Originally posted by CalJust Humour me: where do the "spirits" that these "spiritual atheists" believe in, come from or relate to??
What if I educate you instead. If an atheist works in a food bank or helps the homeless or abused or spends an afternoon helping their kid learn to fly a kite, is this not a spiritual quality? Jesus Christ, does everyone of have to sing "Amazing Grace"?
Point one--It's okay to equate Christianity with spirituality. We are part of Western Civ, and that happens to be what the vast majority are talking about when they think of spirituality, religion, etc. So let's get that out of the way at the start.
Point two--Someone pointed out that atheists are insecure. I agree. Listen to one, (Bill Maher is a good example, though no one speaks for all the members of aany group) for more than 10 minutes and it's clear he's scared ----less. Atheists are like anyone else--they need something to believe in just as much as the next person.
Point three--someone pointed out the reverse side of this coin; some Christians DO try to slam atheists in the Science forum. But to lump "creationists, IDers",young earthers, etc. together with all Christians is a fallacy. I know, because I'm a Christian evolutionist,
Originally posted by CalJust "theist" : believe-in-a-god
"a-theist" : not-believe-in-a-god
Not really rocket science, is it?!
And you're obviously no rocket scientist. This completely fails to make your case because, remember, you claimed that atheists by definition do not believe in spirituality. You didn't merely make the less controversial assertion that atheists by definition lack belief in a god or gods. So are you really too dense to understand what I was asking? Now I would like to know what bizarre, provincial definition of spirituality you are using.
Originally posted by PinkFloyd Point one--It's okay to equate Christianity with spirituality. We are part of Western Civ, and that happens to be what the vast majority are talking about when they think of spirituality, religion, etc. So let's get that out of the way at the start.
Point two--Someone pointed out that atheists are insecure. I agree. Listen to one, (Bill Maher is a goo ...[text shortened]... together with all Christians is a fallacy. I know, because I'm a Christian evolutionist,
I'll take issue with your first two points. Spirituality and Christianity are not the same thing. There is Jewish spirituality. Does that make it the same thing as Christian spirituality. Of course not.
Being an atheist does not make one insecure. The most insecure people I know are pentecostals. They are also the most fervent Christians I know. Insecurity is more a term of one's psychological state than anything else.
Originally posted by kirksey957 I'll take issue with your first two points. Spirituality and Christianity are not the same thing. There is Jewish spirituality. Does that make it the same thing as Christian spirituality. Of course not.
Being an atheist does not make one insecure. The most insecure people I know are pentecostals. They are also the most fervent Christians I know. Insecurity is more a term of one's psychological state than anything else.
Reasonable points. I don't agree, but reasonable nonetheless 😀
Originally posted by PinkFloyd Reasonable points. I don't agree, but reasonable nonetheless 😀
Words are fascinating to me. It seems rather simple to link the two words "spirituality" and "Christianity" together. Christians like to think of themselves as spiritual people. Indeed many are. But so are many people in AA who would not consider themselves to be Christians. In fact, many of them are like people in the general public who have been wounded by so-called spirituality.
Let's say I use the word "whitey" and someone takes offense to it because to them it has some racial meaning. What if I'm talking about Whitey Ford the great baseball pitcher. Are these two the same thing? One of the amusing things to me on this site is that there have been several occasions where I have tried to write the name of a classical guitar performer and I am unable to write his name as there are four letters in the middle of his last name that automatically get moderated.
Originally posted by kirksey957 Words are fascinating to me. It seems rather simple to link the two words "spirituality" and "Christianity" together. Christians like to think of themselves as spiritual people. Indeed many are. But so are many people in AA who would not consider themselves to be Christians. In fact, many of them are like people in the general public who have been wo ...[text shortened]... there are four letters in the middle of his last name that automatically get moderated.
I've seen other posts that mentioned that problem and I don't understand the moderating system at all. I've thrown every word in Carlin's vocabulary out there (before I recently turned over a new leaf and decided to be a little bit mature 😉 ) and I've never been censored. Is it a recent phenomenon? Are you on some kind of Moderators Watch List? 😉 I'm at a loss.
Originally posted by PinkFloyd Someone pointed out that atheists are insecure. I agree. Listen to one, (Bill Maher is a good example, though no one speaks for all the members of aany group) for more than 10 minutes and it's clear he's scared ----less. Atheists are like anyone else--they need something to believe in just as much as the next person.
Originally posted by kirksey957 If an atheist works in a food bank or helps the homeless or abused or spends an afternoon helping their kid learn to fly a kite, is this not a spiritual quality?
Actually, no. It may be charitable, philantropic, loving and kind, but certainly not spiritual, as is implied in the title of this thread. Unless, of course, by your actions you hope to get some reward in an afterlife??
Originally posted by CalJust So, what you are actually saying is that you are tilting at windmills, or are something of a masochist?
😉
No, I'm throwing rocks at the sleeping dragon and then running away before it gets up, thus annoying it slightly and making it a bit more vulnerable to real challenges. It's entertaining and not at all painful.
Originally posted by CalJust Actually, no. It may be charitable, philantropic, loving and kind, but certainly not spiritual, as is implied in the title of this thread. Unless, of course, by your actions you hope to get some reward in an afterlife??
Lord Almighty! What kinda church you go to?
See here's a real man of the faith. He feeds the poor and clothes the naked. If it ain't chuuch, it ain't church. Know what I'm sayin?
Originally posted by CalJust Here is a puzzle I have been pondering for some time: How come there are so many atheists on this particular forum trying to denigrate or dissuade theists from their beliefs?
Consider this: go into any newspaper or magazine shop and you will find many different titles to please all tastes. For example, Bicycle racing mags or Boxing mags. Now, I for one ha ...[text shortened]... test too much?? Are these theists secretly doubting their own convictions??
In peace
CJ
The bard actually wrote "The lady doth protest too much methinks"
Can't help wondering if you also misquote your bible so blatantly when trying to make a point that seems convenient to you.
17 May '08 17:08
Atheists on "Spirituality"
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