Now, I know I dont usually ask you guys stupid questions...?

Question

Ok, maybe I do. So sue me. Ive got another stupid question for you:

What exactly does spirituality mean?

As most of you know, I consider myself an atheist, a former Christian. I love my fellow man, I see beauty in a sunrise or sunset, and I get the warm-fuzzies when I look at a kitten. I feel pain when I see others in pain, and know that I am a compassionate person. But does any of that make me spiritual?? To the few of you that have gotten to know me personally (as well as email allows that...) - would you consider me spiritual? What does this mean to YOU?

Thanks all for your responses...

Answer 1

"Spirituality" is the poor excuse that "Religious People" use when they are just too lazy to get up and go to church on Sunday mornings.

I've heard it a thousand times...

"Oh, Father...I'm not "religious" - I'M "spiritual"..."

Like that is supposed to impress me.

It doesn't.

Answer 2

I think spirituality is completely individual -- it is a very gray term, though I am sure some would say that it is not and that their version of spirituality is the only way <>. That sounds familiar.

I have to say that I think in its essence, spirituality is different than a religious experience as the former implies a level of individual experience and the latter implies more of an element of the "collective consciousness" (thanks Jung).

I couldn't tell you if you were a "spiritual" person or not, but at least you experience empathy and compassion towards your fellow being (and the older I get, the rarer I think that is).

Want to hear my version of "spirituality"? I think Sunday mornings are sacred for nice long runs and bike rides. That is my version of a communion with the world around me -- and I have found it more fulfilling and spiritual than any day I had ever spent in church (that's another story though).

Answer 3

I don't normally equate spirituality with a specific religion really. But spirituality, by definition, ties itself to religion. Of some kind. It is a sense of connection to something greater than oneself.
So if you are a true atheist, I wouldn't consider you spiritual really. An empathetic person. A caring person. A nice person. But without believing that something out there is some purpose to life, be it God, Karma, or whatever, I'm not sure spiritual is what you are trying to define....

Answer 4

Spiritual means that you have a spiritual part of your make-up. Just as it is that you are human only because you are well... human. You experience spirituality because you are made with spiritual components, which exist forever. You cannot deny your spirituality insofar as you cannot deny that you are human. A plant cannot claim it has a human side just because it likes the warmth of the sun and so does a human. Neither can it deny it's plant-ness because that it what it is. I think in your time as a Christian you probably weren't born again into the real knowledge that the Lord is YOUR God, regardless if you like it or not. Perhaps though, you know enough about God to feel the shame of denying His existence, just as you are doing now. Perhaps (even though you know he is a good God and is worthy of your devotion) you are denying all the truth that you know about God in order to persist in the ways which your God-given conscience tells you not to. This is what the Bible describes as suppressing the truth, worshiping the creation and not the Creator. Perhaps you know all this down deep. With that said, if I've struck a nerve--I rest my case--you ARE a spiritual being. If if haven't... well, I doubt that's the case.

Answer 5

My slant on this is that people who imagine their own subjective perceptual experiences are real tend to believe in a hypothetical "spiritual realm." People who imagine that spiritual realm is real are commonly said to be "spiritual." In other words, people who believe in the supernatural think of themselves as spiritual.

People who accept the scientific view that the physical realm is real are generally not spiritual, but are certainly capable of experiencing empathy and sympathy and all the other human emotions, such as appreciating the beauty of nature. Just because a person appreciates the difference between reality and superstition does not mean they are any less sensitive to the needs of their fellow man. A person's true humanity has nothing whatever to do with believing the current socially acceptable superstitions are a valid substitute for the objective truth of physical reality.

Answer 6

I starred this last night when I ran out of answers.. ( level 2 sucks lol )

you said one thing that left me in no doubt that you are very spiritual
" I feel pain when I see others in pain "

that is empathy
empathy is connecting
spirituality is knowing that connection

everything is one... and feeling the pain and emotions of others as though it was your pain , highlights this very well

yes you are spiritual and again ( as with Red Queen) .. great proof that Atheists can be as spiritual as any Theist
xxx

Answer 7

No, all those things you listed shows that you are human...


Being spiritual would be one who believes that humans have a soul/spirit, one who most likely believes in a supernatural spiritual realm, and being an atheist, you go by logic and reasoning and concrete evidence to support your believes, I'd have to say that you would not be spiritual...just a sensitive, compassonate fella. (per your definitions)

Personally, I know that there is a spiritual realm, that there are good and evil forces that we can not see, that influence our decisions, and behavior, and feelings. I believe that we all have a soul, there fore we are all spiritual.

Answer 8

wow...deep question.

to me to be spiritual is to be aware of life. to see the beauty in a tree. to get the warm fuzzies when looking at new life.

it is standing at the waters edge and feeling the energy that's all around us. to feel the connection to the earth that we all have.

to feel empathy and sympathy for those around you, and trying to help when you can.

i think that you are more spiritual than you know.

bright blessings to you so-crates.

edit
not a stupid question.

Answer 9

You always ask great questions So-crates, just like the philosopher by the same name (not the one from Bill and Ted's).

I would say spirituality is simply an acknowledgment of what is beneath the surface of our flesh and blood....dealing with issues of the soul. The thing is that spiritually speaking, there is good and evil - the devil himself for instance is a spiritual being. So is God. One is evil, one is good.

(By the way, those things you mentioned are all "good" things obviously, not evil things....and other things I know about you are good as well!....though there is also evil in all of us, which we are wise to acknowledge.)

Answer 10

This is just MY opinion...
I believe "spirituality" is the feeling and knowing that there is a "Higher Power". One that is greater then you. If one chooses to call their Higher Power: God, Allah, Jehovah or Micky Mouse, they know it's a Power that is greater then them.
Seeing the beauty in nature and in people, feeling their pain and sharing in their happiness can give the acceptance of there being a Greater one then yourself. Spirituality is accepting and feeling and knowing a "Higher Power".
I hoped this helped

Answer 11

Spiritual means to me, whether or not you believe in a supreme being, you still believe in Super-natural things. Things that defy the laws of physics. As opposed to thinking that every thing has a natural occurrence, but science just hasn't figured out how it works as of yet.