Why do people assume that atheists and/or agnostics are not spiritual?

Question

I believe every human is born spiritual; it's religion that has to be crammed down people's throats to get them to believe the way everyone else in that religion believes. I have a strong sense of spirituality, and yet it is dismissed by some of the people who consider themselves the most religious (Christian or Jewish, mainly). Is that the Christan/Jewish way to treat people?

Answer 1

Yes that's the way some treat people. Others are more tolerant. I have never been spiritual. Not even when I was a Christian. I don't really understand what being spiritual is supposed to be. I wasn't spiritual when at five years old the Pentecostal Holiness preacher pushed my head under water while he recited the Lords prayer then pulled me up by the hair of the head spluttering, splashing and screaming, almost drowned and I heard him shout. The child is saved. While the entire congregation gathered round to pray. I only felt fright. I never felt any spirituality when at sixteen I decided to become an Atheist. I only felt relief, happiness and love. I consider it the best decision I ever made in my life. I believe anyone who insist that others have spirituality, like confidence in their own values and belief system. Amen xx.
P.S. I see the lady following me gave a definition of what she thought spiritual was. Ok I agree everyone feels that but what makes her insist dogs and birds don't feel it too. It certainly don't come from God xx.

Answer 2

I agree! I do not know much about Atheism, ( I asked a question about their beliefs, yesterday, and received alot of great answers) I believe an Atheist can have Spirituality, and altho I consider myself a Christian, because I try to follow Christ, not a church, I am more in line with Spirituality, and not in line with organized religion.
It is not the way to treat anyone else, including atheists, ...no one claiming to be a true Christian, has the right to judge another. Cramming any religion down anothers throat is wrong, and Christ wants people to come to Him, with their own hearts.
If others are considering themselves "religious" and think you're not Spiritual, they are confused! True worship of whomever you consider your higher power, is true Spirituality.
There is too much judging and nonsensical bashing, here and elsewhere...and if it's coming from "Christians"...they should stop and examine whether they are representing true Christianity.

Answer 3

Hi Cathy, I agree with your comment, one of the most frequent annoying habits of some Christians is judging the state of another person`s soul, I was once in the position were I had little or no confidence in God and therefore had no time for religion and I well remember how agitating it was to be preached at.
I was not in connection with God but I wasn`t all bad either, I still loved friends and family and would have done what I could to help out when needed, okay now I am back in my faith but there is no way that I am going to verbally punish anyone else with constant Bible bashing, I really believe that talk is easy and cheap a lot of the times and that decent action is what really counts.
Best regards.

Answer 4

You are right. Every person born is spiritual. But why is that? Dogs aren't spiritual, as fun and sweet as they are. Birds are not spiritual, as beautiful as they are. Spiritual beings have the capacity to think about life, love, eternity, death, they can laugh, feel sorrow, figure out problems. Yes, we're all very spiritual. Animals sometimes seem to exhibit some of these attributes, such as love when they see their master, or sorrow when their master goes away, they may instinctively hide food or protect their young, but you know it's not the same as what we humans feel. They grow accustomed to their surroundings, which comforts them. They can have very strong instincts such as being protective and sensing fear or danger. But they don't have the capacity to think in eternal, spiritual terms. Why is that? Because they do not have a spirit. But humans do. And that spirit comes from God.

Answer 5

It is a very uneducated, narrow-minded, and very bigoted person that would follow the idea that only they are right and everyone not following their belief is "doing it wrong" or "not doing it at all".

It is exactly that type of person that is causing the sectarian violence over here in Iraq.

The differences between a Sunni and Shia are minimal, but it is enough that they hate each other with a passion and rage that burns through even close family, and village relations.


Yes, anyone that is that strong in their beliefs that they are willing to attempt to spread it to me, or make any suggestion that I am not 'worthy' in their eyes fits into this same category.

Answer 6

They are brainwashed. They will not open their minds to other possibilities, because their church told them that it is the devil trying to tempt them. Back in my youth, I studied several native american cultures. These people believed everything has a soul.....the trees, the animals, the rocks, the wind, etc. How much more spiritual can you get? Basically that God is everywhere. Also, the church wants to keep them there, because you can't make money off of someone who feel most at peace looking at the ocean.

Answer 7

All people are spiritual. They are spirits, they have souls and they live in a body. The difference is Christians have God'sSpirit, the Holy Spirit, in them directing them. For non-Christians other spirits, other than the Holy Spirit, are in charge. The devil drew Eve away from God so are the other evil spirits doing to mankind now.

Answer 8

All men are spiritual, regardless of being theists or atheists.
He who turns his face to the source of spirituality, he will advance spiritually; he who denies that source will fall back. And each individual knows whether he is progressing or regressing. Criticism and debate are of no effect. Just think and make advancement for yourself.

Answer 9

That would only be the people who don't understand what: atheism and agnostic mean.
Those of us who do know what they mean, also know that to be atheist or agnostic, doesn't mean you aren't also spiritual.
Most of my atheist and agnostic friends are deeply spiritual people who feel very deeply about spiritual things.

Answer 10

It's just ignorance. I don't really blame them for not understanding this; there's plenty of things that I'm ignorant of.

What is appalling is when they display that ignorance so brutishly, as in "Why do ALL you atheists spend ALL your time out here in the christian religion section?"