how can atheists be spiritual?

Question

i'm not picking on anybody here. it's just that i've heard atheists (maybe just SOME atheists) say that they are spiritual, but not religious. i'm a bit confused about that. it seems reasonable to me that if a person believes he has a spirit, he would also believe there was a diety who created that spirit. is it just that there is some different definition of the word ''spiritual''?

Answer 1

I have no idea. I've asked many times for a definition of "spiritual" but apparently it's impossible.

I suspect that a "spiritual atheist" is at least as rare as a quarterback who's never touched steroids.

Answer 2

Hello dear!
Well, I would ask: How can a religious person be spiritual? Don't religious people believe and follow the orders of some already dead people? How could this be spiritual? By the time we replace thinking by belief, there goes the spirituality!
Our spirit is a dynamic part of ourselves and we should always worm on it, to improve it! Believing we memorize and follow, which is not that spiritual, is obedience!
Thus, being free thinker is the basis for spirituality!

Answer 3

Hey Drew - as a Buddhist, I would first say that for me, "religion" is a structured entity, designed to create followers. The different dogmas don't do it for me. So I do seperate the two concepts.

Buddhism asks each to discover the best/highest/most refined Self within, with no requirement for an outward Godhead figure.
To express compassion towards self, and to all, and that this will open your eyes to who you really are. To question everything, even the teachings of the Buddha, and be willing to go beyond all of it. Spirituality rests in intent, commitment, open mindedness, detachment.....developing your finest qualities.

As to the creator aspect, perhaps all of that really does have no beginning and no end - it is a hard concept to grasp, I know all I can do is consider the possibility...

Answer 4

There is more than one kind of "atheist," and this includes the "spiritual atheist."
The spiritual atheist lacks a belief in God, but is still willing to recognize life's mystery, and even have a belief that there exists some sort of "higher power" ... without having to define that higher power as God.

If you'd like to know more about spiritual atheism (one of many kinds of atheism), there is more information here:

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-13-2006-88828.asp

There are also agnostic atheists, who lack a belief in God, but on the other hand believe that the existence of a god or gods is unknown and unknowable, or feels the knowledge of the existence of God is unimportant.

Both these types of atheism differ from "strong atheism," which is an explicit affirmation that gods do not exist.

Answer 5

There was a two part series in American Poetry Journal, which explained spiritual atheism. In a nutshell, it seems that values which can enhance the character and lives of people can lead to an open growing life, which from a faithful point of view, if you are faithful, I think you can understand, the soul will be a garden ready for a realization of the life perception or life lesson you seem to think is missing.

Answer 6

I see what you mean and I really never thought about it. Since I don't believe Atheist beliefs, I do not really know much about it. I do know the main idea, and I really do not know how it can be a religious denomination anyway, because if they say there is no god, what is the denomination based on? Every other religion is really based on its afterlife. If there is no afterlife, then what is the point of this earth? So really, I agree with you, they can't be spiritual.

Answer 7

I think this all depends on how you define spiritual. If you think spiritual means having a soul that survives death, then I'm not. I define spirituality in a different way. I see it as being able to enjoy nature, meditate, and feel happy with my own existence. I don't believe in any supernatural things, but I have beliefs in moral philosophies.

Answer 8

Being spiritual you dont have to have a god, its just following your morals and being able to motivate your self in your own ways, metatating is one way for you to that. Also you can still belive in heaven in hell, just not one person controlls rether or not you go hell. There can still be agels, and all that, soo yea atheist is just another way to live life. And about who created teh spirit, they could belive that teh spirit is created through there mother and father in the making of them, and how they rais there child shanges the spirit and changes who exactly the person is.

Answer 9

It just shows that "atheists" do not understand the word " spiritual". Although they understand enuff of the word "religion" that they declare themselves " not religious". They are just being "oxy-moron" when they believe they are "spiritual" yet dispute the force whereby the spirit originates.

They are only confusing themselves, not us, who possesed the spirit of wisdom.

Shalom.

Answer 10

Atheist do not believe there is a God.But There is nothing stopping them from deciphering what is right and wrong.If they are well adjusted with society they will have the appropriate balance to lead thier life with righteousness.The way they lead thier life with righteousness will in time bless them with spirituality.