Being Spiritual

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I've got a question for everyone here. What does being "spiritual" mean? I can't count how many times I've heard the "I'm spiritual but not religious." canard, or some equivalent variant thereof. What does that mean? I've also informed people that I'm an atheist, and the immediate follow-up question is whether or not I'm at least "spiritual". What does THAT mean?

You see, I suspect that the word spiritual means whatever anyone wants it to mean at any time. It's a completely nebulous concept with no real definition to speak of. Kinda pointless, really.

What do you guys think? Does the word spiritual have a real meaning, or are my suspicions correct?

And let me guess, even this counts as flaming or trolling, doesn't it, mods? After all, you're so intent on getting rid of me, that you're willing to consider every action of mine a violation of your rules, aren't you?

[Lackadaisical2]

To me as not someone who describes themselves thusly, would have to say spiritual is having a vague feeling that 'something' is out there, but theres no set of beliefs to go with it.

And let me guess, even this counts as flaming or trolling, doesn't it, mods? After all, you're so intent on getting rid of me, that you're willing to consider every action of mine a violation of your rules, aren't you?

Your bitter tears taste wonderful.

[Imsogone]

I've got a question for everyone here. What does being "spiritual" mean? I can't count how many times I've heard the "I'm spiritual but not religious." canard, or some equivalent variant thereof. What does that mean? I've also informed people that I'm an atheist, and the immediate follow-up question is whether or not I'm at least "spiritual". What does THAT mean?

You see, I suspect that the word spiritual means whatever anyone wants it to mean at any time. It's a completely nebulous concept with no real definition to speak of. Kinda pointless, really.

What do you guys think? Does the word spiritual have a real meaning, or are my suspicions correct?

And let me guess, even this counts as flaming or trolling, doesn't it, mods? After all, you're so intent on getting rid of me, that you're willing to consider every action of mine a violation of your rules, aren't you?

If you get deeted, it'll be because of your last paragraph and not because of your rather interesting questions. You should really leave out questions of modly integrity.

As to spirituality - I'm an agnostic, I consider myself a spiritual person because, as far as I can see, you require neither religion nor deity to go on a spiritual quest - Buddhists (who, strictly speaking, have no deity) and Taoists both are spiritual and espouse a life of meditation and spiritual quest. In point of fact, I think religion gets in the way of any spiritual growth, bound around as it is by rules and regulations.

[Jordaxia]

I've got a question for everyone here. What does being "spiritual" mean? I can't count how many times I've heard the "I'm spiritual but not religious." canard, or some equivalent variant thereof. What does that mean? I've also informed people that I'm an atheist, and the immediate follow-up question is whether or not I'm at least "spiritual". What does THAT mean?

You see, I suspect that the word spiritual means whatever anyone wants it to mean at any time. It's a completely nebulous concept with no real definition to speak of. Kinda pointless, really.

What do you guys think? Does the word spiritual have a real meaning, or are my suspicions correct?

And let me guess, even this counts as flaming or trolling, doesn't it, mods? After all, you're so intent on getting rid of me, that you're willing to consider every action of mine a violation of your rules, aren't you?

I've always been of the conclusion that when someone is asked if they're 'spiritual' it means if they believe that there is more to this world than its material components, some sort of 'higher destiny' for people to achieve, even if not necessarily attached to an organised religion. It is by definition nebulous because 'spirituality' is often defined by what it's not. It's not materialistic, it's not atheist, it's not theist. It is in its purest form a sense of mystery at the gaps in our knowledge and the belief we'd be losing something inalieable by filling them in. I consider spirituality nonsense, but I can see how the belief is pervasive by those who don't want to think life is all there is.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

To me as not someone who describes themselves thusly, would have to say spiritual is having a nebulous feeling that 'something' is out there, but theres no set of beliefs to go with it.

I snipped your bullshit.

But what does it mean to say "something" is out there? What kind of something, and out where? I think galaxies are outside of the Milky Way, but that's not it, right?

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I've always been of the conclusion that when someone is asked if they're 'spiritual' it means if they believe that there is more to this world than its material components, some sort of 'higher destiny' for people to achieve, even if not necessarily attached to an organised religion. It is by definition nebulous because 'spirituality' is often defined by what it's not. It's not materialistic, it's not atheist, it's not theist. It is in its purest form a sense of mystery at the gaps in our knowledge and the belief we'd be losing something inalieable by filling them in. I consider spirituality nonsense, but I can see how the belief is pervasive by those who don't want to think life is all there is.

What does it mean to be immaterial? Does it mean to not be made of matter and energy?

[Ausgebombt]

Spiritual is just being open to different religions and their views without subscribing to any of the religion's specific ideologies.

[Imsogone]

To me as not someone who describes themselves thusly, would have to say spiritual is having a nebulous feeling that 'something' is out there, but theres no set of beliefs to go with it.

I snipped your bullshit.

But what does it mean to say "something" is out there? What kind of something, and out where? I think galaxies are outside of the Milky Way, but that's not it, right?

The Taoist/Bhuddist/Transcendental spiritual quest is more in the nature of a "going within" rather than a seeking of another. You look for your true self and go beyond your true self to a higher plane that transcends self, but it is not necessarily in the nature of finding deity or "something out there".

[Jordaxia]

I've always been of the conclusion that when someone is asked if they're 'spiritual' it means if they believe that there is more to this world than its material components, some sort of 'higher destiny' for people to achieve, even if not necessarily attached to an organised religion. It is by definition nebulous because 'spirituality' is often defined by what it's not. It's not materialistic, it's not atheist, it's not theist. It is in its purest form a sense of mystery at the gaps in our knowledge and the belief we'd be losing something inalieable by filling them in. I consider spirituality nonsense, but I can see how the belief is pervasive by those who don't want to think life is all there is.

What does it mean to be immaterial? Does it mean to not be made of matter and energy?

Such is my perception. People have often described the soul as energy, but the invisible kind of undetectable energy.

[Maurepas]

You ever see Bleach? It's kind of like that.

[Ausgebombt]

You ever see Bleach? It's kind of like that.

Being spiritual has nothing to do with being bisexual.

[Lackadaisical2]

To me as not someone who describes themselves thusly, would have to say spiritual is having a nebulous feeling that 'something' is out there, but theres no set of beliefs to go with it.

I snipped your bullshit.

If you didn't want BS, you probably shouldn't have left your own in there, eh?

But what does it mean to say "something" is out there? What kind of something, and out where? I think galaxies are outside of the Milky Way, but that's not it, right?

Some sort of supernatural thing, could be external or internal, depends on the person I suppose. No, thats probably not it.

[Maurepas]

You ever see Bleach? It's kind of like that.

Being spiritual has nothing to do with being bisexual.

Hmmm...I never got that interpretation out of it, weird.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Being spiritual has nothing to do with being bisexual.

Hey, I'll here none of that talk! Kenpachi Zaraki is the manliest man I've ever seen!

[Ausgebombt]

Being spiritual has nothing to do with being bisexual.

Hey, I'll here none of that talk! Kenpachi Zaraki is the manliest man I've ever seen!

LIES! I'VE SEEN THE FANFICS! I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES! DON'T YOU LIE TO ME!

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

If you didn't want BS, you probably shouldn't have left your own in there, eh?

It's not bullshit. I have lots of enemies that want nothing more than to see me gone.

Some sort of supernatural thing, could be external or internal, depends on the person I suppose. No, thats probably not it.

What's "supernatural" though? What does it mean to be above or even outside of nature?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Maybe we should start by separating 'religious spirituality' from 'secular spirituality'. The latter is an adherence to spirituality without shackling it to a religious frame.

Secular spirituality in principle might embrace many of the same types of practices as religious spirituality, but the motivation is different. Clearly, since beliefs are radically different from those found in most religious spiritual traditions, 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_spirituality

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Such is my perception. People have often described the soul as energy, but the invisible kind of undetectable energy.

Then it's not energy. Any energy that an object has would affect it's mass. If it doesn't, then it isn't energy. This, of course, begs the question, what the hell is it?

[Maurepas]

Such is my perception. People have often described the soul as energy, but the invisible kind of undetectable energy.

Then it's not energy. Any energy that an object has would affect it's mass. If it doesn't, then it isn't energy. This, of course, begs the question, what the hell is it?

Not to come off as being a dick, but, it isn't real in the scientific sense, and you're wasting your time trying to understand it as such.

[Lackadaisical2]

If you didn't want BS, you probably shouldn't have left your own in there, eh?

It's not bullshit. I have lots of enemies that want nothing more than to see me gone.

Now you just sound paranoid, but some people probably don't like you much.

Some sort of supernatural thing, could be external or internal, depends on the person I suppose. No, thats probably not it.

What's "supernatural" though? What does it mean to be above or even outside of nature?

Yes. I know you hate that word, but I'd explain it as being outside the normal laws that govern the universe, or perhaps having no laws at all.

[Barringtonia]

I would say that it merely needs to be something that pertains to the spirit, which may just be a construct of emotions but, hell, sometimes one feels a part of something larger than oneself, and it can be wondrous,

Mostly that feeling has come on ecstasy in open-field dance parties but I say it's still valid damn you,

[Jordaxia]

Such is my perception. People have often described the soul as energy, but the invisible kind of undetectable energy.

Then it's not energy. Any energy that an object has would affect it's mass. If it doesn't, then it isn't energy. This, of course, begs the question, what the hell is it?

Some kind of unobtanium desposit that resides in an unknown part of the body (people are unsure if it's the gut, heart or brain that, upon death sublimes, exiting the dead person in their last breath - of course, being unobtanium, we have no way of detecting it, as, like neutrinos, it tends to fly straight through detection equipment. Eventually, Cern will kill someone in the LHC as a way of trying to detect this unobtanium, as it's hypothesised that HUMAN SOULS actually contain the mythic Higgs-boson, meaning in our own way, we are ALL god.

[Maurepas]

If you didn't want BS, you probably shouldn't have left your own in there, eh?

It's not bullshit. I have lots of enemies that want nothing more than to see me gone.

When I was 20 I cared so much as to what others thought about me
When I was 40 I decided not to care at all what others thought about me
When I was 60 I realised no one was actually thinking too much of me in the first place

Abridged from an original I can never find, but I love that saying,

Actually, you'd be surprised,

[Barringtonia]

If you didn't want BS, you probably shouldn't have left your own in there, eh?

It's not bullshit. I have lots of enemies that want nothing more than to see me gone.

When I was 20 I cared so much as to what others thought about me
When I was 40 I decided not to care at all what others thought about me
When I was 60 I realised no one was actually thinking too much of me in the first place

Abridged from an original I can never find, but I love that saying,

Actually, you'd be surprised,

Damn your speedy response times,

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Now you just sound paranoid, but some people probably don't like you much.

Just because I have a slight tendency toward schizoid personality behaviors doesn't mean I'm wrong here.

Yes. I know you hate that word, but I'd explain it as being outside the normal laws that govern the universe, or perhaps having no laws at all.

Having no laws? Laws are basically just descriptive constructs.