For some time it has occurred to me that there should be a thread for those of us who consider ourselves to be reflective, spiritual beings without a conviction or belief in a god.
for those of us who consider ourselves to be reflective, spiritual beings without a conviction or belief in a god.
Bingo. Jazzer I love you.reflective, spiritual beings without a conviction or belief in a god.
Bingo. Jazzer I love you.
What's that ???
Lol don't worry we're only half a century apart in ageYou too Manny !
(....er.....people might start talking?)
Does that mean you just water your plants while listening to some traditional eastern music or something?
Being "spiritual" is just LARPing
I was brought up in a church (Salvation Army) from zero to age eighteen.
I heard squillions of sermons, billions of hymns, countless prayers.
In a pain of crippling infant neglect I prayed for help endlessly.
"Dear God, if you exist, please put your loving arms around me - hold me - help me to feel your presence with me in my life - please - please - please - I have nobody - I need you."
There were endless tears - they flowed for ever.
Four years ago I woke up with severe chronic Tinnitus.
Don't you think I prayed.
I prayed my very guts out.
"God - for Christ' sake help me !!!"
At no time did I hear "a small still voice."
At no time did I ever feel a godly presence with me.
Throughout 76 years of trying.........NOTHING.
I do not believe in an all knowing, all powerful, all loving god.
Why would I ??
I know what you mean. It wasn't overnight that I lost my faith and became agnostic, but it was more of a process.
I don't normally care to debate philosophy or religion with other people because if it helps them and it's not harming anyone in the process then who am I to take that hope away from them?
For what it's worth, I have seen religion help people get through tough times. I think the primary utility of religion is how it affects the lives of those who believe it and how it affects the lives around those who believe it. For some it's a net positive, for others it's a negative.
For me, there's no difference between spiritual and religious. I'm simply unable to believe in the supernatural. It doesn't matter if it's God or spirits or souls. I wish I could believe in the supernatural. I think people who believe have something to cling to in bad times. But I can't make myself believe. I've tried. So I'm stuck being a purely material creature in a purely material universe just waiting for my unique consciousness to be snuffed out forever and hoping my life doesn't suck too much before that happens.For some time it has occurred to me that there should be a thread for those of us who consider ourselves to be reflective, spiritual beings without a conviction or belief in a god.
For me, there's no difference between spiritual and religious. I'm simply unable to believe in the supernatural. It doesn't matter if it's God or spirits or souls. I wish I could believe in the supernatural. I think people who believe have something to cling to in bad times. But I can't make myself believe. I've tried. So I'm stuck being a purely material creature in a purely material universe just waiting for my unique consciousness to be snuffed out forever and hoping my life doesn't suck too much before that happens.
I can not just decide to "believe" in god.
You are definitely not "a purely material creature, SM - you'll just have to take my word for it." xx
If you you have love and empathy for others, you are spiritual, as that transcends selfishness.