That all that defines ourselves lies in our mind, or do you believe in a spiritual essence that also defines us.
I know atheism is a lack of belief in a god (or gods), but I have met some atheists that are spiritual.. I'm asking for strictly personal philisophical beliefs, not a generalization of atheism.
2007-02-19 17:56:28 · 19 answers · asked by DimensionalStryder 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Very tricky question. I don't believe in God, I don't believe in any power which judges my actions other than myself, I do believe in a generalized moral / ethical code whereby doing harm to others is wrong and helping others is good. I don't believe that anything is a universal law other than the laws of nature. I do believe that mankind has the power to make things better or worse as he so desires. I do believe in virtue and nobility but as man made traits.
Man is not just an intellectual creature, emotion, instinct and all sorts of other things contribute to our understanding and actions.
I believe that man is an essentially spiritual creature but that the expression of that spirituality is not dependent on God.
2007-02-19 18:59:31 · answer #1 · answered by John B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jay Cee you are not an Atheist
I am an Atheist and a somewhat spiritual person. I have had or know people who have had experiences that makes me think more of the spiritual aspect of life. I am still working on what I believe about these things. I am not sure if it is possible to completely believe some of the ideas of spirituality but I am most definitely open minded about them.
If none of this makes sense it is because I am waiting for the sleep meds to kick in.
2007-02-20 02:04:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suppose I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't believe in a soul that is separate from the mind and our physical bodies, but I do believe that our emotions are evidence of some sort of "spiritual essence;" that essence is present in all animals, I think. My dog is very emotional, sometimes (particularly if there's peanut butter around and he can't have any. The injustice!)
2007-02-20 02:02:16 · answer #3 · answered by N 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I notice that the label atheist is too broad for many of us.
Atheists, by definition, do not believe in a god. That doesn't mean we don't believe in the spirituality of human beings.
In my opinion, whoever could communicate and socialize with LOVE and critical undertandings is a spiritual atheist alright.
Look at pacifists, humanists out there...
2007-02-20 02:02:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I personally believe that my entire existence is due to my physical/natural body, and that my entire awareness is due to my brain. When my brain ceases to function, I will completely cease to be.
But even so, I think I have a kind of spirituality, that comes from a sense of awe and amazement and a feeling of interconnectedness. I personally take delight in knowing that all life on Earth shares common ancestry. I feel more connected to animals knowing that their brains and metabolisms are similar, and therefore they probably have a similar experience of life, at least at basic emotional level, to mine. I love having a mind that is capable of comprehending so much and can grasp that there is so much just beyond my grasp. I don't feel that it is necessary to have an immortal soul to make my life have deep meaning.
2007-02-20 02:24:40 · answer #5 · answered by Jim L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you can be a non-believer in a supernatural entity, such as God, and at the same time consider that there is a spiritual dimension in life. Just take a look at Buddhism for example.
2007-02-20 02:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by jaidii_lok 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally I'm not a spiritual atheist. All that defines us lies in our minds.
2007-02-20 01:59:28 · answer #7 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm Atheist in that I believe in God-that we created him by believing in him or that God is actually the Universe or nature or that he is a model set for people to follow (unfortunately, the fourth part has changed), but I just don't follow any religion, because basically, they're all just saying to go one way, except for Wicca.
2007-02-20 02:02:32 · answer #8 · answered by Caterwault 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm more of an agnostic but I get lumped in with the atheists all the time. I am a spiritual person but I'm not all weird about it.
2007-02-20 02:09:02 · answer #9 · answered by Pico 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i believe our actions define us. Which is why I will always be more moral than a religious person. because I will do something simply because it makes someone else happy or feel better. Not because a religion says i have to do it in order to get to a different place in an afterlife.
2007-02-20 02:01:20 · answer #10 · answered by Ordin 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋