Are Agnostics Spiritual? - Page 3

**Skepticologist** · 08-10-2007, 08:44 PM

I'm sometimes quite chagrined that, at the age of 60, I have yet to develop a cogent understanding of spirituality. Or maybe I just haven't thought deeply enough about exsiting definitions, e.g. the American Heritage College Dictionary's:

1. Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material. See synonyms at immaterial. 2. Of, concerned with, or affecting the soul. 3. Of, from, or relating to God; deific. 4. Of or belonging to a church or religion; sacred. 5. Relating to or having the nature of spirits or a spirit; supernatural.

As an agnostic, I can relate to definition 1; don't have a suitable definition for "soul", so can't speak to definition 2; find definitions 3 and 4 irrelevant; and have no basis for acceptiing definition 5 since I've never encountered a spirit.

I fully realize, in accordance with definition 1, that there are things in the universe that are not tangible or material, so don't lend themselves to understanding by the application of reason and logic.

I default to reason and logic, whenever possible, as the basis of my actions and decisions. But if there's insufficient empirical information from which to construct viable premises, I have no way of constructing viable syllogisms. Yet, in the absence of sufficient information, I still make decisions.

For some decisions involving intangible or immaterial considerations, I can replace empirical information with my own experiences, or those of trusted friends, as premises.

But there are certain decisions I'm faced with that I must make in the absence of my own or others' knowledge or experience. I suppose it's at that point that I can rely only on "gut feel". And that's as good a definition of spiritualy, at least for me, that I've yet to find.

marmalade · 10-17-2007, 11:10 PM

Agnosticism is a general term that can include almost any other perspective. In its simplest form, it just means one isn't sure. It doesn't outright deny anything nor deny the ability to know anything. Agnosticism is about knowledge.

Spirituality is about experience. Spirituality is also a general term. Even a strong Atheist could be spiritual because spirituality isn't dependent on a deity.

I sometiems call myself an Agnostic Gnostic simply because the combination of the two amuses me. I am spiritual. I neither affirm nor deny God. It seems pointless because there are so many meanings to it that you hardly even know what other people mean by it most of the time. I do find the word 'God' as a useful term in thinking about life, but my spirituality isn't dependent on it.

I have many different spiritual practices. I'm not a serious devoted practitioner though. Mostly, I focus on awareness. This includes medtiation sometimes. I do pray to God on occasion, but it doesn't matter if there is actually a God out there listening. Its just a way of thinking to myself and connecting my thoughts to a greater sense of reality whatever that may be.

Derbonic · 10-29-2007, 01:43 PM

Thanks for this topic all. I read it quit a while back and have been thinking on it since.
I would describe Spirituality as a conectedness with something you cant describe. Not that it cant be described , just not by you at the present or past.
I think that we are all agnostic and spiritual , many of us just pretend otherwise.