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+--- Thread: Secular spirituality (/thread-4987.html)
Secular spirituality - Magical Realist - Mar 8, 2018
I guess I have a secular spirituality as far as the ethical aspects of emphasizing human compassion and individual self-betterment. But I also lend credence to a certain mystical dimension to reality that transcends the everyday material world and informs and describes the destiny of mankind in general and ourselves in particular. No God mind you. Just a sort of vast overarching Unity/Tao that orchestrates everything towards a harmonious more creative state.
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"Secular spirituality is the adherence to a spiritual philosophy without adherence to a religion. Secular spirituality emphasizes the personal development of the individual, rather than a relationship with the divine. Secular spirituality is made up of the search for meaning outside of a religious institution; it considers one's relationship with the self, others, nature, and whatever else one considers to be the ultimate. Often, the goal of secular spirituality is living happily and/or helping others.
According to Robert C. Solomon, an American Professor of Philosophy, "spirituality is coextensive with religion and it is not incompatible with or opposed to science or the scientific outlook. Naturalized spirituality is spirituality without any need for the 'other‐worldly'. Spirituality is one of the goals, perhaps the ultimate goal, of philosophy." Cornel W Du Toit, head of the Research Institute for Theology and Religion at the University of South Africa, suggests secular spirituality is unique in that it adapts so well to modern world views, and is therefore compatible with other modern beliefs and ways of life, building community through shared experiences of "awe". Peter Van der Veer also argues an important aspect of secular spirituality is its promotion of community, creating solidarity through shared universal truth. This 'universal truth' can be experienced through a secular or non-religious world view, without the need for a concept of 'higher power' or a 'supernatural being'.
Instances of secular spirituality are mediated differently, as instances of awe can be encouraged through a diversity of unique environments and situations. In the 21st century, individuals increasingly connect with the secularly spiritual through technology. As follows, the connection between contemporary spiritual practices and technology is deepening profoundly. Some traditionally religious practices have been adapted by secular practitioners under strictly spiritual understandings, such as yoga and mindfulness meditation. Secular spirituality affects education, relationships to nature, and community togetherness."---- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_spirituality
"A secular spirituality, far from being an oxymoron, brings heaven down to earth, and encourages everyone to be their own priest. It bows in recognition of the extraordinary mystery that we are living in this very moment, without packaging it up in a neat bow of explanation. Bowing in a gesture of wonder and awe, not to any god or deity, but, as W.S. Merwin says in his poem, For The Anniversary of My Death, bowing not knowing to what."--- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-housden/secular-spirituality-an-oxymoron_b_1211837.html
RE: Secular spirituality - confused2 - Mar 10, 2018
I suggest that we (as humans) have a metaphorical cup - henceforth just 'cup'. If the cup is full we are happy and if it is empty we are sad. It can take a lifetime (or longer) to find out what fills that cup and what empties it. I need to make things - it took me a long time to find that out. I've been to church services - I sense the buzz - but I don't belong there and it doesn't fill my cup. Quite by chance I found that being on a roof with seagulls is a major cup-filler for me.
RE: Secular spirituality - elte - Mar 10, 2018
(Mar 10, 2018 12:37 AM)confused2 Wrote: I suggest that we (as humans) have a metaphorical cup - henceforth just 'cup'. If the cup is full we are happy and if it is empty we are sad. It can take a lifetime (or longer) to find out what fills that cup and what empties it. I need to make things - it took me a long time to find that out. I've been to church services - I sense the buzz - but I don't belong there and it doesn't fill my cup. Quite by chance I found that being on a roof with seagulls is a major cup-filler for me.
That is a bit like me--trying to make things, but that I think out the design of despite it being a considerable challenge. And church isn't for me. I've never felt comfortable there.
RE: Secular spirituality - confused2 - Mar 11, 2018
I might have just had an epiphany. In all of us (?) there is a being - probably a hunter gatherer - a being we can't communicate with via speech because it predates speech by many millions of years - but it is there.
RE: Secular spirituality - Syne - Mar 11, 2018
It's cute to watch secular people trying to be spiritual, as if they even understand the concept.
RE: Secular spirituality - Magical Realist - Mar 11, 2018
And it's just sad to watch a theist confuse spirituality with groveling before an invisible all-powerful ghost king.
RE: Secular spirituality - confused2 - Mar 11, 2018
(Mar 11, 2018 02:41 AM)Syne Wrote: It's cute to watch secular people trying to be spiritual, as if they even understand the concept.Not so sure about the "cute" but I accept that I don't understand why people would want to mutilate their sons and daughters as a spiritual act.
RE: Secular spirituality - Syne - Mar 11, 2018
(Mar 11, 2018 03:36 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: And it's just sad to watch a theist confuse spirituality with groveling before an invisible all-powerful ghost king.A god doesn't need worship, so no groveling here. Thanks for illustrating how little you understand about spirituality though.
(Mar 11, 2018 04:49 AM)confused2 Wrote:"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks."(Mar 11, 2018 02:41 AM)Syne Wrote: It's cute to watch secular people trying to be spiritual, as if they even understand the concept.Not so sure about the "cute" but I accept that I don't understand why people would want to mutilate their sons and daughters as a spiritual act.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/circumcision/about/pac-20393550
I don't think any credible medical organization says anything similar about female genital mutilation.
But we're talking about spirituality, not religion.
RE: Secular spirituality - Leigha - Sep 2, 2019
So, the term ''spirituality'' here is defined as staying true to one's self? Relating to the human spirit?
Spirituality for me, doesn't have anything to do with a religion per se, but I believe in God. That said, the term spirituality has expanded to mean different things to different people. It could even be considered a philosophy, now.
RE: Secular spirituality - Syne - Sep 2, 2019
(Sep 2, 2019 02:38 AM)Leigha Wrote: That said, the term spirituality has expanded to mean different things to different people.
Isn't that one of the primary objections atheists have with god? That the term "god" means different things to different people.
If so, it's inconsistent for an atheist to accept that from their own conception of spirituality while criticizing it about the concept of god.