What is meant by being "spiritual"?

[TheNoNamedOne]

Sometimes people, perhaps agnostics, atheists, or those with a vague belief in a generic God, will describe themselves as "non-believers" in any specific faith or religion, BUT may refer to themselves as "spiritual."

Without looking up the word in the dictionary, what does that word mean to you? Are you one of those who consider yourself spiritual but still a non-believer in anything specific as it regards God and religion?

How can one be spiritual but still yet a non-believer? Can an atheist be spiritual, or would that be a contradiction and oxymoron at its worse?

What is your intuition when you think about the word "spiritual"?

Even those of you who are Christian, Muslim, Hindhu, Bhudist etc... please join in.

[dk]

To me, if an athiest says they're an athiest but spiritual, it usually makes me think they're a confused athiest.

But then again, what do I know?

I personally don't believe that an athiest can be spiritual, but there's always the possibility that someone will post in here and open my mind right up.

I do believe that some people can be more sensative than others about their surroundings and that some things that we still don't understand can be mistaken for spirits. I don't have any answers, so I'll leave it at that for now.

[DougP]

What about someone like me who dislikes organized religion, isn't a "god" fearing man but still somewhat believes in karma? By karma I mean more or less what goes around comes around kinda thing.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I'm not sure, Doug. That is why I am asking the question. I tend to think there is some contradiction in the terms but would like some input on that.

Does your meaning of the word spiritual refer to your belief in Karma?

I'm not debating the point, just trying to collect the opinions of others on it. I sure don't have the right or perfect answer -- I think.

[dk]

What about someone like me who dislikes organized religion, isn't a "god" fearing man but still somewhat believes in karma? By karma I mean more or less what goes around comes around kinda thing.
I think "what goes around comes around" is pretty much common sense. If you're a total prick of a person and you treat everyone with disrespect, go out of your way to steal and rip off people, and just act like a terrible human being, 99 times out of 100 it'll eventually come around to bite you in the end.

On the other hand, if you live an honest life and treat people with respect, people will in turn respect you.

I see nothing religious or spiritual about that. It's just common sense.

There will always be that 1 out of 100 that gets lucky though.

[DougP]

Well honestly I don't know if I'm spiritual or not. I've been called many things in my life but spiritual isn't one of them. Then again I think the Japanese might be on to something with their whole ancestry thing, you know obon etc..

[Isaak Brodsky]

The Prosecutor poses some very good questions.

Firstly, it does seem as though any atheist or agnostic who would profess an awareness of or belief in a spirit would commit him or herself to a contradictory set of beliefs.

Please excuse the gross generalization, here, but it seems as though atheists would dispense immediately with any hint and, thus, any notion of a spiritual dimension - as it does not square with the predominantly positivistic worldview that atheists tend to hold. That is, any human experience beyond the objectively observable, quantifable, or measurable cannot possibly be verified and, thus, accepted as part of the general body of knowledge that we must all draw upon for daily survival.

Apart from these apparent truths, other truths confirmed through subjective experience must also be more closely examined. For example, I once witnessed a massive tanker traversing a very narrow stretch of the Panama Canal and was immediately moved by how ingenious engineers in the early part of the previous century must have been. Of course, the words I drew on to represent my impession of this marvelous wonder of steel moving across the water could not possibly do justice to the reality of what I saw, what I experienced.

This experience and the details that emerge in its description are entirely subjective and yet have a great deal of worth that contemporary science tends to reject, or see as invalid. (This point here represents an area as interesting as the original question posed in this thread. For more, see anything in the Philosophy of Science.)

To extend the point, if I am an atheist, I must test the theist to determine whether his or her accounts of extra dimensions figure reasonably into my own frames of understanding. Likewise, if I report my impression of my experience at the Panama Canal, I should expect some people to question whether the words I've chosen to represent that feeling of awe are actually literal. Any critical talk that closely examines spirituality must be accompanied by a mutal understanding of what spirituality means.

Sorry, this is the best I can do at midnight with an extra cup of red wine in me.

[socalheart]

Personally, I believe there is some greater force, if you will, in the universe that ties everything together. I'm not against calling it god and/or goddess. Giving it a name is just easier. I believe organised religion provides structure in many lives. I believe in fate, but not necessarily predetermined destiny. I believe time is fluid and that within it is constantly moving and changing. I believe karma is an active part of the life force. Regardless of what I call it, it's spiritual for me, because I make it part of my spirit.

I brought this up with my husband tonight briefly also. Part of the opening bit of Survivor: China had them all going to a Buddhist temple to "bless" the event and its participants. A female contestant vocally refused to participate, especially when they bowed. She basically said, she wasn't religious, but had a personal relationship with Jesus and God; and bowing in a Buddhist tempe was like worshipping Buddha, which was a false idol to her. So, I asked my husband how a person can not be religious and yet have a personal relationship with a religious icon such as God or Jesus.

I once met a young man who was a self-proclaimed Satanist who didn't believe in God. (o.O) Uhm...
Can someone who doesn't believe in any deity or spiritual entity or even in himself be considered spiritual? Afterall, if you don't believe in yourself, then how can you believe that you have a spirit?

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

A sense of the numinous. In other words, a sense of awe and wonder at the universe. Wanting to explore and learn everything one can about the natural world and nature. Human nature, animal nature, the earth, the stars. A healthy respect for what we have, and an interest in studying, not destroying it.

[Asshat]

I would call Ian's Panama Canal experience proof that he is spiritual....or that he was at that point. Doug too.

In addition to the issue with using a specific language to describe an emotion, the definition itself also lays with the individual to perceive himself, and the other individual to perceive another.

Thus spirituality is as definable as love.

The Japanese provide a great example and the direct antithesis of what Socalheart describes; the Japanese have the ability to believe in one thing, yet show respect (worship?) to another. Attend ginja on New Year's at the temple and note the throngs. Some of them are Buddhist, some of them are Christian. But all of them are Shinto.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I tend to believe that if one is an atheist or one does not believe in a God or spirit, then it is a contradiction to say one is spiritual. Therefore, it perplexes me when I hear people who claim to not believe in God or an afterlife to then claim to be spiritual. I think they are confused and just do not understand the root term of spritual i.e. spirit.

Perhaps a better term would be paraspiritual, drafting the "para" from "paranormal" for atheists and non-believers to describe something different than the actual term. I think that term could apply to something like dk and Eelecurb were hinting at.

I would then refer to paraspiritual as:

A sensitivity toward life that creates an awe-like feeling of respect for the inherent value of life and the constant search for answers to those questions not known.

[DougP]

Can you be partially spiritual? Like, say 60% spiritual. I mean more or less like how Tiger Woods can call him self black and asian.

Isn't it possible to believe in ancestor-spirits and such but not god or organized religion? And then what about those who just aren't sure?

[TheNoNamedOne]

Can you be partially spiritual? Like, say 60% spiritual. I mean more or less like how Tiger Woods can call him self black and asian.

Funny, Tiger!

I think if you are a little spiritual in the real sense of the word, no matter what percent, you are then spiritual. Can't be a little pregnant or a little dead, can you?

That is why I think a different term, I call paraspiritual, is needed for people who want to address a sense of mystery they feel to life but who do not believe in a spirit.

Isn't it possible to believe in ancestor-spirits and such but not god or organized religion?

Sure, then they should refer to themselves as spiritual. I don't see why they wouldn't if they have a reverence for the spirits of dead ancestors.

And then what about those who just aren't sure?

"Undecided" or "confused" would be good terms.

[DougP]

Well, I agree with what your saying. It makes sense. I don't mind being spiritual or being called spiritual. I think that some people, to include myself, often confuse it with being religious.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I don't mind being spiritual or being called spiritual. I think that some people, to include myself, often confuse it with being religious.

I think that is a good point, Doug. And I have seen others say the two are not the same before. Religion seems like an attempt to codify the spirit that you or perhaps others may refer to with dogma.