Can Atheism have spiritual qualities?

Question

Before I'm attacked for this, let me explain:

I am an Atheist, but I feel that the qualities that people define as "spiritual" are actually the most distinct expression of the personal. They are the expression of the core of our being, of our power, of our essence.

With this in mind, I respect the beliefs of others and see "spiritual" journeys in the light of personally expressed life affirmations. In this frame of mind, I think that everything may qualify as "spiritual" in nature.

The only things certain in this life are that we all are going to rejoin the whole from which our tenuous expression that we call life has sprung. Does this allow Atheism to claim a spiritual title as well?

I know how I feel about this, and am interested in other's answers.

Answer 1

Yes, it does.

I feel that alot of the times, when the word "spirit" comes up, people are just discussing semantics. We are just using different words to describe complex subjects and issues.

I believe that humans have some very complex "parts" and "organs" that are not physical. They cannot be measured or easily explained. They come into the realms of our desires, needs, and emotions. We can develop, explore, or ignore those parts. They are like muscles, they can be built up, or ignored. Some are born with a predisposition to be talented with these "muscles", and others are born with them crippled, or they have been injured by others. But we all have them, no matter what label we are given in life.

As far as being "spiritual" goes, we are all spiritual. Id, ego, super ego, consciousness, unconsciousness, heart, mind, emotions, will, love, hate, soul, ghost, call it whatever you want, I'll call it parts of our "spirit".

You can study the universe, you can study the cosmos, or you can look at your innermost being. The stuff that you are made of. You can feed it, you can starve it, you can exercise it, or you can cripple it. But we all have it, call it what you want, and it is part of us, and we are part of God's creation.

You can ignore it, or say that it is not there, but it is still there. As you said Jack, "They are the expression of the core of our being", atheists and believers have a "spirit" alike, it is just up to us what labels to use, and whether we develop those "organs" or not, and if we do choose to develop them, in what manner.

As far as atheists go, I know of some that try really hard to ignore that part of their humanity, but not all of them do. Those parts are still there though, and in my opinion, they are some of the better parts of being human. That is where hope lies, and trust, and where we can find our deepest needs fulfilled.

Answer 2

I feel people use the word spiritual to express an emotional and intellectual journey. I feel spiritual in the 'einstein' sense of a wonder of the universe, being grateful for the incredible genetic lottery that put me here and knowing that life is finite and only I am in charge of what I make of it and what contribution I can make to the society that I am part of. At once I can feel insignificant (vs universe) and enormously empowered.

The poem below by Auden sums up how I feel about it.

The More Loving One
W. H. Auden


Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

Answer 3

Do all atheists define their non-belief as you do? In other words, do they all think that they will eventually rejoin the whole from which each life has sprung? Because so far I have the feeling most think when we are dead, we're dead, and there is nothingness.

Based on what you are saying, in terms of rejoining a whole something, I would ascribe a type of spirituality to that belief. Based on dying and that's the end, I do not view that as spiritual.

Now, spiritual gifts are things like love, selflessness, compassion, empathy, patience, kindness, etc. Certainly, anyone including atheists can possess and demonstrate these qualities, although they might ascribe another basis for them aside from spirituality.

Answer 4

Atheism as a whole does not have spiritual qualities. However, an individual atheist can have spiritual qualities. As an atheist, I don't believe in afterlife or souls, but I still think the cycle of life is so beautiful. We are all given a chance on this earth to live, and when we die, our remains fertilize the earth, and provide growth and nourishment for future life. That's a spiritual as I get.

Answer 5

Atheism, as a philosophical view, is the position that either affirms the nonexistence of gods[1] or rejects theism.[2] When defined more broadly, atheism is the absence of belief in deities,[3] alternatively called nontheism.[4] Although atheists are commonly assumed to be irreligious, some religions have been characterized as atheistic because of their lack of belief in a personal god[citation needed].

Many self-described atheists are skeptical of all supernatural beings and cite a lack of empirical evidence for the existence of deities. Others argue for atheism on philosophical, social or historical grounds. Although many self-described atheists tend toward secular philosophies such as humanism[5] and naturalism,[6] there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.[7]

The term atheism originated as a pejorative epithet applied to any person or belief in conflict with established religion.[8] With the spread of freethought, scientific skepticism, and criticism of religion, the term began to gather a more specific meaning and was sometimes used as a self-description by atheists.

Answer 6

As I understand it, the most stoic Atheists that I have read up on have a sense of Spirit when in the Quantum reaction Chambers attempting to figure out how something appeared that should not have.

The theory of Probability (first theorized by and Atheist) is in a sense spiritual as it takes all possible things into account including the existence of God, the Absence of God, and the accountability of Politicians.

Answer 7

Yes. I think "spirituality" is a universal experience like love and grief. I don't think it has a super natural origin, though.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, director of NYC's Hayden PLanetarium, host of PBS's Nova Science Now explained it best at a conference.

Jack, I recommend this two part video to you. It may start off slow, but the pay-off, to me anyway, is great. Tyson talks about how, as a physics major at Harvard, he was required to take an art class, and how that opened up his atheistic "spiritual" world.

If you have 17 minutes, take a look.

But for myself, my spiritual experiences come listening to a sublime song, engaging all my senses in truly unique place in nature (or a big, unfamiliar city), or the way my body chemistry acts up when a catch they eye of or spend time with a beautiful woman.

Answer 8

The term 'spiritual' is vague enough, dealing as its does with the ineffable, that it can incorporate pretty much whatever the speaker would like it to.

I'm not keen on the word any longer because it has a black box effect -- whatever is being described is closed off from scrutiny. For anything, there's at least speculation as to how it works. But for many, calling it 'spiritual' means 'don't ask questions'.

Answer 9

Absolutely,
Many use labels too easily.
I do not understand them as I believe, what we do and how we act and be in the world is more an indication of what we have as a value or belief system, then giving ourselves a label, such as christian, atheist, evolutionists, whatever they mean, I have no idea.
Many seem to be comparing pears with apples or fuiji apples with granny smith apples, it is so silly, and a waste of energy and time.
I hear what you say and agree with you, I would not call you a....... or a......... I hear you on this and this is what you feel. That is it.
Labels, are so 1980's.
Lets leave them in the gutters.
Peace in the heart to you.

"May every pathway you choose, lead to that which is pure and good and lovely"

Bless you and God keep you well, happy and giving.

Answer 10

i totally agree.

i think that lots of americans have had really bad experiences with the organized religions in which they've been raised, and they associate all spirituality with the hatred, dogma and foolishness so often found in those organized churches.
but everyone has a spiritual aspect, as they have emotional, mental and physical aspects. they still come out, but atheists call them other things. a feeling of rejoining the whole is certainly spiritual. so is the drive to help others, the non-physical connection we feel with others, etc.
and as long as we don't call it religion, no one has a problem.