]]>Personally, I don’t see how (coming from my fatalist side) there can be a higher sense of being, oneness, or connectivity. You could use tools like meditation and such to clear you mind to open it up for contemplation for problem solving or to better perform a task. But seek connection with the universe or world around us, this would sound more like being an agnostic as opposed to atheist. Then there would be an acknowledgment of something beyond the physical. For is not our thought and feeling just an electrical cycle through chemical pathways. What can be more beautiful than that mathematic complexity? And even then, that might imply some form of religion in my opinion. Hmmmm, math is God, God is math, I could go for that. And that would still leave me feeling alone since I prefer seclusion.
I’m sorry, but I personally don’t see a connection between atheism and spiritualism.
Now, just a thought. What if there is a god or higher power. He/she/it (English grammar, not trying to show preference) wants us to explore the universe physically and explore our minds and beyond. All this, including the suffering that goes along with it, not to prove to a god, but to prove to ourselves what we can become. And then if we can find that within ourselves, then to take that next step in a personal evolution to next stage. The universe is infinite. According to string theory, there is possibly an infinite number of universes. This does leave a possibility for unlimited growth. But, why would a god or higher power with possibly a set of moral rules allow us to progress to this next step in personal evolution if we cannot master the state we exist in now. Asking this higher power or entity would be no different than asking my dad for help with my math homework. I still have to do my math homework and pass my exams. But if I listen, learn, and think then I might accomplish just that.
But, that’s just a thought that I know Jon will see right though. (back to my fatalist side)
I was going to link the wikipedia.org link for string theory, but I don’t like it. I prefer the NOVA special, ”The Elegant Universe”. I’m an oddball. I’m an advocate string theory (in general). Which is funny because you can’t prove it either, other than mathematically. Ah, science and religion, sometimes they can go hand in hand.
]]>That’s the problem with the word “spirituality”. I personally don’t believe that the experiences associated with that word have anything to do with anything supernatural. Those experiences are firmly grounded in the physical world.
The original teachings of the Buddha seem to have been non-theistic: they didn’t imply the existence of a god or a supernatural world. Some forms of Buddhism today are supernaturalist, but I also know many atheists who follow the Buddha’s teachings: Sam Harris for example.
Meditation can result in an experience where one’s understanding transcends all boundaries and distinctions to ultimately see the universe as one whole. This change in perspective does not imply that there is a supernatural force behind the universe. You can call that unity God if you like, but that’s just a meaningless word.
So which is the correct perception: one that sees a multitude of different things, or one that sees the connection of all things? I think “correct” is meaningless in this context.
So yes, an atheist can be “spiritual”. If only we could find a better word for it.
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]]>If God/dad is out there, he 1) has a lot to answer for and 2) seems to expect us to work things out for ourselves. So what practical difference does he make?
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]]>I’ll relate back to string theory. Mathematically it’s possible, and even could help merge the many concepts about the universe as we understand it. Is it provable by our physical capabilities? Probably not in our lifetime. So some of us continue to mull over the concepts in an effort to better understand it and see if it works till that far fetched day comes. Yes, there is a possibility that we’re shooting in the wrong direction. But, I see so many pluses along this line.
]]>String theory while compelling still remains a conjecture. I hope we can find a unified theory to explain everything, but it’s taking string theory a long time to produce results. Not that its slow pace makes it false, but the situation is becoming less hopeful. Prominent physicist are starting to voice their skepticism of string theory openly.
]]>It doesn’t really matter what you call it, it’s just important that us non-believers find meaningful ways to be spiritual and to connect with something larger than ourselves. That’s what I think.
]]>People need to read dictionaries more. That’s the main problem with this question.
]]>I’ll have to post sometime on the materialistic sources of “spiritual” experiences.
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