Spiritual Atheist?

Question

Is that a real belief? I know Atheist do not believe in the existance of gods. . .do some Atheist believe in souls and spirits? Just trying to learn something different today. =)

Panel, thanks for the explanation.. .

Penguin, I am honestly just asking because I do not know. I figured if you believed you had a spirit or a soul you would have to believe in something after death. . .just trying to learn.

Answer 1

some do yes
some believe that energy lives on , some believe that energy may simply go out into the universe
some believe that ghosts are just lingering energy

being an atheist doesn't exclude the belief in the supernatural
although it isn't common

technically Buddhists are atheists , and they are very spiritual

edit
college doesn't care what Atheists believe but then asks for respect lol

Answer 2

The only thing that an atheist can't believe in is a deity. Everything else goes: Spirits, ghosts, an afterlife, you name it. It's possible (although not especially common) to believe that consciousness survives death without bringing a god into the equation.

Although I will also say this: In my opinion, it seems like when most atheists use the word 'spiritual', they're using it in a different sense than religious people. For example, if you experience something that really moves you, like travelling to a place that you love or listening to your favorite song, it could be described as a 'spiritual experience'. But that doesn't mean that they necessarily believe in an actual spirit. There ARE atheists who believe in 'spirits' or 'souls', but when an atheist uses the word 'spiritual', I often get the impression that they're not using the term like a religious person would.

Answer 3

It does rather depend on the definition of "spiritual", of course.
We wouldn't be talking about the Christian's "indwelling Holy Spirit."

One route is delight in nature
(Without necessarily invoking Gaia!)
"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religion than it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." Albert Einstein.

I don't see a Turner painting in mere physical terms, as though analysing the paint would reveal all the secrets of "The Fighting Termeraire."
So what is there in art that isn't the paint?
In music that isn't the notes?
There's something, and it's not material.

Do you envisage that all atheists look at a waterfall and see nothing but such and such a quantity of water falling such and such a distance? (There may be some, I wouldn't know.)

There's a human spirit which doesn't *necessarily* imply an external world of demons, angels, "spirits".

Answer 4

It is possible to be both an atheist and have a spiritual life--even a religious one!

Among other things, religion is a logotherapeutic strategy by which people use their imaginations to improve--or at least add structure--to their lives. Use your mind to imagine a vision of right-living and right-action. A useful role-model in this pursuit might be Jesus, or Buddha, or even Confucius. These were all amazing, loving men--maybe even godlike. Use the beauty of their examples to inspire you to love. But don't just think about it--act!

Because that is really what life is all about: maximize the amount of love in your life. It pays off with interest. Who knows? Maybe it will somehow also pay off in the next life!

Now, souls and spirits? For me, at least, that triggers a response of visceral suspicion. But maybe I just don't get out enough. But keep in mind: just because someone makes claims of a spiritual nature, doesn't mean he is not out to brainwash, rob, or enslave you.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Yes! I'm a pagan Taoist and an atheist. I have spiritual beliefs but I do not believe in deities. I do believe in souls and spirits.

Answer 6

Mystic Atheism:

http://www.jhuger.com/mystic_atheism

Answer 7

J.P., I would *hope* you didn't believe in Sekhmet, since she turned into Hathor when she drank beer. Yes, beer saved the world! (Yeah, I know you already know that if you know who Sekhmet is.) Edit: Apologies--I did not mean to type "anymore" in my response, and it made me sound like I was criticizing you.


I think the parts of my brain that people call spiritual can be used and enjoyed just as easily even though I don't believe in anything supernatural. I get "religious" high from music, exercise, and math.

Answer 8

Some people are non-theists. They believe in certain spiritual concepts but no actual gods. Technically they can be called atheists but that is such a broad term it really doesn't mean anything.

Answer 9

Yes, some atheists do believe in the supernatural. As you mention, atheism only refers to the existence (or nonexistence) of a deity.

I consider myself spiritual in that I actively pursue experiences that, if just about anyone else experienced, would be called spiritual. For me, these take the form of out-of-body experiences brought on by either pain or hyperthermia from doing fire-dance. In my OBE experiences (which I understand to be purely neurological, but no less moving and interesting), I find myself face to face with Fenrirulfr (Fenris Wolf) from Norse mythology. We talk, we discuss, and eventually I come back. And I always come back to consciousness feeling refreshed and deeply revealed to myself.

Though I don't believe in deities, I consider myself a Scion of Fenrirulfr (I forget who called me it, but someone called me Canus lupus aesirus), and a Bastard of Sekhmet [Egyptian Mother goddess, protector goddess, and inventor of genocide]. Though I don't believe in their literal existence, their symbology draws me close and seems deeply relevant to me.

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Monica:

Historically, the merging of Sekhmet and Hathor worship did not occur before a given date, and both deitesses were known before that date. Likely, since the two governed similar areas of life, as their respective groups came into contact, the two were merged.

I have had multiple friends who are Khemitic specifically state they agree with viewing Sekhmet as a patron deity for me, especially given my deep bond to dragon's blood resin as a patron herb.

Still, your point is quite well taken. I just prefer the pre-merge (and pre-drunken) symbology of Sekhmet.

Added: No offense of any sort was taken. I've since researched and found that there are multiple versions of this mythology, and you and I simply have different forms of it.

Answer 10

Being "spiritual" has nothing to do with beleifs in spirits and souls. Have you ever heard of sex being a 'spiritual experience'? Uh, they werent talking about having sex with ghosts or souls... they are speaking of a higher state of enlightenment.