Armando Favazza, author of
PyschoBible, presented us with psychologist David Elkins' definition of what would qualify a person to be a spiritual one. He wrote
"These would include belief in "a greater self" or a personal God, a sense of purpose in life and a quest for meaning, acceptance of the sacredness of nature and of all human experience, knowledge that ultimate fulfillment is found in spirituality and not in material things, altruism, idealism, awareness of suffering and death, and leading a life that has a positive effect on people, nature and their relationship "with whatever they consider to be the ultimate and transcendent reality." The take-away for me was that Favazza would agree with that definition.
Well, after reading that I'm going to have to admit that I, too, agreed with that definition at one time. But it's certainly not a label I hold any longer. I think I held this opinion then in the hopes that if there really were a god, I might still get points for the effort of calling myself something closely resembling what he/she wanted me to be.
I understand now am I not spiritual as described in the definition above, but really only a human being who wants to do the best I can during my short stint on this planet. I'll agree (slightly and with some modifications) that I have "a sense of purpose in life and a quest for meaning, acceptance of the sacredness of nature and of all human experience, knowledge that ultimate fulfillment is found in
spirituality *being a decent human being and not in material things, altruism, idealism, awareness of suffering and death, and leading a life that has a positive effect on people,
*and nature
and their relationship "with whatever they consider to be the ultimate and transcendent reality." In other words, just being someone whose presence in this life is not detrimental to others and the world I inhabit. It still doesn't require a holy spirit that sets my actions in motion.
So, I'm not spiritual, but I am a good human and
I'm self-led. And that's about as deep as it gets.
Hi Susi. I've been a questioner of the existence of God since my 20's (currently 56), and am now solidly Atheist. I still consider myself as having spiritual experiences. but my definition is different from most. It has nothing to do with a supernatural part of myself, or contact with some other supernatural being, but is a state of mind when you shut down the egotistical and emotional aspects of your mind. As in meditation.
ReplyDeletehi timothy! if there is any time where i might feel something 'other worldly' it would be what you describe. it's in the letting go of things that i'm attaching to, trying to achieve a release or relief or just a sense of peace. but even in those moments it just doesn't smack of being spiritual, it's a state of mind we choose to put ourselves in.
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