What does it mean to be Spiritual?

VM44

Does it mean a person's thinking is mostly about spiritual things?

What if the spiritual concepts that a person has are incorrect,
nonsensical and Fictitious? Does it matter? I think it does.

Jesus said those worshiping him must do so with "Spirit and Truth"
This implies that people could have "Spirit" but not "Truth"

A so-called "Mature Spiritual" person could well be nothing more
than a person deeply in a psychological state of self-deception.

I believe that most of the Jehovah's witnesses, the publishers,
the elders, circuit overseers, and right on up to the members of
the Governing Body are in a state of pseudo-Spiritual self deception.

--VM44

Sirona

Hi,

What a good question!

Im not entirely sure what "spiritual" is. I suppose that someone may be spiritual in any religion, or in that same religion considered not spiritual.

My own interpretation is that Spiritual means connected to the spirit. The spirit can be considered our own soul, the part which is not tainted by human concern but which guides us. I believe that all the universe is connected in terms of spirit or energy. For instance, when a person walks into a room, they can influence others in that room with their very presence, or they can "feel" the atmosphere of a room. That is a demonstration of energies proceeding from us and being felt elsewhere. Everything we do can produce a reaction that could *possibly* be picked up by others.

I believe that we can tap into the universal spirit.

Jesus comment about Spirit and Truth may simply mean that we should be truthful with ourselves and others. Not that there is a single Truth that people should believe.

Despite all of my views listed above, I also accept the idea that some (including myself) may be deluding themselves. I study psychology, and I have read about studies regarding "spiritual experience". Basically, a "spiritual experience" can be induced with electrical pulses in certain parts of the brain.

I choose to take this psychological evidence as fact, however, I wonder if my very REAL spiritual experiences are just PERCIEVED by that part of my brain (as discovered in the experiments). Just because these experiences can be artificially induced does not mean they cannot occur naturally.

Freud said all religion was collective neurosis. Having seen what I believe to be ghosts and predicted the future, having had a message given to me by a ghost which was then externally verified, I think I must be more neurotic than most!

Sirona

drahcir yarrum

To me, SPIRITUAL=IMAGINARY. Some people would define spirituality as a feeling of oneness with god or oneness with the universe. I view spirituality as wishful thinking claptrap.

However, I certainly don't view my thinking as the final word on the subject, and if someday confronted by "God", I will gladly say, "oops, I was wrong and I'm sorry, but you masked your existence in vague, contradictory and confusing writings".

larc

I have a much more earth bound view of spirituality. I think that being "spiritual" means being in touch with your conscience and your core values. It sometimes has to do with wressling with conflicting values and with situations that make it difficult to know what is the right thing to do. I do not think that prayer and meditation produce answers from any higher source, but rather help people find answers within themselves.

safe4kids

Larc!!! Wow, you said what I was thinking!! For me, spirituality is a connection with myself on a deep level and then with my fellow lodgers on this planet, the earth, the universe, etc. But what you said about being in touch with your core values, man that really hit home with me.

As an example, I feel I lost my spiritual oneness or connection with myself this summer. I went against my personal values and in so doing, lost myself for awhile. I bitterly regret that and it's been a long climb out of the pit I put myself into. I caused hurt to other people and I really don't think there is any way to make amends to them. How I wish that I could. The only thing that I can do is try to make amends to myself and learn from the experience. That feeling of not knowing myself was like being skewered and was intensely unpleasant and painful.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think it is intensely personal. Whatever avenue we choose, whatever path we walk to achieve inner peace and serenity is up to the individual and what works for them.

Dana

"...I'd walk with my people if I could find them..."

Third Eye Blind, Deep Inside of You

Vitameatavegamin

Hi!

As one of Jehovahs Witnesses, being Spiritual means attending meetings every week and putting in high hours of field service. It is a Spiritual guage so to speak. But, being spiritual in my opinion would be trying your best to be a Christian by living your faith, not just mouthing it or doing all of the above imagining that you are a spiritual person. I know those in the congregation who are considered to be so " sprirtual ", because they are pioneers but yet lack real love from their hearts. I know Elders who are of course supposed to be the ultimate " spiritually minded " men, but who are on a major power trip or just lack real heart. Spirituality took on a whole new meaning with the JWs. They seem to have their own defintion of this. I believe we become spiritual when we start LIVING our beliefs, not just saying we are such or holding some sort of assigned " spriritual " position in the cong.

Just my thoughts!

Thanks.

Introspection

To me spirituality is not about a "feeling" of oneness, but a realization that you're not the only one in your own little world. Even the most self-sufficient of us needs the outside world, just try not eating, not drinking and not breathing to see how long you last. To focus exclusively on our personal experience and intellectual understanding is what is illusory to me. It is nothing mystical, whatever your perspective I don't see how you can deny this as true. Naturally, when someone has their own definition (or accepts the definition of someone else as a standard) of spirituality there is then a danger, because instead of being open to the world you live in you're starting to create your little imaginary world.

funkyderek

Being spiritual means always reading the yearbook as soon as it comes out, giving long answers at the Watchtower study that aren't directly from the paragraph, going on service even when it's raining and being uneducated and having a low-paid job. Polyester suits help too.

--
Those who can induce you to believe absurdities can induce you to commit attrocities - Voltaire

Sirona

Drachir,

To me, SPIRITUAL=IMAGINARY.

There is a small part of me that maybe would agree with you, but to be honest Im afraid of a life that has no purpose (even imaginary) or no higher meaning. That highlights flaws in me, I suppose. Thanks for your honesty!

Sirona

What does it mean to be Spiritual?

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