chrysalis

Is it ever possible for an Atheist to believe in the existence of a spiritual world (ex.- naturalistic spirituality) and still be considered an Atheist?
If yes, please explain how this is possible.

Natural Spirituality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalistic_spirituality

Thank you!

Godless Wonder

The word spirituality has been so abused (used to mean so many different things) that you never know what the hell anybody who uses the word is actually talking about. The word has become worse than useless.

I generally just ignore any sentence containing it, but my instinct is to roll my eyes immediately upon encountering the word.

From that wikipedia page, it appears that the word has been stripped of all meaning, and that some people just don't like to consider themselves aspiritual even though that is essentially what they consider themselves. However the previous sentence contains the word spiritual, so it lacks any meaning, as that word is too ill defined to be useful for communication.

chrysalis

Yes, I agree with you. However, I've got a self proclaimed atheists on CF telling me that it's very possible for an atheist to have religious beliefs without believing in God/god(s).
I am trying to understand her position but I am having a difficult time. If anyone can me do so I'd appreciate it.

Godless Wonder

Well, "atheist" means only a person who lacks any belief in any gods. A person could lack belief in any gods but believe in ghosts, for example. Or lack belief in any gods and believe in reincarnation. It is possible for a person to be an atheist and Buddhist simultaneously.

Dru2k

new-age movement is a solid example of atheistic spirtualitity...

Stiletto One

Or insanity.

Is animism generally compatible with atheism?

unassimilated

Yes I know someone that is this way. Something about energy in rocks and trees, but no god. at least shes haft right. :banghead: :huh:

chrysalis

All of New Age teachings that I am aware of believe in a God concept, albeit different from traditional christian beliefs.

It's very hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that someone claims to hold religious beliefs but at the same time doesn't hold some concept of a god.

I'm trying

wade-w

Godless Wonder mentioned Buddhism. Most, but not all, sects of Buddhism have no deity, and thus are atheistic in nature. Yet Buddhism is usually considered a religion.

chrysalis

This question was presented to the Buddhists on the forum.The Buddhists that replied expressed beliefs in god(s) although a few stated that is possible to be a Buddhist and not believe in any god theorically. I will accept that but I got the strong impression that they weren't clear on atheism. Buddhist philosophy is so foreign and complex to me that I can't really understand having religious beliefs with this somehow linking to a god. Traditionally, Buddhist cosmology is full of gods, dieties,etc.yet there may very well be branches of Buddhism without belief in gods (possible some type of Zen?). However, I'm hard pressed to see this as a religious belief or even understand the purpose.

Are there any other examples besides Buddhism? Do any of the atheists here hold religious beliefs?