I'm not saying morals, but things like prayer and that there are higher powers or forces.
Not a God as any religion sees it but spiritual concepts.
Does this make the term defunct?
2007-10-14 20:24:48 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In this day and age you can call yourself whatever the heck you want, regardless of what you believe...
2007-10-14 20:37:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can. It's just that they don't believe that other people have a spirit. They are the only ones allowed.
I'm just kidding. But I have met some that call themselves Atheist who though that they had a spirit. Spiritual experiences that are noticed by them do that to people in general. They no longer are able to truthfully say that there are no spirits, they had what can be considered proof. Proof that they can't show to anyone, but they experienced enough to know they can no longer deny it.
What they still have a problem with is connecting the dots - that IF they have a spirit, then why not someone else? And if someone can know that there are spirits, then why not believe that some spirits are greater than others?
Also, they have another reasoning problem; if they admit to knowing that there are spirits, then how sure can they be that Atheism is right? I think that they have a good reason to redefine themselves as being Agnostic at that point. Since they found out that spirits are true, then why can't they also be wrong about God. I think that it gives them an advantage into figuring all that out.
2007-10-15 03:34:52 · answer #2 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An atheist might hold spiritual views. He might for instance believe in the Gaia, which I would put wholly into the realm of spirituality because it has no scientific content.
It might be debatable, how much an atheist would gain from such a world view, though. Personally I would find it pretty unsatisfactory to replace a reasonably well thought out theological concept like monotheism with a new age concept like that of Gaia. But then, I tend to go all the way in all my intellectual pursuits. Not everyone will think this way.
2007-10-15 03:33:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheists by definition can not be spiritual in a religious context. I think their "spirituality " is more definable by the term enthusiasm. I think you would be hard pressed to give an example of atheistic spirituality that is in the same context as religious spirituality. The reason this forum is called religion and spirituality is because they expect that the questions and discussion are to be in the ranges of religion and spirituality as being in the context of each other.
2007-10-15 03:56:48 · answer #4 · answered by swindled 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some druids could 'technically' be called Atheists, as you do not need to believe in any gods to worship nature as a whole. In many spiritual religions power is gained from the essences around us, the elements, nature, deities or anything else that comes to mind, so yes, I think you can be athiest and still be spiritual.
2007-10-15 03:36:43 · answer #5 · answered by Xzar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why do people have to have labels at all?
If you're really interested in someone's views, you'll be happy to sit down and have a long theological discussion with them, to gain a complete understanding of their beliefs and values, instead of just asking 'are you an atheist?' and wanting a yes no answer.
Everyone has their own definitions of things. I believe in God/ a higher power, but I don't believe in religion or the bible. So, what does that make me? I wouldn't say i'm an atheist, but I doubt that devote christians would call me a christian either.
2007-10-15 03:30:50 · answer #6 · answered by A derka der 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheists can believe in spirits and spiritual things, they just don't believe in God. A lot of people don't know if God exists but pray anyway and have spiritual thoughts and ideas. Those people are sometimes called 'weak atheists' as opposed to 'strong atheists' who believe there is no God, or they might be called 'agnostics'. From a fundamentalist Christian perspective, Unitarians are agnostics!
2007-10-15 03:28:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've known some deeply spiritual Atheists.
I firmly believe it's possible to be Spiritual without being Religious. And as such SOME Atheists who follow this thought, seem to be closer to the concept of faith than the most deeply Religious Fundamentalist.
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2007-10-15 07:06:06 · answer #8 · answered by Rai A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists are not necessarily amoral they just don't believe in a higher power. A spiritual view is not the sole province of religion. In answer to your question, YES.
2007-10-15 03:38:19 · answer #9 · answered by timbugtiny 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An atheist believes there is no god or gods. That has nothing to do with whether one believes in the existence of spirits or a human soul. I have known several people who were atheists, but were still deeply spiritual. One of them was a Unitarian Universalist minister.
2007-10-15 03:31:55 · answer #10 · answered by Angela M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The term "spiritual" is ambiguous, but you have provided enough of a definition to permit an answer to the question. The short answer is NO. The essence of atheism is to believe that there is no such thing as supernatural activity -- or "higher powers".
2007-10-15 03:34:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋