Any other deeply religious non-believers out there besides me? [See details for relevant quote]?

Question

"I am a deeply religious non-believer. This is a somewhat new kind of religion." -- Albert Einstein

starry:

you've deeply misunderstood the quote. You have faith in Jesus? That's belief.

Einstein was saying he was religious without belief. Kind of the opposite of the Christians around here who claim they don't have a religion, they have a relationship (which... by definition... constitutes a religion, but anyways...)

acid_zebra:

Einstein was also something of a ritualist, in his own way. His walks with his various companions and fellow thinkers were more than just pleasant outtings to him -- to him, they were ritual in which he specifically sought to experience that awe and splendor of the naturalistic universe.

The basic idea is -- "I have rituals, but I don't act out of faith. I act out of what works for me to experience that which I consider spiritual."

In a way, one could almost call Einstein a chaos mage, though I dare not ascribe to him anything he cannot voice agreement or disagreement with.

I will say I view this philosophy as akin to the root philosophy of chaos magic(k).

yummygood:

Please read my answer to starry. You've misunderstood the quote.

Einstein did not act out of faith, he did not have faith in a deity or in Jesus or in salvation. He had meaningful rituals that to him he felt were relevant and significant to themselves.

To believe in Christ or to have any faith at all renders one incapable of claiming to be part of this 'new kind of religion'.

Answer 1

Good question JP. I've struggled with an answer because it's difficult to be objective about myself.

Others describe me as "spiritual" but I don't feel I'm spiritual at all. If "religious" = the description that Acidic just gave, then I suppose I am. When I first came to Atheism, (as corny as this sounds), I remember waking up weeping at how huge the universe was and how little I would ever know about it and being awed by that.

Answer 2

If you switched spiritual for religious I think I would say that I am as well. I may be misunderstanding your meaning though as others answering. I find that semantics and varieties in understanding on the definitions of certain terms in theology and spirituality are limiting the discussions at times. I am always somewhat surprised by the people who are so vehement that you can not be a non-believer and still be spiritual.

Answer 3

Yes. Jesus bore the cross, unfair as it was, and I used that profound metaphor to save my own life and get help- turned out the crazy depressino I had was a lot due to a thyroid disease that could one day, maybe, have shut down my heart.
Anyway, that doesnt mean I go along with anythign that religion says, but I have a fantastic capacity for logical faith.
Dig?

Answer 4

Non-denominational Christians don't claim to be religious because they don't belong to a religion not because they aren't spiritual. This quote just personifies Jesus's words that God hides spiritual wisdom from the wise and prudent, in this case genious, and reveals it unto babes.

Answer 5

I think I have an inkling of an idea what Albert was talking about and yes, how can you not stand in awe of the sheer greatness of this natural universe and its many wonders?

Answer 6

what your talking about sounds like what I'm seeking.
I'm searching for nontheistic ritual that acknowledges the wonder of nature and celebrates the earth.
non-magical thinking that cultivates gratitude and commmunity.

Answer 7

Well, besides you and Einstein, I don't think the Deeply Religious UN-Believing Church has many adherents (and one of them is dead).

I'm a thinking Atheist, FYI.

Answer 8

Whatever Al says goes for me!

Answer 9

Your self-discription is an oxymoron. But, that figures. YBIC

Answer 10

Deeply religious non-believer?
Oh Gez....LOL.