Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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TB90-please dont leave. When I'm running, hiking in the woods or dancing when nobody's watching, I feel free. I don't call it spiritual but it makes me feel better. I enjoy your posts. I learn a lot from you. You make me think. Don't leave because of a debate over spirituality. I know plenty of people who are atheist who have a spiritual connection. I respect that. Sometimes I think we beat ourselves up over semantics.
Ananada- thank you.
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spiritual atheist, me too
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Magic - that stanza rings so true for me especially after cancer. I want to let my health be a mindfulness bell, calling me back to this moment, and to revel in being part of the natural world.
Jo - wow, you’ve certainly had people say some insulting things to you! I’ll pray for you anyway? WTF? And a quick perusal of these boards will show you that cancer strikes plenty of people who were deeply religious. I truly don’t mind people saying they’re keeping me in their prayers, but not when they are being mean-spirited. Seems like the people you are describing use their religion as a weapon. I hope your nephew recovers (in spite of he prayers).
TB - I’m also a spiritual atheist. My connections to others and the world bring me great joy and peace. I think it’s okay that some of us on this thread consider ourselves spiritual and some don’t use that word for themselves. What binds us is a lack of belief in supernatural beings. So, stay!
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Well said, I don't think of myself as spiritual and I don't get it but I think it is a beautiful thing and I admire those who have it. Perhaps even jealous. I have peace and feel free so maybe I do have a spiritual side and just don't recognize it due to past experience. The wonderful women on this thread are thought provoking and challenging, I am enjoying it.
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Wanderweg, you stated it beautifully: “I want to let my health be a mindfulness bell, calling me back to this moment, and to revel in being part of the natural world.”
Magiclight, thanks for the Mary Oliver poems. I was not familiar with her work but have read many tributes this past week. Exquisite poetry.
Nan, I have read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. A compelling story about African missionaries and religious fanaticism. It reminds me of Uneducated, a gripping memoir by Tara Westover.
Jo, it is shocking to hear what some people have said to you. Best wishes for your nephew’s recovery.
I don’t have a problem with gentle Christianity at all. I can think of several Christiians I know who are liberal, tolerant, generous and all round lovely people. But we never discuss their God or the goddesses for that matter.
It’s self righteous extremism that causes harm. This level of zealotry damages families and leads to war.
TB90, don’t go. I appreciate your input too!
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I am too a person who does feel like I am “spiritual” but not religious. I love this thread because it has helped me develop more deeply my thoughts about “what” and “who” I am.
I am not a Jesus person or a bible person or a Torah person or an Allah person or an extremist and that’s for certain for certain.
I DO believe in love and the power of love to heal. Maybe love is my “religion” as one of the Marley sons sings!
I have seen the incredible healing powers of love and kindness and compassion through and through time and time again.
I have been victim to extremists religious violence and it took a long time to heal from that trauma. It was so full of anger and pain and hatred.
Nature is my “sanctuary.” I find peace and calm in nature. I feel “connected” to all beings in nature. More so when no other humans are around oddly 😂
I was just snorkeling alone in the Caribbean Sea a couple weeks ago and felt the deepest sense of inner calm and elated joy at the same time. If it weren’t for the sun burning my back and my stomach crying out for lunch, I could’ve stayed out there all day just pondering the sea life. For me, this felt like a spiritual experience. And so I think that to me, spiritual means feeling an inner calm and peace and interconnectedness with life.
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Agree with many posts here and have loved reading them as I can really connect to them. And yes Poisonwood Bible is an incredible book! But I just want to be sure so as not to offend anyone - can we discuss spirituality on this thread ( it looks like it) or should we talk about that on the other thread - spiritual but not religious? I really want to participate and don’t want to offend anyone. Please let me know.
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There is a thread on Spirituality outside of religion that seems to be for theists who do not adhere to a religious sect. On the other hand, when I searched for the term spirituality, this thread was frequently listed. As an atheist participator, I'd like to keep this thread for atheist as per the title. I tend to use the word consciousness without a theistic bent whereas spiritual tends to have religious overtones. Just this one woman's ideas.
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Anyone who is an atheist with BC-- whether you have spiritual leanings or not-- post away!
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Thanks for the feedback. I guess I will post here - I really like this topic and discussion. I did move over to the other thread but there’s not much discussion there. I guess the sticking point is how to define spirituality. Not religious to me at all, there is no doctrine, it is non-theist, no church, a variety of beliefs,etc It seems many of us connect spirituality to nature and the universe. Pretty amazing planet we have
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I agree with Santabarbarian - seems like anyone who is an atheist fits here, whether they have spiritual leanings or not. Especially since it sounds like everyone who does describe themselves as spiritual seems to be talking about nature and connection and love. No need for a deity for those things.
LovefromPhilly - We had a trip planned to Aruba when I was diagnosed. My BS told us to go ahead and go, and scheduled me form my BMX the Monday after we got back. We snorkeled three of the days we were there and it was the only time I was able to set aside my awareness of what was ahead and just be fully in an amazing natural place. The feeling of floating just above astoundingly colorful fish was definitely what I think of as spiritual. It was blissful and I felt so grateful that I was able to experience that.
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wanderweg- being from Tennessee you should be well aware how serious Southerners take their religion. For the most part people are really good. They don't generally shove their religion down my throat and we have mutual respect. There are a few individuals who are very judgemental. Today went very well. When I was asked to join the prayer circle I declined and only one person gave me a nasty look. My nephew is doing very poorly. He is severely jaundiced. This afternoon a liver biopsy was done. He went in for emergency gallbladder removal and everything started going out of whack within 12 hours post-op. No signs of infection. He is only receiving IV Saline. AST, ALT, liver enzymes and bilirubin are extremely high. He does not drink alcohol or take drugs. Coincidence or so we're waiting for the results of the Doppler and the liver biopsy. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes.
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Jo - I do indeed - this is true Bible Belt territory. And it can be really oppressive. I'm so sorry for your nephew. Rather than a prayer, I'll be holding him in my heart and hoping things turn around for him.
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I think I do belong here after all! Spirituality means to me an overwhelming feeling of happiness, a connectiveness and sheer joy. Often lasts just a moment, but is so memorable. I never attribute anything supernatural to this. It is an experience that is profound and special. It is spiritual, stimulating my psychological wellbeing. I also believe animals are spiritual, they too experience emotions. Spirituality may mean more to others and I respect that. Both definitions exist in the dictionary. Many words have several meanings. I actually think we all agree. Lets just accept the meaning as per the intentions of the writer. Advice I too need to heed.
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TB90- yes you belong. We should all grasp those moments of joy. Life is complicated enough. I most definitely attribute emotions to my pets. I am going to go hug a pet and try to relax. It's been a very stressful day. It's time to work on my psychological well being. Good night all.
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I have no objection to the use of the word spiritual in a non-theistic way. I experience awareness as in the awareness of our being part and of the universe. That is the word I think of when a feel the soft spring wind on my skin or smell the damp earth of the garden. I become aware of being part of all of existence.
jo6359, I wish there was some help I could offer you and your family at this difficult time. I hope your nephew isn't in pain. When my husband was in the hospital and in distress, I washed his face and hands in warm water followed by cool water. The stress of surgery leaves a film on the skin and having a clean face and hands is comforting. It may be a comfort for him to suck on ice chips as well. Try to get the family to rest as much as possible. This goes for you as well. ((jo)).
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Good night Jo.
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Animals definitely experience emotions. I volunteer at an animal shelter and it's heartbreaking to watch a cat whose owner has died. They know and they mourn.
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I’m thinking about you Jo and hoping for the best possible outcome for your nephew.
I agree about pets too. DH and I recently lost the last of our pack of 6 dogs, they certainly deeply mourned each that went before. They’re more resilient than DH have been in that respect.
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Back in my searching-for-whatever days, I came across Scientific Pantheism and it really hit the spot. I still occasionally call myself a pantheist - just with a small "p". I think some of you might like this, if you haven't visited the site already.
https://www.pantheism.net/beliefs/
Jo6359, I am sorry for what your nephew is enduring - and your family with him. It's a head-scratcher how nature can suck and be so beautiful at the same time, but at least we non-believers don't waste time getting tied in knots assigning blame or credit to some gigantic airborne coin-flipper. It gives us more time to cherish our loved ones in the here and now. 💙
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Alice - I toyed with the notion of identifying as pantheistic once, too. Ultimately, the inclusion of “theism” in it tripped me up. But when I talk about being spiritual, those values are exactly what I mean.
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alice-Nature can be so stunning it takes ones breath away. On the other hand there are times it really sucks. I'm thinking of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters which can be so beautiful they take your breath away. Yet the devastation is immeasurable. I'm not searching for answers from God or any other entity. Whilel sitting outside yesterday evening laughing at my dogs antics made me appreciate those moments of joy.
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the Pantheism site is interesting but I get overwhelmed by too much teeny text and a poorly updated website 😂 I can’t look at it for very long - all the wordiness starts to look like the ramblings of a person with too much time on their hands or a person who may be experiencing a manic episode.
I think that for me, I don’t want to label myself as one particular thing - so I don’t want to label myself as a Pantheist
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Alice, I like pantheism, especially this: “It is only here that we will ever get the chance to see paradise.“
And the statement of pantheistic principles resonates with me:
- Reverence for Nature and the wider Universe.
- Active respect and care for the rights of all humans and other living beings.
- Celebration of our lives in our bodies on this beautiful earth as a joy and a privilege.
- Strong naturalism, without belief in supernatural realms, afterlives, beings or forces.
- Respect for reason, evidence and the scientific method as our best ways of understanding nature and the Universe.
- Promotion of religious tolerance, freedom of religion and complete separation of state and religion.
But as Jo said, nature can be devastating as well as beautiful. And illness can make it difficult to celebrate “our lives in our bodies as a joy". So how do we make sense of suffering and destruction?
I don't have any answers, but wonder how others come to terms with this dark side of life. I think the promise of paradise is what leads many people to religion.
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Thank you Wrenn. That is very moving.
❤️
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This is my favorite poem;
[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
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Interesting stuff, nice poems. I like the non-theist label, if I need a label. Works for me.
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I like "nontheist" too, it's less confrontational sounding. And as a bonus, it confuses people! 😀
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Living in a very religious state, we have been asked about what church we attend on more than one occasion. I tell people that we are not religious. That is so vague that it means almost nothing at all, yet seems to satisfy those that inquire.
My state has one church for every 500 people and church is a big part of the culture.
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