immaterial · numinous · luminous · transubstantiate
transcendence
Surpassing usual limits
- ascensionMovement to higher position
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
nirvana · moksha · liberation · samadhi · enlightenment · illumination · epiphany · gnosis · self-realization · bodhi
allegory
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
symbolism · theology · sermon · homily · revelation · prophecy · sacred · scripture · mysticism · contemplation
ontology
Study of existence's nature
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
- monismSingle-substance metaphysics
pantheism · idealism · theism · deism · immanence · emanation · nous · logos · atman · pneuma
spiritualizematerialize
Become physically present
embody · physicalize · incarnate · substantiate · concretize
spiritualizesecularize
Remove from religious control
profane · desanctify · commercialize · debase · vulgarize
- modern spiritualityContemporary non-religious transcendence
- Hindu spiritualityIndia's oldest religious tradition
- Christian spiritualityFaith-based inner life
- Victorian spiritualismEra's communion with deceased
- Catholic spiritualityDevotional life within Rome's church
spirituality, spiritualism, spiritualist, spiritualities, spiritualized, spiritualizing, spiritualization