Do Athiests have a spiritual interest?

Question

The other day, I asked a question to those who claim to be spritually minded. And I received answers from them as I would expect. But to my surprise, I also received answers from Athiests. Now I don't want to bash them. They are of course allowed to give their thoughts to. But? why here? After some examination, athiests are found to hang around here alot. You know I thought if I were athiests, the last place you would find me is anyplace that discusses theological thought. Why do you care enough to come here and give your input? what interest do you have in Spirituality? Maybe you are not as athiest as you say you are. During WW2 A german U boat captain once said, I have seen self proclaimed athiests forget that they are athiests when the depth chargers were being dropped on their sub. Anyway one answer that I received said, why don't I read a science book? You know what? I love reading science books. Especially astronomy. Everytime I look into space. It screams CREATOR!

Answer 1

It is the exact opposite of what you say that draws me to Religious discussion. While i do not have any religious belief myself. I do thoroughly enjoy History and Mythology. Which leads me to my fascination with Religion.I like to know about the Things that i do not agree with or something on which i have an opinion. Why would i choose to be ignorant on any Subject much less one that is interesting to me. I enjoy engaging in Debate with others. If i only wanted to talk to People who agreed with me i would never find good arguments. I would argue that a lot of atheists on here are atheistic for some of the same reasons that i gave. Many like me were born into a Religion and as we grew we wanted to know more about it. So we started really studying it. Thats when we decided that in our minds there is no way in Heck this stuff could be true.

Answer 2

Well ..... first book you will need to read is a dictionary ..... it is spelt as atheists.



Anyway, spiritually does not need a figurehead. I am a buddhist, I am an atheist. Buddhism believe everything and everyone are equal, there are no supreme beings. I have a feeling buddhism are more spiritually inclined then christianity.



Now, since you claim CREATOR ...... tell me please, why do you have two sets of rules? one for the alleged creator and one for the alleged created? From the way you write, you sounds like some Jehovah Witness who push down information that is half truth.



For example, Which german U boat captain said that? If you read astronomy book, had you wondered why your creator created so many useless planets and space? Is it because he is a dim-witted reject from the academy of gods? You claim atheists are not spiritually inclined, but it seems to me you have little knowledge about atheists and it is all through hearsay, objective views and mindless rationalisation, a common trait of Jehovah Witness.



Am I getting it wrong?



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For atheist .... you are wrong .... they need to search for the word "athiest" ...... maybe it is in their genes they cannot spell atheist properly.

Answer 3

There is a vast difference between having a spiritual nature and believing in a sentient creator.



I am an athiest. My spirituality is the only reason why I see a purpose to life. 'Spirituality' and 'spirit' can refer to many different things. It's the 'immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a being'.



Basically, it's all those connections in the universe that science hasn't been able to measure, but that we KNOW exist.



It's standing outside on a clear night and looking up at the starts.



It's watching a deer bound through the woods.



It's having your cat fall asleep on your chest, purring.



I don't need to believe in God in order to think that these things have a beautiful place in the universe.

Answer 4

I'd have given an honest answer (granted its getting a bit worn out from being posted a million times when this is asked that often), but with the interjected bit on "maybe you are not as athiest as you say you are," forget it.





I am 28 years old, well old enough to know my own mind and who I am and not need someone else to make my decisions for me or tell me who or what I am.

Answer 5

Some atheist are "spiritual" for example, Buddhist.



I am not.



This is the same old "why are the atheist in R&S" question that gets asked 300 times a day. Do a search for "atheist" on Y!A and see where it leads you.



If you see a creator is space, you are projecting that onto what you see like an inkblot test.

Answer 6

"Spiritual" is a fairly meaningless word. I've known lots of atheists that have gone through war. They were atheists before, during, and afterwards.



We are interested in people's beliefs because their beliefs affect me. Religion does a lot of harm to society, the society I live in. It is of interest to me to know as much about why you think what you do so I can more effectively express my beliefs to you in a way that you would understand.



It is also a study in human nature, which is an interesting topic, itself.

Answer 7

The Nazis said a lot of things- I dare you to try to take a few more of their quotes and try to pass it off as fact on here. I, for one, hang out on the Society and Culture section, and this section appears prominently on that page, so I answer whichever questions interest me.



I also have to agree with Meissen97. Songndance1999, yeah, and transparent is a colour.

Answer 8

You can be an atheist and be spiritual at the same time.



Regarding your WW2 story- yes, most religions are fear-based, and the horrors of war warp the human mind.



As for the rest of your questions, Y!A has a "search" function.

Answer 9

depends on what athiest you talk to, someone who is one because they have disowned God will tell you an athiest won't have spiritual interests but one who simply just doesn't believe in a God because no one's ever told them could very well be a very spiritual person, spiritual by a secular definition. i think it's very possible for an athiest to have a spiritual interest, maybe even more intense than a christian which is unfortunate. the athiests's spirituality is just directed at nothing instead of God

Answer 10

When I'm curious about something I either don't know a lot about or what to find out more about it......I do research.



You don't have to be a mother to care about or think about or help children.



Think about that for a minute......and then do some research about Atheists.

Answer 11

"Especially astronomy. Everytime I look into space. It screams CREATOR! "



It's so sad you don't actually understand Astronomy :(



Lots of people claim someone cannot disbelieve in god and that really comes down to them being stupid.

Answer 12

as a atheist ,some times it may seem that I am routing for a cult ,I am stating historical facts,and facts about religious traditions



I try to answer the question instead of saying god doesn't exist

Answer 13

WTF!!!! When the he** are these people going to ever get it????



ATHEIST DOES NOT MEAN "NOT SPIRITUAL"!!!!



Are people stupid or what?



Atheist means "One who does not believe in a god". That's it. It doesn't mean "not religious". It does not mean "Not spiritual". Though some atheists are not religious and some are not spiritual, it is by no means all of them.



Buddhists are atheists. There are atheist and humanist churches.



So please get this and remember it. Not all atheists are devoid of a spirituality. I know atheists and agnostics who are a hell of alot more spiritual than a crap load of Christians.



Even among the non-religious ones, a belief that religion is a load of crap is still a SPIRITUAL POSITION.



Please, Please figure this out. Please remember it.

Answer 14

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Answer 15

This question gets asked all the time, usually with fewer words though.



Just because I don't share your religious beliefs doesn't mean I can't discuss religion, right?



Do you ever talk about terrorism? Does that make you somewhat "terrorist minded"?

Answer 16

It's because we're fascinated that people believe in this stuff(belief in God), and want to understand why.

Answer 17

You haven't been reading those science books well enough then.

Answer 18

yes

Answer 19

I"m a pagan Taoist atheist, how do you like that!

Answer 20

Some do, some don't. I personally don't, but I know many that do.

Answer 21

i guess they are trying to win converts to their religion. Atheism is afterall a religion.