Hello. I am an atheist and I consider that the non-belief in any deity is not incompatible with some kind of spirituality.
Because I think that what is called "spirituality" is not necessarily dependent on the concept of "deity".
As an atheist, how do you perceive the concept of "spirit"? (hence "spirituality")
Is "atheistic spirituality" an oxymoron? Please explain.
Unless you use another concept instead of "spirituality".
.
2007-12-10 03:31:36 · 11 answers · asked by Axel ∇ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Smart atheists can also reply if they wish :-)
2007-12-10 03:39:49 · update #1
Thanks everyone for your answer.
Delicate topic...
I don't like the word "spirit". I prefer the word "consciousness" much more :-)
2007-12-10 03:50:07 · update #2
yes, it is an oxymoron.
If you do not believe in a supernatural power, then how can you believe in spirituality.
2007-12-10 03:35:25 · answer #1 · answered by heidavey 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I firmly believe that there is an Ultimate Super Power behind the creation, growth, and functioning of this Cosmos. Thinkers of the past have called it God, Ishwar, Parameshwar, Allah, Nature, Bramha and the like. It is all powerful, always present in the form of energy and physical laws such as gravity, electromagnetic field, electrons, atoms etc. makes no mistakes, does not violate any physical law. It is not an individual, who can be pleased or not pleased by worship and prayers or no worship and no prayers. It does not favor anybody or gets angry with anybody, It does not give anything to anybody or takes away anything from anybody. The concept of God exists only in the human brain and not in the brain of any of the life forms on this planet Earth. Am I a spiritual atheist?
2016-05-22 11:45:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I usually cringe at the term "spirituality." But most people seem to use it to describe any atheist with a religion, or with any deeper philosophy or belief in something beyond the physical world. (Atheist only means lack of belief in gods, remember.)
I'm a non-theistic Pagan. I don't have any particular belief in anything supernatural. (Which is unusual for a pagan, but then pagans are expected to form their own beliefs and practices...) However, I do believe in myself and my own abilities. I believe in the power of psychology, symbolism and positive-reinforcement. I believe I can change myself and be who I want to be. Some people would say that this is spiritual, a deeper confidence in something scientifically unproven.
2007-12-10 03:37:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
buddhism is an example of atheist spirituality, so it's not an oxymoron by any stretch of the imagination.
as a pagan, i've been where you are, and know others who do not consider the gods to be literal entities. it's possible to see the gods as metaphors, and not accept them as divine beings in any religion, and to use the spiritual teachings as a guide for attaining enlightenment or improving your outlook on life.
i now see the gods as sort of boddhisatvas; enlightened beings who have traveled the path we're on now, who maintain contact with the physical world as guides to those who want them.
your belief is what makes the spiritual world manifest. it can be whatever you want or need it to be.
2007-12-10 03:42:21 · answer #4 · answered by bad tim 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is entirely consistant to be atheist and spiritualist. Most people, when describing themselves, take atheist to mean "Strict, non-theistic materialist". This is of course an over reach, as atheism is by definition only the lack of theism. Many atheists are non-spiritual materialists, this is true, but because atheism is defined as a lack of theism, it cannot be said to have an exclusionary (other than that one stipulation) definition.
2007-12-10 03:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by Skalite 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think it depends on your definition of "spirituality", and I'm not really sure what that word means because it's used in different ways.
I'm an atheist, but I'm also a Pantheist, which means that nature is sacred to me. It takes the place of spirituality in my life, but I'm sure if that word is appropriate.
2007-12-10 03:38:31 · answer #6 · answered by moon watcher 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I consider it an oxymoron, but really, you can believe and call yourself anything you want.
As an atheist, I don't believe in a "spirit" any more than I believe in a god.
2007-12-10 03:37:09 · answer #7 · answered by David Carrington Jr. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I totally agree, spirituality is not dependent on the concept of a deity
I'm a spiritual agnostic
2007-12-10 03:36:49 · answer #8 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
No.
I'm one of those Strict, non-theistic materialists that Skalite was on about.
But I accept the fact that it is possible to be a Spiritual Atheist.
2007-12-10 03:38:01 · answer #9 · answered by The Bassline Libertine 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No I do not think of myself as spiritual
2007-12-10 03:36:40 · answer #10 · answered by darwinsfriend3 AM 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋