Baraka’s film presents a variety of views regarding religion and spirituality within the larger context of the human experience. It actually espouses ideas of religion and spirituality in ways that many would find some fitting in their practice based on the muted nature of the film, and the lack of vocal expression by the characters portrayed throughout the film. In fact, the views the film takes on this subject are broad and go beyond a tunnel view regarding religion and spirituality.
At its core, this film embraces the ideas of religion and spirituality within the larger context of the human experience in different ways for individuals from different cultures and societies around the world. First and foremost, the film depicts the evolution of religion primarily around cultures, social norms, and traditions. These images have become some of the ways in which individuals are influenced by social behaviors stemming from the application and use of moral persuasion within their societies and cultures.
Based on the above, one can conclude that these behaviors profess religion in different ways and influence adherence to or devotion to a particular religion or practice based on individual beliefs. These beliefs are also equivalent to a person’s inclination, tolerance, attitude, disposition, practice, or institutionally embedded philosophy. These can also be translated into a cause, principle, or belief system generally held by religious faith.
Instead, the film shows spirituality as the perpetual breathing and process of transformation that extends religion into viable, inspiring, and sustainable life within man. According to the film, the essence of spirituality is generated from within the individual. On the other hand, religion lies outside. In fact, it cannot be given spiritually to a person unless the Creator connects that person or the person with the Creator; However, the organization is able to impose the debt based on the consent of the unconsecrated person and the influential power of the organization.
Based on the film, one can see that spirituality comes from within; Instead, the debt comes from outside. Then spirituality is included in the subjective understanding of one’s reality through submission to a higher power. The higher power in this regard is faith manifest and faith that transcends a person’s mind; Such a force one usually finds in the character of God, which is archetypal in nature. As seen in the film, when one settles into solitude and nature one will find God in one’s heart as a “higher power”, which brings the essence of spirituality as an extension of religion.