David

I am “conscience vs conscious” challenged by way of autospell, LOL

And your cat shows us we are not that special at all. There is a gradiant of self-awareness and levels of consciences too. Neanderthals and early homonids may have been “spiritual” by our definition. Crows, great apes and elephants seem to mourn. Perhaps they have a small degree of spirituality. Cats may not have that level, but who knows for sure?

_Robert_ wrote:
The idea that we are simply electro-chemical machines made of meat doesn’t sit well with most. There has to be more, right? Billions of living creatures have come and gone with no trace of their existence or at best, barely a trace. Some diluted chromosomes if they managed to have offspring. Is that it? To reproduce? Is that the m…

[Read more]

The idea that we are simply electro-chemical machines made of meat doesn’t sit well with most. There has to be more, right?

Billions of living creatures have come and gone with no trace of their existence or at best, barely a trace. Some diluted chromosomes if they managed to have offspring. Is that it? To reproduce? Is that the meaning to life?…[Read more]

Thank you, Simon.  Framework  offers a starting point.  I’ve been building alone with the framework of atheism for a decade now. For some reason I never thought to go online and meet similars.  I’m glad I did.

@Unseen

It’s development and evolution…and you know, maybe spiritual isn’t the best word to describe it. But it is I am choosing to describe it, nevertheless, to help others more understand what I am searching for.

I want to print it off to be a bit more thorough in my reading and to be able to make notes.

No worries!  You could say it provides both a connection to nature and a connection to something greater than oneself.  The way to access it is to put the right conditions in place, and nature does the rest.  When I “discovered” it, I had to have a long li…[Read more]

I recognize I’m part of something far far bigger than me, the Cosmos, and that that likely is also part of something far far bigger than itself, which we call the multiverse. And who knows if that might not itself be part of some larger something. All this does is make me realize how insignificant I am and maybe how insignificant the Cosmos is.…[Read more]

Ivy wrote:
Translation: Any word with the word spirit makes atheists uncomfortable, can you please change to accommodate? So typical

I’m not squirming in discomfort. What in the world about the notion of spirituality would make me feel discomfort?

You’re engaging in armchair psychology without a license.

Do you believe in ghosts or souls? Are…[Read more]

@simonpaynton

Throughout my life I’ve used many different types of crutches. I’m 35 now with a little more wisdom and still a lot left to gain. I am ready for a stronger more long term crutch. I have spent part of the morning reading over the Healing Principle. I want to print it off to be a bit more thorough in my reading and to be able to make…[Read more]

We all need crutches.  Life’s full of crutches as far as I’m concerned.  The important thing is choosing the right ones, and treating them in the right way.  Some crutches are harmful, and some are beneficial if we go about it the right way.

@Jody

I need a crutch

It’s not a crutch. And the people who might say it is a crutch are stupid and don’t what they are talking about.

I am enjoying the differences if opinion. I AM seeking a connection to something greater and I know that exists through the energy of living matter. I mean…our human transformation alone is proof. “We are all made of stardust. ” Right? I want to use this to design a logical spiritual (no Unseen, I choose to use this term now solely to annoy you,…[Read more]

I’ve heard it spoken of in a military-battlefield context as simply “relating to well-being”.

What is this spirituality of which you speak?

One of its meanings is “self-transformation for the better”.  Another usage is “connection to something greater than oneself”.

So, maybe you’d be better off using a different word than “spiritual.” Can you think of a less-charged synonym?

Translation: Any word with the word spirit makes atheists uncomfortable, can you please change to accommodate?

So typical

(Sigh, 🙄)

Jody Lee wrote:
So, I don’t believe in creationism. No deity for me. However, I have an unfulfilled desire for some type of spirituality. Is this a humanistic, natural need?

What is this spirituality of which you speak? If you didn’t have it,  what would that mean? I think the problem for atheists is the word “spirit” which is a synonym for “s…[Read more]

If you have any questions or anything, let me know.

This is my version of spirituality, based on evolution.  It’s probably not for everyone because it’s highly systematic, but it works for me.  The first part links morality and spirituality, and the “spiritual” parts are then the later entries in the menu.