How can a "atheist" be spiritual?

Atheism is just the lack of belief in god(s) that doesn't stop us believing in anything else.

Well there are atheists who are part of religions. Buddhist atheists for example. Obviously they can be quite spiritual without believing in a god. Other people can while disbelieving in a deity hold some spiritual beliefs based on their own experiences or whatever. Spiritual is also a word that can mean different things to different people. I tend to shy away from it for the confusion it causes and I don't hold any positive beliefs in supernatural or metaphysical terms. I guess I could say though that when I spend time in nature or meditate in ways that make me feel a sense of connection to the greater whole I am a part of both in humanity and nature as a whole I am being spiritual. In the sense I am attending the nonphysical needs and aspects of my identity and human experience.

Well, I guess I'm one of those people who is an atheist and considers themselves spiritual. And perhaps spiritual is not the best word to use, as it implies a belief in "spirits" or non-material world, which I lack. But I do have a sense of wonder when it comes to the universe, I believe there's something that ties it all together and unites us (energy?), I do believe in a certain "spirit" of humanity, etc. I do think it's beneficial to do certain practices commonly associated with the spiritual realm, like meditation, even praying (as long as you don't believe somebody is actually listening to it), rituals, etc.

That's just my perspective, I hope it clarifies things a bit.

over the previous huge reporting spree, the onslaught reinforced a feeling of community among a lot of people who have been dropping Q&A. regrettably, that translated into an us v them mentality and everyone who replaced into outdoors of that us became a aim for suspicion, derision and scorn. serious questions and solutions have been seen via many as an attack on people's good to goof off in R&S. Even something so basic as pointing out that there was once room for the two might draw grievance. The sub-communities of people of minority religions have been those that have been broken. yet no longer from the reporting. extra people left with the aid of point of hostility directed in direction of people who had to talk religious subjects heavily or only weren't recognized as being area of that substantial community. That experience of community among atheists and their go with team of pals got here on the cost of the numerous smaller communities which further a great variety to R&S. yet i'm guessing you're no longer speaking approximately that loss. The community is the members, no longer the posts - particularly whilst people so not often hardship with the records. previous posts are the area of journalists and unsuspecting people who stumble in from a google seek for concepts. From what i've got seen, the communities of the dominant cliques are as good as ever.

Where do you think christianity got it's ideas of a soul and afterlife from for goodness sake?

They stole it from the pagan tribes and peoples which existed hundreds and thousands of years before christianity!!

From the stone age through vikings, Egyptians, Maoris, Aborigines, American Indians and especially the chinese, they all had elaborate funerals and grave goods to speed the soul into the next life with comfort!!

Try thinking with an open mind like a free human being and not with christian dogmas assertions!!

Buddhism is a great example of an atheist religion that is highly spiritual.

Myself, for instance, I'm a humanitarian who has a near worship of nature. I consider myself spiritual in this way, such as totem animals and the like. I think there's an artistic, soulful side of us (whether or not souls exist) that we as human beings are prone to explore as curious creatures.

Atheist/theist refers to your stance on the existence of gods....not any of your other beliefs.

One can be an atheist and still practice a religion, for example. The one I live with is very much into his religion (Thelema) yet is unabashedly atheist. You have to remember, not all religions are even theistic to begin with and others can be adapted to suit an atheistic worldview.

Why do you use quotation marks for the word atheist?

Have you heard of Buddhism? That is only one way for an atheist to be spiritual.

You can be an atheist and believe in reincarnation, dragons, fairies, unicorns and ghosts.

Atheism simply means lack of belief in deities not lack of spirituality.

Your spirit is inside you, it is not a part of an almighty God, but it is personal to the individual