In a recent interview, Kathleen sat down with Cory Rosenke, a multifaceted individual known for his roles as an author, pastor, communicator, and dedicated pursuer of truth. Described as a concept pioneer and the foremost authority on the cravings of the soul, Rosenke shared his profound insights on the importance of reconnecting with our spiritual essence in a world mired in deceptive ambiguity.
Rosenke's journey, rooted in the poverty of the mountains of British Columbia, began with a simple yet profound question that resonates with many: "Why?" As a child isolated from distractions, he delved into philosophy, exploring the works of great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. Despite finding more questions than answers, Rosenke's intellectual journey continued through psychology and neuroscience. However, he discovered that these studies focused on mechanisms and engineering rather than addressing the fundamental question of "why."
This realization propelled Rosenke to explore the depths of the soul. He emphasized that to answer life's biggest questions and address the prevailing dissatisfaction in society, one must look beyond the biological and into the nonbiological self—the soul.
According to Rosenke, the soul is the nonbiological essence that defines our humanity. In a world fixated on the tangible, he likened the situation to marveling at a car's external features without acknowledging the wonder of the driver within. He asserted that by neglecting the spiritual aspect of our existence, we have forgotten what it truly means to be human.
As Kathleen probed further into the concept of the soul, Rosenke provided a succinct definition. He described the soul as our nonbiological selves, emphasizing that it is the core of who we are—a seat of personality, vibrance, and, on the negative side, desperation and frustration.
The conversation then delved into Rosenke's identification of five core cravings of the soul, which he termed as the "five core humanities." These cravings, according to him, define human existence and provide a concrete understanding of the soul's desires.
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Security: Rosenke explained that every individual craves both physical and relational security, seeking assurance for survival and the safety of their hearts.
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Identity: The need to answer fundamental questions about oneself—Who am I? Why am I here?—forms the second craving, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's value and purpose.
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Independence: This craving is divided into the freedom aspect, desiring autonomy and the ability to make choices, and the individual aspect, seeking recognition of one's uniqueness and distinctiveness.
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Significance: Rosenke highlighted the innate human desire to feel special and set above, whether through achievements, talents, or other unique qualities.
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Innocence: Lastly, he touched on the need for individuals to feel inherently good, emphasizing that it goes beyond being declared not guilty but extends to being recognized as virtuous.
Through this exploration of the soul's cravings, Rosenke aims to provide individuals with a framework to understand themselves better and, in turn, find genuine happiness and fulfillment. His insights serve as a poignant reminder in a world inundated with material pursuits that the key to contentment lies within the depths of our nonbiological selves—the soul.
