Reply To: Spiritual atheist.

[SteveInCO]

Having read the replies, it seems like we need a new word.

I use “spiritual” for this sort of thing, very, very, guardedly, amongst people who will either understand what I mean in the first place, or who will give me time to explain what I mean without going “whoop! whoop! whoop! He really believes in God deep down!!! He just said so!!! Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!”

I will sometimes use “soul” in similar fashion to describe whatever it is, the conscious process, that makes you “you” and not an oblivious bit of meat with no self-awareness, again with anti-“whoop! whoop! whoop!” precautions in place. Because as crappy as that word is, I don’t know a better one.

I’ve found most atheists who know I’m one as well have little difficulty understanding what I’m getting at. We’ve mutually agreed to cross out the baggage.