Is it possible to be a spiritual atheist?

Question

I feel like a cross between a believer and a realist.(I mean atheist)
I feel like I am living proof you can be a mix of both.

Answer 1

Dang. Button your shirt. Nice by the way.
What was the question?
Oh, yes you can be both.
It is easy to see both sides to the story. All it takes is an open mind.

Answer 2

Obviously, it goes back to how theism (or atheism) is defined. Traditionally, theism is the belief in the theistic God. The "Eternal Being" and so on.

Spirituality posits that there is something beneath or beyond the mere appearances to things. There is emptiness as well as form, for example. One does not need to posit a "theistic" deity to support the idea that there is nevertheless more out there than what lies on the surface. Nietzsche called it "a reverence for what lies beyond our horizons."

So given those two definitions, then yeah, you can have a spiritual atheist. As others have mentioned, Buddhism and Taoism are great examples. There is no "theism" really to be found in either religion. But they nevertheless believe that something else is going on besides whats obvious to the mind. They hold that there is a depth to experience that too few people are aware of.

For me, I have just collapsed that other side of experience into what I call God. Theism, for me, means something very different than what is traditionally understood as theism. The closest conventional concept I can compare it to is pantheism. Check the source. But my idea of God is like a Tao interpretation of pantheism.

Answer 3

It is possible for an atheist to be spiritual. Anyone who denies or even does not accept the existence of divinity is an atheist, it does not require that one step beyond that single cognitive decision. The problem is that a large number of modern atheists are sufficiently narrow-minded that they cannot fathom the possibility that atheism does not require materialism. That is, since they are fundamentalist materialist atheists, their religion doesn't allow for the existence of other forms of atheism. Therefore, they consider everyone who does not adhere to their own very narrow interpretation of atheism to be "non-non-believers"--essentailly, spiritualistic atheism would amount to a heresy within modern Western atheism. A spiritualist atheist would not be adhering to modern Western atheist orthodoxy and would be accused of not being a "true atheist".

Answer 4

Yes there is such thing. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion, rather just about spiritual principles applied to ones life. Like humility, gratitude, teach-ability, accountability, kindness, giving without expectations, understanding, love, empathy ect...
These are all spiritual principles and there are many more like responsibility, awareness, honesty,and open-mindedness.
Religion is not necessary in order to apply these principals in your life.

Answer 5

I am an atheist pagan. I practice seasonal rituals (the Earth does exist) But I do not believe in god.

I consider myself very spiritual.

Answer 6

I dont think of i'm a non secular atheist. however the question is so concept upsetting that i could desire to objective and supply an exciting concept to contemplate on. vast bang theories dont do it for me. A layout stress could desire to have existed on the time of creation, on each occasion that become. consequently there's a means exterior of ourselves which exists. Take any of the forces of nature to assist u agree approximately this. combine them, if u will. Isnt this The so stated as God stress stripped of our human tackings on? That this stress could be attracted to us as persons is spectacular and stressful to comprehend, yet i think that, to boot, we grant slightly interior ourselves and could faucet into the reservoir of that stress, if u will.

Answer 7

The Buddhists would certainly think so, as would the Taoists and Confucians.

Spirituality does not require a supreme being.

Answer 8

a person can live by spiritual ideals but not believe in God...these are ideals he has picked up in his life that most likely had their origins in a god-oriented faith.

a person need to evalutate whatever belief system he has for merit...and truthfulness.....after all, he will have to be repsonsible for his choice at some point..in this life or the next.

Answer 9

What are you a believer in? If you believe in God in any way, shape, or form, it is not possible for you to be an atheist.

Answer 10

Sure. Spirituality has to do (primarily) with self-realization. It does not necessarily have anything to do with spirits and souls and such... unless you insist on mixing your self-realization with self-delusion.
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