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Anything goes secular spirituality thread Wow...does that make any sense? Secular spirituality? I don't know... :) ANYWAYS... Here it is: a place to speak about what spirituality means to you, if anything at all. This can be in regards to recovery or day to day living. Sometimes when I hear or see the word "spirit" I view it in a religious context. Other times it reminds me of a cheer: "We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit...how ‘bout you?" …anywho… I used to be a Christian (if I have to go by a label now, I'll say I'm an agnostic atheist), and I was spiritual as a Christian, so I do have experience with spirituality (at least within the context of my experience of Christianity…and it is very difficult to explain what it felt like). At the time, I believed it came from my belief in the divine--now, I think that it came from my mind....but what an amazing thing the mind is! There is a ton we don't know about the human brain... Now.....I don't have the door completely shut to the possibility of spirituality--that’s the reason I started this thread. There are people here who are spiritual but DON'T believe in a personal god. I’m very interested in reading what these folks have to say, but everyone is welcome to comment, of course. Have at it! |
Well... if there is some kind of supernatural realm or dimension, I ain't seen evidence of it. But, my gf makes me watch Ghost Hunters quite often... http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sp...smiley-020.gif |
Ghost Hunters....what network is that on? I like watching the UFO shows and whatnot on History and the Discovery Channel. |
Bamboozle, are you familiar with the Law of Attraction? Seems to be spiritual and secular at the same time. That's what I have off the top of head for the moment. I'm leaving that other stuff at the bottom of my head alone for now! |
Originally Posted by joinedintime
(Post 2090732)
Bamboozle, are you familiar with the Law of Attraction? Why doesn't that work for money? ;) Wait a minute....it does, but always in a negative sense. Argh!!!!!! |
Originally Posted by joinedintime
(Post 2090732)
That's what I have off the top of head for the moment. I'm leaving that other stuff at the bottom of my head alone for now! Anytime you want to say more, go ahead. I love this subject...I don't know why. :wavey: |
Originally Posted by Bamboozle
(Post 2090730)
Ghost Hunters....what network is that on? |
Originally Posted by doorknob
(Post 2090724)
Well... if there is some kind of supernatural realm or dimension, I ain't seen evidence of it. to me, spirituality is kinda opposite to selfishness. Everyone i know who's on a spiritual journey, either through a religion or not, is sort of seeking a similar thing. Getting away from selfishness and greed, going towards generosity and kindness. I sort of look at my recovery as part of a spiritual journey too - although i don't attach anything supernatural to it. A rational spiritual journey perhaps! There is some really interesting stuff that goes on in meditation for example. I don't doubt that there is a rational explanation for it, something to do with blurring the subject / object duality, it encourages this feeling of one-ness with everything, quite amazing really. I don't think understanding something, or believing that there is a rational explanation for it. takes anything away from it. |
Also, i thoroughly recommend "the end of faith" by sam harris... Although the bit where he seems to condone torture makes me uncomfortable, it's still a very good book - but the idea of rational / atheist spirituality made me think of the last couple of chapters - chapter 6 "a science of good and evil", and chapter 7 "experiments in consciousness". :) |
I'm a huge hip hop head, and I went nutz when I first heard this dude... Greydon Square - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia You can hear a lot of his music on his MySpace page. |
Looks really interesting mate, i'm keen to hear his stuff - in town tomorrow, so will have a look for some cd's... Richard Dawkins is a fan? Just can't imagine him playing hip hop! :eek: |
I just spent almost 2 hours watching a debate on the existance of god...I found it based upon your link, DK. I can't go to sleep. |
Geez...now I'm gonna have to find his album. I can listen to that. |
I need to sleep... |
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I am an atheist and believe when you are dead you are dead. I really like Spark's take on this. Spirituality is a quest to be a better person. By being a better person you connect, in small ways, to other humans or animals and that enhances your sense of well being. By working towards being more selfless than selfish one can experience that connectivity and thus become more at peade with the world. Thanks for helping me clarify things for myself Spark. I am not a deep thinker. I prefer to keep things light and amusing. |
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Windy...did you draw that? :lmao |
Nope, I'm not a good drawer. I do have clean drawers though. |
I have a problem. I can't define what spirituality means to me. Spirituality: This term is defined quite differently by monotheists, polytheists, humanists, followers of new age, Native Americans, etc. A common meaning is "devotion to metaphysical matters, as opposed to worldly things." Another is "Activities which renew, lift up, comfort, heal and inspire both ourselves and those with whom we interact." "Being spiritual" may aim towards: * simultaneously improving one's wisdom and willpower. * achieving a closer connection to Deity. * developing a connection between one's self and the natural world * removing illusions or "false ideas" at the sensory, feeling and thinking aspects of a person. I like all of these but I like this one from Wikipedia the most. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Secular spirituality as a cultural phenomenon refers to the adherence to a spiritual ideology without the advocation of a religious framework. Secular spirituality in principle might embrace many of the the same types of practices as religious spirituality, but the motivation is different. Clearly, since belief and dogma are absent, the emphasis is likely to be on practice rather than belief and on the inner peace of the individual rather than on a relationship with the divine. Proponents make a case for a form of secular spirituality in which the motivation is simply to live happily, which demonstrates how such a motivation can lead to a spiritual life based on the development of qualities very like those prized by many religions. |
Have any of you read this book? Lost Art of Being Happy: Spirituality for Sceptics: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Wilkinson: Books I'm thinking of checking it out. |
I should write a book. "Simple Like Me - A Dumb@ss Guide to Bumbling Through Recovery" or "Recovery Idiot" or "12 Steps to Knuckleheadedness" |
My signature line sums it up for me my attraction to the secular forum. You have to have more tools in your toolbox than religion. No God is going to help me if I don't frickin' help myself. I don't know if anyone ever gets this about my sig below, but that is what it is all about. |
dgillz, didn't get the connection to religion but that makes sense as a way to interpret the quote. friendly suggestion: how about a Swiss army knife for an avatar and then see if anyone gets the connection between that and your sig line |
“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.” ~ Alan Watts http://moodymommy.files.wordpress.co...ato_head10.jpg |
I used to say that it didn't matter to me if anything was "out there" because I didn't believe that it was my job while here to figure that out. Im a good person so either way, no worries. However I have realized in the past week or so that I do in fact want to have a grasp on what exactly I feel is going on with this whole life thing, I need to for my own peace of mind at LEAST to explore and study the different possibilities that others have put out there. I do feel spiritual...but..... Im not sure where to direct that energy. I used to be a christian....when I stopped believing what was being taught I left the church. I know I made the right decision for me....however its like there is this hole now where that was in my life. There was a certainty about it all, I was so convinced that it was the right way to go and it was so comfortable for a time. Knowing that all those people in the room believed what I did gave me a sense of community that I had never felt before and still havent found anywhere else. It was total acceptance and you had something very profound in common with all these people. Can you imagine walking into a room of 500 people and feeling that each one of them accepted you just where you were...not only accepted you but loved you, and know that all of you share the same foundation?.. so to speak. Hmmm maybe I will never feel that way again. Maybe I will never be so sure about it all....maybe I will just have to get comfortable with not knowing...cause ultimately....I never will while Im here..... |
Philosophy; questions that may never be answered... Religion; answers that may never be questioned... |
I actually don't care if you call it philosophy, religion or green beans :lmao I really like this thread and am enjoying reading it very much...others are expressing parts of my expereince a whole lot better tthan i can. Sparkey!!!! You are really really getting on my nerves...I'm never gonna get all these books read :a108: :ghug3 |
Ah it's not my intention to get on anyone's nerves! All i meant was that whilst it can be comforting that religion provides answers, it's a false comfort... perhaps the hole left by religion can be filled with the more rational enterprise of philosophy, although it means sometimes you don't get answers, and often people won't all agree... :) but like i said before i do think that a spiritual path need not be an irrational or supernatural one... The pursuit of happiness for happiness' sake, moving away from greed and selfishness, towards generosity and kindness, connecting with fellow living beings, exploring the nature of consciousness through meditation, using meditation to develop positive mental qualities, and so on... I see these things as spiritual, but i also see them as rational... |
exactly sparkey :) (i was just teasing with the nerves comment..sorry i forget you can't see me smile on the internet) |
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