Who started all this 'spiritual' stuff anyway?

Question

I find myself drawn to spirituality, but i have no time for religion, i don't even have time for most gods and goddesses. It's like curse, but it also keeps me from going completely insane. It gives life some sort of meaning. Who created 'spirituality' where did it start, and how does it effect the modern world, if at all? What place does spirituality have in our time?

It's strange it's like im in conflict with myself all the time, but i have this one voice inside my head thats constantly leading me into spiritual paths. I could easily become a hardcore materialist but this voice keeps on pointing out the depth of life and i have to admit it is stronger than me. It is coming from somewhere else.

Thnx barry, I hope this Q don't get deleted cause of chatting but it's good to see it from a materialist's point of view, I guess what your saying is in fact logical. I am trying to understand life in materialistic way right now, i have always had trouble with this cause I've been involved with so many esoteric paths which is the complete opposite, but to 'evolve' I have to learn to see things from all angles, from all perceptions.

Auntie-Kr...: That's classic.

Answer 1

Caspar, the friendly ghost.

Seriously though if you're interest in the universe and nurturing that sense of wonder you can't do better than learning about science - quantum physics has more profound mysteries than you'll ever get from some book on gods or ghosts.

Answer 2

I think Auntie pretty much hit the nail on the head, but I'd like to expand on Fras's answer with a counterpoint.

Much of human spiritual & other paranormal belief has come from speculation on what lies beyond our knowledge. And while it may not have been as deliberate as Auntie describes, it has still been prety much made up as we've gone along in order to fill the percieved needs of the time.

Over time, however, science and exploration have shed the light of real discovery into the darkness of the unknown, and everything we've found has been pretty ordinary. Or at least it has all conformed to physical laws. We know now that the Earth isn't flat or at the center of the universe, that thunder isn't angels bowling, that hemhoraging and other symptoms are not due to an excess of blood that needs to be drained, and countless other things.

As an example, take Magellen and his expedition around the world. As they started out one of their biggest concerns was about all the sea monsters they were sure to encounter. Naturally they didn't encounter any.

The universe is a pretty big place, but the rules, by all observations thus far, are consistant and you'll find that things at the far reaches are pretty much the same as in our neighborhood.

Some "spiritual" concepts do have their uses, when they are, at their root, simplified models of real physical systems & phenomena. Take "ki" or "chi" as the concept is used in the martial arts: When examined we find that the things attributed to it actually come from the complex interactions of momentum, force, balance, perception, reaction, intention, etc. A simplified model of that complex system helps a martial arts practitioner learn to operate in that complex realm much more quickly. To take the ki metaphor, or any other, literally, however, is falacy. It's a good enough model of reality for its purpose, but once you go too far beyond that it breaks down.

All-in-all, much of the "wisdom of the ancients" was just speculation from ignorance. There has just been so much of it over the milenia that there have of course been a few hits and near misses over time out of sheer luck. It's all the total whack BS that crippled and destroyed countless minor tribes & civilizations that are truly forgotten, in more than once sense. It was really only once we hit upon the scientific philosophy that most of our extensive modern knowledge began to accumulate. Those "wise" ancients would be totally in awe if they could see what we've done.

Answer 3

I think this was something that gradually came about thru society - well, tribal people first, with their superstitions and silly notions about Gods and Goddess.

I know exactly what you mean. I consider myself spiritual, as I'm always looking into the spirituality of life, but I have found nothing worthwhile in religion itself. I use the label Pagan, as it seems to help those in mainstream religions understand that I don't believe as they do, but confuses most other Pagans as they expect me to be more "modern"... ie: Wiccan or one of the other modern Pagan groups. I've been thru them, and have no desire to return to them.

It effects the modern world thru us. First it effects the individual and then, IF, the individual decides to do something with that effect, it then effects those around the individual. Seems it always finds a way of showing up though... even when you're trying to ignore it.

I don't think it has a place in our time the same way Religion does. I believe Spirituality is a very personal thing, there is only so much we can share with one another about it... I don't see it as a "group effort", like going to church on Sunday to praise God. There really isn't any way to explain it.

Answer 4

I believe you may have answered your own question. There does seem to be an inate understanding within human lives that there is something beyond or deeper than just superficial existence. I think this is proved by the fact that whatever the civilisation, nation or remotest tribe, all have developed some sort of faith or belief system. I think it arises from an inherent realisation that we do not just have this one life; that our existence does not end at death; that there is an eternity of life that all of us experience. We may not have a conscious understanding of what or why this is and that humankind's search for a spiritual realisation of this is what gives rise to religions.

Answer 5

If you believe in God, it is God who created or started it. God created humans for the purpose of company. He is waiting for you in heaven as a father waiting for the return of his children. Give him the break. Don't disappoint him. Go back to him. You know nobody else can start this spirituality stuff. Say, human who is created (creation theory) or who is just popped out from somewhere or evolved from one tiny little and invisible amoeba to become a complex living thing would have a blank mind unless someone had taken the trouble to tell him. Who else but God? Can there be any others?

Answer 6

I suppose you should look up the Transcendental movement in the 1800's, Madame Blavatsky, or the Order of the Golden Dawn. Those pretty much influenced the modern rise of spirituality, but it has indeed been around longer than organized religion, in many different forms.

Answer 7

Spirituality comes from God.

But you are a 2000 man, so you have outgrown God.

Since the beginning of time man has believed in God.

But the extreme intelligence of todays thinkers make God obsolete.

I think alot of folks have gotten too big for their britches
and too much intel can be a bad thing.
There is more evidence to support belief ie fulfilled prophecies, ancient writings that have survived centuries of skepticism.
Than there is to simply put it all aside and claim intellect is God.

Answer 8

by asking your question you started it. it can only come through you. you are the only person who can ask the question, do the work and finally understand it. at all times there was always something "beyond" and there will be always something "beyond" science or logical understanding. and there were always people who asked questions like you did, looking for answers. finally the answer is within you. it's not far even if it seems a long way to go. "spirituality" has always the same place, regardless of times and places. it has nothing to do with our modern times or ancient times. it offers a way to go to the place you are looking for.

Answer 9

I think you can be a hard-core materialist and still have a sense of spirituality, just be somewhat skeptical where, e.g. "voices in your head" come from. each of our brains have some trillion neurons, with a zillion electrical processes running simultaneously inside our skulls. just as we dream crazy dreams, we have crazy thoughts. it's just brain stuff, imho, no need for gods or spirits or outside forces. i recommend Julian Jaynes book on the Bicameral Mind--he posited that some few thousand years ago humans didn't introspect as we do now ("Oh, I'm thinking this" or "I'm trying to decide this"), rather they assumed ALL thinking originated with gods "speaking" to them--of course, it was (and is) just our crazy neurons firing. His ideas are hard to prove, but still fascinating and provocative.
Good luck! My guess is, you're doing just fine--keep questioning!

Answer 10

It started in caveman days when smart but little Moog was being bullied by dumb but large and powerful Ug was proceeding to open a can of whop-az on his smaller fellow subterranean citizen. A flash of inspiration hit Moog and he told Ug that he would be punished after death by the great Ju-Ju. As Ug aged he began to believe and spread the story of the great Ju-Ju. Soon everyone wanted to be happy after death and Moog had to keep weaving tales to prevent being attacked. The concept of Holy came into being after a consolidation of the list of taboos was created. The most important thing was to be sure that the others couldn't replace Moog with a Holy Rock so Moog kept on expanding. Moog was bothered by few and given a free ride. Eventually other smart cave people came along and they divided up the "religion" after Moog was fatally tasted by a Smilodon while searching for relics. More and more smart primitives began adding their slants to religion and as Adam Smith pointed out in the 18th century there was an eventual clash over the scarce resources which led to nation building and armies to seize weaker neighbor's resources. The Wild deviations led to excesses such as pyramid building, forty year Volksmarches through the desert, barbarian invasions, the dark ages, Renaissance, gunpowder, frozen yogurt, and puncture proof tires. So in answer to your question, follow your gut feelings.