Re: Can an atheist be spiritual?
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?
There's a difference between an atheist and a materialist. Hard-line materialists would be hard pressed to consider anything about their beliefs "spiritual". But atheism isn't always at odds with certain mystical beliefs....just usually.
For example, I'm an atheist who can also, in good conscience, call himself a Taoist (albeit a non-practicing one...I merely agree with the principles, ideas, and teachings).
Taoism is a religion. It is based on the belief in supernatural powers. You cannot simultaneously suscribe to the principles of a faith and deny principles of faith. You may include elements of Taoist philosophy, but even that borders on hypocrisay. You certainly can't define yourself as an *insert religion here.*
Originally posted by Alliance
Taoism is a religion. It is based on the belief in supernatural powers. You cannot simultaneously suscribe to the principles of a faith and deny principles of faith. You may include elements of Taoist philosophy, but even that borders on hypocrisay. You certainly can't define yourself as an *insert religion here.*
Fair enough, but people support some ideas of faith and deny others all the time (though I dislike the word "faith" altogether, as it implies something that is believed blindly).
When I say I am Taoist, or at least in agreement with much of it, I'm mainly saying that I subscribe to a non-dualistic view of the world, which is the main idea behind the Tao. As I understand it, the supernatural beliefs and such are secondary (or even nonexistent sometimes) depending on which 'school' of Taoism you subscribe to.
So no, maybe I can't call myself one and be wholly correct, especially depending on which particular taoist path you're referring to.
spiritualit is not = belief in GOD or the god presented in the abrahamic relegions. it isnt even a belief in any GOD. its simply belief in one form or another of supernatural/non casuality/unseens forces or entities/phenomenon. a MATERIALIST can never really be spiritual{thank marx and lenin for forever connecting atheism/materialism/socialism wronly for the general people} but theres absolutely NO reason why an atheist can not be spiritual. furthermore, most proclaimed atheist are agnostics with an atheistic inclination{often present as psychological backlash to the wrong relegions which bombard the person's mind everyday} and an agnostic can surely believe in spiritual things. although the more ethnocentric organised relegion followers choose to make god{therir version}/spirituality, synonyms, they are infact two different things, not really dependant on the other.