Can an atheist be spiritual?

Originally posted by Alliance
Logic. Existentialism. General spiritualism.

You presented the choices as if:

1. People have an option to believe science
2. Science is anti- or the opposite of religion.
3. Science disproves god, which it does not.

So, i think it was a crappy statement.

1. People do have an option to believe science. There are many people who believe that science is of the devil.

2. I don't believe that science is anti-religion, but some religious people do.

3. My statement did not make this accusation.

You had good point, but you ruin it with childish words like "crappy".

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
1. People do have an option to believe science. There are many people who believe that science is of the devil.

2. I don't believe that science is anti-religion, but some religious people do.

3. My statement did not make this accusation.

You had good point, but you ruin it with childish words like "crappy".

Choice of words doesn't make points better or worse.

Anyways, refer to my post, it solves your dilemma.

Originally posted by Alliance
If spiritualism was about believeing in spirits, maybe you'd be correct.

Spiritualism is a religious movement that began in the United States and was prominent in the 1840s – 1920s, especially in English-speaking countries. The movement's distinguishing feature is the belief that the spirits of the dead can be contacted by mediums

Hmmm... seems I am correct.

Originally posted by Seraphim XIII
No, it's not fair to say that spiritualism is generally compatible with Atheism, especially after your first statement, which is that the meaning of spirituality is quite expendable.

Where did I claim it was generally compatible with atheism?

Originally posted by Boris
Spiritualism is a religious movement that began in the United States and was prominent in the 1840s – 1920s, especially in English-speaking countries. The movement's distinguishing feature is [b]the belief that the spirits of the dead can be contacted by mediums

Hmmm... seems I am correct. [/B]

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
If you do not believe in god or anything mystical, can you be spiritual?

And if the answer is no, are you missing out on an important part of the human experience?

Originally posted by lord xyz
What does spiritual mean?

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Spiritual definition
http://209.161.33.50/dictionary/spiritual

1: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal <spiritual needs>
2 a: of or relating to sacred matters <spiritual songs>
b: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal <spiritual authority> <lords spiritual>
3: concerned with religious values
4: related or joined in spirit <our spiritual home> <his spiritual heir>
5 a: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena
b: of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic

"One can admire and feel reverent toward the awesome powers of nature, the amazing way in which life reproduces itself, the sheer immensity of time and space, without necessarily imagining that there is somebody running it all."—Richard Packham

If you mean spiritual with regard to a level of reality, wherein one seeks connection with a supernatural / divine / mystical dimension to the universe, something which transcends the mental and material realms, then obviously, an atheist can not be spiritual as the atheist does not believe such realms exist.

However, if one means spiritual exclusively as an attitude or moral perspective, something in a social / psychological / humanistic sense, then of course an atheist can be spiritual.

😛

Originally posted by Mindship
If you mean spiritual with regard to a level of reality, wherein one seeks connection with a supernatural / divine / mystical dimension to the universe, something which transcends the mental and material realms, then obviously, an atheist can not be spiritual as the atheist does not believe such realms exist.

However, if one means spiritual exclusively as an attitude or moral perspective, something in a social / psychological / humanistic sense, then of course an atheist can be spiritual.

😛

How does the word spiritual equal moral?

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
How does the word spiritual equal moral?

Kind of a heart-felt sense of proper respect and care toward one's fellow man (hey, I'm tryin' to cover all my bases here).

Originally posted by Mindship
Kind of a heart-felt sense of proper respect and care toward one's fellow man (hey, I'm tryin' to cover all my bases here).

I don't consider that to fall under the definition of spiritual. Atheist can be moral good people who have a connection to their family and community. They can even "admire and feel reverent toward the awesome powers of nature", but they cannot be spiritual.

They can have 'school spirit'.

Spirituality is one of those words which has as many definitions as it has people trying to define it.

Originally posted by Mindship
They can have 'school spirit'.

😱 chimp 😆

Originally posted by Storm
Spirituality is one of those words which has as many definitions as it has people trying to define it.

I provided a definition for the thread. 😄

jump <--- has lots of spirit

btw, Storm, love that sig, but I keep getting a neck cramp everytime you post something.

I do not know, interesting question though.

At first I want to say no... but then thinking about it a moment... if you feel connected to nature... is that connectivity... spiritual? 😖

Originally posted by Mindship
jump <--- has lots of spirit

Yes, there are other meanings for the word spirit, 🍺, but that is not what I was getting at. obst_049

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Yes, there are other meanings for the word spirit, 🍺, but that is not what I was getting at. obst_049

btw, where are you getting all those cool smilies from?

No, an atheist can't be spiritual, if it's to do with religion. UNLESS they are a part of a religion which doesn't share the belief of a God.