For myself, I am officially an Atheist, in that I reject the idea of a separate, dominant spiritual quality that people call "God." I believe, however, in the existence of a natural power--not supernatural--that comprises all creation in the Universe, that is eternal, that is interconnected.
Einstein grasped a bit of this by proving the correlation of space/time as another dimension--he scratched the surface of this universal connection. This universal connection is what religion attempts to provide a framework for people to relate to. We typically call this connection "spirituality", and for those who relate to this connection in a parental fashion, this is called "God."
Seeing this, then, in such terms of spirituality, do you think that with all of our ideas about divinity and God, and the various cultural flavourings with which the we depict them, the basic reality, this natural, universal order, is even affected? Do our opinions help us relate....or only provide barriers?
2007-12-27 06:51:12 · 17 answers · asked by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Absolutely, see I would not have called you a atheist, I understand when you are coming from, as I believe too in a all-encompassing creative power, the building blocks of all-that-is, flowing through all. "This" is in all beings, but all beings do not "live" in this, but live from the egoic stance of separative stance of differentiation, competition, limited, bound, relative to identification.
Similar to you, for me - the understanding of experience, tuition, and knowing.
I feel all find ease relating on "level" of heart, that feeling of connectedness, right relationship, Heart response only.
This is not lived fully, most feel and live glimpses of this only throughout the day.
The mode of "normal" living, day-to-day "running of life's business" is more a reactive stance off the top of the head, reaction from a beforeness understanding, or a "I want this to transpire" type of place. This is all egoic stance. Bringing past and future and basing "decisions" thus.
To live "more fully" is to live in the present moment only. This is the on-going all-encompassing "ideal" or to me "living in Love/God.
Much is interpretation of wordage, fear of loss, mis-understanding, or mis-learned.
The inherent birthright of all is the same.
When one knows, one sees the errors made.
When one is "in the error" one can not see that that is so.
One holds on to the stance at that time, until it is let go. That can happen in an instance or not, dependant of what one has "invested".
Thanks for the question.
Bright blessings
2007-12-27 07:25:22 · answer #1 · answered by Astro 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Spiritually you have already arrived. As far as a goal is concerned you have always been and always will be. Awakening to that takes time or development of awareness. Perception, concepts, thoughts and the false ego are the villains preventing enlightenment. Those with the philosophy that they are their minds or their thoughts and trust their limited senses are the believers’ of the world. Belief is one side or the coin and not knowing is the other. Knowing is an experiencing in being in the now without thoughts awake and alert. The moving mechanism mind is either functioning in the past or the future. The past is no more the future is not yet and the uncontrolled thoughts go on and on. Thoughts are but a small part of the mind and observable. Being attentive within of the breath creates a gap in the stream of thoughts and with practice you will increasingly become more aware and see you are not the mind. May you find this peace, Ash Rishi Yogi
2016-04-11 03:30:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the problem here is that you are separating the believers from the spirituality. After all, you being an atheist, will naturally take the more scientific approach to spirituality then a Christian would. Thus spirituality, is only spiritual, according to what you would think to be spiritual. It is like the story from Rumi, where all the people grope in the dark room and only find parts of an elephant, and they think it to be a tree, or a snake etc. But spirituality is an all encompassing idea, and thus the believers themselves, the perspectives, they all form an integral part of this spirituality, and thus you can not separate it all.
2007-12-27 08:21:53 · answer #3 · answered by chessaholic 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Not for me. As an atheist my sense of spirituality lies in a sense of commonality with all things from the stars to worms. Religious ideas of spirituality I find quite barren and only interfere with and adulterate what I experience as spirituality. But it's a personal thing, I suppose. We all experience what we're capable of, at best, given half a chance, wise mentors, and the lack of a strait jacket of one sort or another.
2007-12-27 16:07:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I happen to be one that calls this power, God, but it matters not what we call it, for it has one spiritual name, which is truth, the essence of this spiritual power, which is love.
"God is Love," now isn't that right out of the 60's.
The ideas or concepts that people have of this power (whatever they choose to call it) that are in error, not of truth, ideas created out of fear, does not affect the reality, quality, or order of this power. It exists and operates as it always has.
What these fear-based erroneous perceptions and beliefs do affect (seeing as they stand in oppositon to love and truth) is our ability to connect with this power from within our own heart for the purpose of internal transformation, a spiritual processing through which our spiritual quality or essence matches that of THE ETERNALSOURCE.
2007-12-27 07:17:59 · answer #5 · answered by Sandra L. Butler 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Spirituality is the awareness of the transcendental. You may meet the transcendental in different ways such as through art or music. You can meet it meditation. You can be spiritual without being linked to a particular faith.
Faith is when a belief comes strong enough for you to make it you own and base your life on it. We tend to be narrower in the group with whom we share our faith than in the group with whom we share spirituality. Spirituality helps us relate. For instance I can relate to a Buddhist through a meditation when I wouldn't do it through theology.
2007-12-27 07:01:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our opinions are a reflection of our perception of this mystic law and regardless of how it is perceived ~ it is what it is.
I believe there are various ways of perceiving and understanding it. No one perception is accurate as it can not be thorougly understood in my opinion. Some may come close but I don't think the knowledge can be shared effectively as our man made languages would distort the truth of that wisdom. In other words ~ haha words ~ we can't funnel that knowledge into words as there are none to accurately describe it.
2007-12-27 06:57:33 · answer #7 · answered by No Chance Without Yo Mama 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe there is only ONE true God, who created all humans and creatures.
Religions are created to respect him and control our evil behavior and tendencies, sort of keep us straight. It is so powerful, it also attracted the evil, who tries to manipulate them.
What is a better way terrorists to destroy America, then dividing us into religious groups and start a "barrier" between them?
There is only one God who loves all his children regardless how they choose to praise him.
Learner
2007-12-27 07:20:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It`s alright if you`re an atheist as long as you follow your conscience. Spiritually, our conscience is God talking & reminding us always to do what`s good. You see, you`re not alone inside you. There are two of you. You & God. This will prove that there is indeed a God(Supersoul) & you(soul). Try & meditate on it.
2007-12-27 08:22:07 · answer #9 · answered by Drmelvin M 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Opinions only change the subjective realities of those who hold them, but the underlying "truth" or "reality" can't be chaned by a mere opinion..
2007-12-27 07:03:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋