How can an atheist be spiritual and deny the existence of the supernatural?

Question

An atheist doesn't believe in the existence of God... but does this prevent an atheist from believing that we are all spiritually connected in some way?

I mean, for example, like minded people recognise same by way of a very brief encounter.

Is the word "Spiritual" very broad? It doesn't just mean ghouls and pixies or sommat does it?

Answer 1

I was outside one day and I looked up at the top of the trees, where they meet the sky, and watched the breeze blowing past as the leaves swayed in the wind, feeling it blow across my face and hair. I could feel my emotions kind of moving with the wind. While I was living in this moment, I realized that it's an energy that we can't explain that allows us to love, feel pain, laugh, and grieve; an energy that sustains life, an energy that makes a flower bloom and the wind blow through the trees. It's how we allow ourselves to feel and respond to all of that energy that defines our spirituality, in my humble opinion.

Answer 2

Nowadays "spirituality" is for the most part taken to be intense internal emotional and contemplative subjective experiences, and atheists that DO have these and are drawn to exploring their mind have no choice but to use this bastardized term that all but implies belief in ghosts, astral planes and other bunk.

So I will state categorically once more that just because an atheist HAS such experiences does not mean he believes them to be anything other than neurons firing in his brain, ESPECIALLY if he is on drugs (I personally never tried any).

As for "spiritual connection" I believe atheists (at least scientific naturalists, the most common type) do not believe that minds and brains are somehow magically "connected" without any known physical evidence that would point towards something like that (recognizing like minded people does NOT involve reading their mind but observing their BEHAVIOR!). There IS a perfectly good way to influence other minds and it's called TALKING.

Answer 3

I have heard a few perspectives on this:

1. An atheist can be spiritual by tapping into the wonder of the universe. Its complexity as represented through experiment, theory, practice and discovery is enough to fill any life with a sense of novelty and amazement.

2. Some scientists see a "spiritual" side to the universe by stressing if the universe is all that there is, and we are a part of this universe, then we are the universe - only in thinking form. Imagine that, we are all representatives of the universe's ability to think back on itself. This is truly extraordinary.

3. Some atheists believe not so much in the spiritual as they do in the "human spirit". It is that sense of adventure, play, curiosity and learning. It is acknowledging that we are here and we have an energy inside us to drive ourselves forward into this spectacular world. This Earth is a playground, a magnificent arena where in one lifetime of experience none will be able to take it all in. This can more than lead to a fulfilling life, a life of energetic nuances.

4. Simply being alive is enough to allow one to appreciate life's value. How cool it is to be an entity such as the human. Just learning about the body itself, its inner workings and associations with its environment is beyond any beauty and grace we can possibly know.

5. This Earth is filled with over six billion different human expressions of life, as well as trillions of other representations of life in the animal kingdoms. This is enough to fill any person with awe-inspiring inspiration. Knowing we share a community on this little blue pearl called Earth should lead to wise stewardship and the need to protect it.

I think the aforementioned is enough to lead to any sort of "spiritual" life without the need for an omniscient or omnipresent being (ie. god). I would substitute "spiritual" for a dynamic and unrepeatable experience worth living. Hope this helps, thanks.

Answer 4

Gazpacho, we are both Atheists, yet don't you think that our spirits have connected to each other, despite being thousands of miles apart? "Spiritual" may be defined as that quality of perception, emotion, and tangible, yet indefinable, reference that makes us separate entities part of a greater whole.

And Gaz, while some do indeed see this as supernatural, it's really not. It's the most natural thing in the world. People have difficulty explaining it, so they call it supernatural, but it is actually commonplace and an everyday experience.

You have the evidence for the spiritual in our bond, mate.

(((((((Gazpacho)))))))

Answer 5

First, read a dictionary .....

Atheist = a person who does not believe in supreme creature / being / creatures / beings.

I can believe in a silverish pink invisible unicorn, so what has that got to do with you?

For Grazie, what has your spirits got to do with gods? I like to keep my spirit high does not mean I have a god on my head.

(BTW, a buddhist is a very good atheist who are very much more spiritual then any christian)

Answer 6

Icy, my friend, I cannot speak for all atheists, as you know we are quite diverse. I know that I am not god, or a god, in fact I know that I am just a speck of dust on an insignificant planet in the boondocks of the universe, but I feel that all things add up to "something". I don't believe in the god of the bible or the q'uran, but I do believe that you and I together are more than you and I apart.

Answer 7

Spirituality is a quest...to learn, grow, explore, love. I would hope that an atheist on a search would come to know love and thus find God.
Peace
Willow

Answer 8

Being spiritual does not mean you believe in god or gods. You can be spiritual when you go deep inside yourself for answers and trust yourself.

BB

Answer 9

What you describe is not supernatural read up on NVC and rapport.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapport

Is it spiritual to watch a beautiful sunset or listen to wonderful music or listen to a friend in need? Do you need a god to do any of that? The answer is definitely NO!

Answer 10

No we are not spiritual connected that is just nonsense. There may be other Atheist that believe we have some spiritual connection.