Atheists I have a question....and some comments on spirituality (possible ranting may follow)

by Jon Preston 27 Replies latest jw friends

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  Apognophos

  How can spiritual still not be, in part, physical?

  You're simply confusing yourself by trying to look at both definitions at the same time. "Spirituality" for an atheist has nothing to do with the spirit world, it's just another word for "awe". But religious people feel that they do have a part of them (placed there by God) that can sense a spirit realm. Is that part physical? That's not really relevant for them. Perhaps they believe it's their soul. Whatever it is, it either senses, or is composed of, something immaterial, and thus cannot be apparently tested for scientifically.

  So one camp has their definition of "spirituality" as "knowing that there's something out there, above our own existence", and the other has their definition of "feeling awe or appreciation of nature and the universe". Personally I don't think non-religious people should ever use the word "spiritual", for precisely this reason, because it causes confusion, but there you have it.
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  Jon Preston

  Good point Apog. But again we come back to spirituality being a product of external stimuli (whether seen, unseen)to facilitate certain reactions within our bodies (physiological) to produce some sort of reaction. Whether it be some miraculous event or the social pressures and interactions in our environment. I see spiritual and physical going hand in hand.....and yet many religions seperate the two as if later in existence youll gain eternal spiritual life without being part of some physical existence. And should you reach that life and spirituality IS, as you said, as "knowing that there's something out there, above our own existence".....when you reach that eternal life what need would there be of spirituality.?

  This is also where the WT has always confused spiritual with physical....they see products of behavior and counting FS hours as spiritual, as door to door is spiritual....but its not. Is physical responses to what your beliefs are that cause you to behave a certain way. Hence a spiritual person cannot be judged and should not.

  im ranting again im sure....this is just my mind vomit coming out lol but i needed to draw it out to make sense of what most consider a simple thing.
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  Apognophos

  This is also where the WT has always confused spiritual with physical....they see products of behavior and counting FS hours as spiritual, as door to door is spiritual

  That's a good point. The atheist and the theist tend to have more in common with their definitions of "spirituality" than they do with a JW. They can both see something special and fulfilling in the natural world, whereas for JWs spirituality is a number on a sheet of paper or a pious way of talking at the Kingdom Hall. JWs don't stop to smell the roses.
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  Jon Preston

  Some stop to smell the roses but theres always a pinch of cynicism added such as:

  "Just think of how amazing the roses will smell in the new system when wickedness is done away with"......AGAIN the future for 99% of ALL witnesses IS PHYsICAL and fleshly....only the 144K get a spiritual transcendence to heaven (still would be a physical place with an actual location in the universe right?)
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  Separation of Powers

  Kindness and compassion are my spiritual center. I need no God to be kind or compassionate. In fact, some of the most unkind things I have seen or heard have been from "believers." I think what Jesus said in Luke 17:21, "the kingdom of God is within you and around you" is the most powerful expression he stated. If the kingdom is inside me and inside you then wouldn't it be here...now, "around" us?

  As I have mentioned, I have moved to a center of agnosticism. I believe that there are some tremendous lessons to be learned as taught by Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad, I don't have to believe in God to necessarily benefit from them do I?

  SOP
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  Jon Preston

  Oh i forgot to add something else that pisses me off--When someone is labelled spiritually weak based on behaviours caused by imperfect flesh. If anperson is just worldly and fleshly indont see how you can judge them as spiritually weak. Again taking away human dignity.

  Even according to the good book we are all sinners (fleshly) and fall short of the glory of God...right?
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  darth frosty

  I classify myself as a spiritual atheiest

  
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  Jon Preston

  I like that outlook SOP--thanks for sharing. i feel the same. I want to be kind, honest, merciful, humble and treat others with the utmost respect. And never have i felt more isolation, closet-fear and hatred, or judgment than when i regularly attended meetings. They cleverley disguise all these things as loving....clever clever. It is impossible for me to believe in and love a God through gentle coercion....and gentle threats.

  Whats that scripture? Let your threats be gently seasoned with salt....? Lol
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  punkofnice

  When someone is labelled spiritually weak

  This is just a manipulative control technique the watchtower uses. They have loaded the language and invented their own jargon. More proof it's a cult.
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  KateWild

  Spirituality can also mean practicising magic. People go and see spiritualists. To define the word spiritual can be tricky.

  I believe in God, I don't believe he punishes or rewards anyone, I don't believe the bible is from God, but I would call myself religious.

  Am I spiritual? What do you think?

  Kate xx