NON-CHRISTIANS--Define SPIRITUALITY. What is being spiritual?

Question

Christians-please don't assume you have cornered the market on spirituality. I want answers from non-Christians.

Answer 1

Spirituality is, in a narrow sense, a concern with matters of the spirit. The spiritual, concerning as it does eternal verities regarding Man's ultimate nature, is often contrasted with the temporal or the worldly. It may include belief in supernatural powers, as in religion, but the emphasis is on personal experience. It may be an expression for life perceived as higher, more complex or more integrated with one's worldview, as contrasted with the merely sensual.
The spiritual and the religious

An important distinction needs to be made between spirituality in religion and spirituality as opposed to religion.

In recent years, spirituality in religion often carries connotations of the believer's faith being more personal, less dogmatic, more open to new ideas and myriad influences, and more pluralistic than the faiths of established religions. It also can connote the nature of a believer's personal relationship or "connection" with their god or belief system, as opposed to the general relationship with the Deity understood to be shared by all members of that faith.

Those who speak of spirituality as opposed to religion generally believe that there are many "spiritual paths" and that there is no objective truth about which is the best path to follow. Rather, adherents of this definition of the term emphasize the importance of finding one's own path to whatever-god-there-is, rather than following what others say works. The best way to describe this view is: the path which makes the most sense is the correct one (for oneself). Many adherents of orthodox religions who consider spirituality to be an aspect of their religious experience are more likely to contrast spirituality with secular "worldliness" than with the ritual expression of their religion.

Others of a more New Age disposition hold that spirituality is not religion, per se, but the active and vital connection to a force, spirit, or sense of the deep self. As cultural historian and yogi William Irwin Thompson put it, "Religion is not identical with spirituality; rather religion is the form spirituality takes in civilization." (1981, 31)

Answer 2

Being close to whatever force or being(s) that created this world in which we live. Me personally I am a Pagan (at least that is what I call myself) because I believe in a Creator [the being that created all of this (the universe and life in general)] which is genderless and formless, and I also believe in Gaea (Mother Earth the soul of this planet). I acknowledge the existence of other gods and goddesses, but do not worship them because I do not feel the need to; besides if I prayed to every god or goddess out their I would never leave the house. This is all my personal view, and I took this view even though I used to be Christian and even though most of my family is Christian.

24 y.o. Pagan College Student

Answer 3

Here is a pretty good definition:


a sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of self and 'that which is greater than self', and also practices such as meditation and 'bonding rituals' which support such identity and relationship; religion represents only a minor subset of the overall themes of spirituality and spiritual practices, and may in some cases hinder rather than assist in spiritual development, especially in the workplace; expressed in organisations in issues such as 'belonging' (identification with) and active ...

Answer 4

Knowing who you are and being true to that self as a small part of a greater whole which encompasses life as the elements of Earth and the Universe. Being true to oneself one knows a truth of spirit that cannot be compared to another. Spirituality is the all and the nothing. It is the understanding of the divinity as our entire reality.

Answer 5

The question cannot be answered by words.
If you don't want Christianity in it's common form.

You might want to listen to the Poetry of the Sufis
The Scent of Light from sounds true publishing.

the four agreements by Miguel ruiz is a toltec ( central american indian) practical book.

or check out Joydancer.com
a power journey with a shaman to Teo or MachuPichu
might help.

Ishaya meditation is good way to discover.

but if you sit for a moment in silence
you will realize that
you don not really want an answer
You are angry
good luck

Answer 6

My own, personal, definition of spirituality? I think spirituality is when you forget about the dogma and focus on what your soul says; feeling what your soul feels and knowing what your soul knows. Spirituality is also when that veil between your conscious mind and higher-self is either very thin or completely removed.

I also think spirituality is when you find inner-peace and when you really know how to listen to your heart and mind.

Answer 7

Seeing the divine in anything other than the Christian god. I see the divine in all of nature - and not separate from it. To me, being spiritual means respecting the divine in all of those things, and working to get to know the divine.

Answer 8

Your definition of atheism is in basic terms too proscribing. human beings call themselves many stuff with out stepping into dictionary definitions. not believing in a god has not something in any recognize to do with believing that human beings could have a soul, a spirit or potential, or regardless of. Ghosts and different issues in fact look opposite to perception in a xian god, the place is the allowance for human spirits to proceed roaming the earth? i presumed it grew to become into heaven or hell? i individually am extra of an atheist such as you describe, i don't have self assurance in any of it. Ley strains, crystals, none of it. yet that doesn't recommend that each and every physique atheists could desire to additionally reject that stuff.

Answer 9

To develop a full understanding of the supernatural aspects of the universe. This may lead to a contact or not.

To define it as contact with the divine is too narrow and only reflects Theism.

Answer 10

I certainly cannot speak for all non-Christians, but to me it means a deep and humble respect for nature and the beauty of the universe...however it came into being. It means being kind and considerate to others and treating people as you would want to be treated. It means cooperation and communication, not rigidity or disrespect.