I believe taking a side, in this article, refers to taking a stand on whether there is a higher power or not. People don't want the affiliation to a particular religion and its dogma, so "spiritual" is a better alternative, all the while still believing in a higher force of some sort.

Either man is on his own, or there is a higher power watching over him which may not fit into an existing religion, but is a belief in God nonetheless.

@Athena Well, I didn’t much care for the dismissive tone of the article. I also don’t exactly agree with there being sides either. Truth does works that way, with rigid sides of true & false. I don’t think the same can be said of philosophy or religion.

If someone says they are spiritual but not religious, I’m fine with that, even if I don’t understand it. So long as it’s an honest statement, I won’t offer much criticism.

@Allamanda

I like this - thank you!

I find the word "spiritual" coming from the root word "spirit" confusing. It denotes an incorporeal entity. I wish there were another word to describe the many perspectives people are offering here.

I like the concept associated with connections and influences that are part of the human experience, which are not tangible (as you described them). I just want a different word! The one that exists doesn't resonate with me. It still has a "god" connotation.

@Allamanda, @indirect76

I agree it had a dismissive tone.

@Athena IMO, taking a “stand” on whether or not there is s higher power is the ultimate in blind arrogance. Why should you take a stand on something you can’t define or understand? The appropriate response to the overwhelming miracle of existence is abject awe and bewilderment.

Nature herself is a higher power—higher than our dream-like and illusory bubble of perception.

@Athena, @indirect76 I’m with you 100% indirect. You have made a profound statement.

@WilliamFleming

The author is not asking anyone to take a stand. He is saying if you call yourself "spiritual, you don't like dogma and traditional practices of religion, but you're still a theist.
He says you believe it's only man, or it's not only man. Just because one believes God doesn't take on a traditional form, doesn't mean it negates the belief in a higher power.

The word "spiritual" used to describe one's personal journey, as another contributor did here, is perfect, IMO.

"this rather leaves out those who don't and possibly never have, believed in a higher power or a god, but do think that however you express it (the collective unconscious, the soul/spirit, that which makes us human...) can be worked on/with (by practicing meditation, by living a good life, or otherwise) to effect a higher level of (reason, resonance, humanity, enlightenment). Usually without the involvement of other people, or the need to talk about it!"

@Athena The author might not be asking anyone to take a stand, but he is condemning those who don’t.

From the article: “The trouble is that “spiritual but not religious” offers no positive exposition or understanding or explanation of a body of belief or set of principles of any kind.”

In other words, the author sees trouble where people don’t conform to authority. He must be an eldest sibling. I fail to see anything weak or vacillatory about rejecting church dogma in favor of deep personal awareness and appreciation for the gifts of life and conscious awareness.

I intend to continue being spiritual, whether spirituality is religious or not. I simply don’t care—in fact I am religious. But I agree that atheists and agnostics can be spiritual as well.

@WilliamFleming You might just be a believer

@WilliamFleming

I can definitely take a stand on whether pixies and fairies exist. I would not be able to prove they don't, but I can say with confidence that there is no evidence they exist.
The same goes for a god.

When someone uses "spiritual to describe a personal journey that is part of a human experience, that's one thing. Then I agree the non religious can be spiritual, if it is how one wishes to describe this journey. If "spiritual" is used to describe a connection to higher powers, the"non believer" may actually be a believer.

@Athena There seems to be a lot of frantic concern over whether someone believes or disbelieves certain things, but belief is nothing but a value judgment, an emotion, and is of little significance. When it comes to the deep questions about ultimate reality belief or disbelief are totally inappropriate. As I see it, the only honest and logical response to reality is a sense of awe and bewilderment.

You are certain there is no evidence for a god, but you have not defined that god. There is most certainly an ultimate reality outside our sensory realm. I would not choose to call that God, but some people do, You can put whatever silly label you want on ultimate reality but its comprehension is out of our range.

God as described in the Bible is just mythical, but that in no way proves that all god concepts are invalid. And it does not invalidate spirituality as an attitude toward what is.

@Athena, @zblaze It’s not a question of belief. I am totally bewildered.

@WilliamFleming
Bewilderment and awe are very lovely things.

@WilliamFleming Atheism vs Theism is a question of belief the same as Fairies and Afairieism.

Bewilderment is a cop out IMO.

It is a cop out if you're using a position of lack of knowledge as a middle ground in the question of belief or non belief.

What does 'spiritual' infer to you? Spirits or ghosts?

@zblaze
I disagree that by not knowing something you are considered a cop out regardless of wether or not someone uses it as a position.

Spiritualness I consider my traditions, values, experiences, and morals by which I live.

@darthfaja You've confused me!!!

"Technically you could argue the term agnostic is a cop out as well."....next comment...."I disagree that by not knowing something you are considered a cop out regardless of wether or not someone uses it as a position."

That makes no sense to me.

@zblaze
Yes, I can see how that is confusing.
I’m splitting hairs too much in this argument.
My apologies, strictness of labels I have difficulty with sometimes.

I don’t feel that agnostics choose their position as a lack of knowledge, although perhaps some do.
I never did. I just didn’t care one way or the other wether or not god did or didn’t exist.

I don’t put a lot of thought into wether I’m atheist or agnostic. This is partly because I hate being labeled and partially because of my statement above.

Probably best I clarify my stance more clearly in the future.

The term spiritualism has different more modern meaning now. It’s not always about religion but it certainly has in the past.

@darthfaja
You are correct. It's used differently now, but in many cases it is just a mask for another religion. The belief of a higher power is disguised (but not so well) as a modern god; one that each person decides is right for him or her. Fate, karma, crystals, "the universe" is all about the "greater powers that be."

People are welcome to call themselves "spiritual" but based on some of the descriptions of "spiritual" here, I also reserve the right to think of them as "theists.".

@Athena
I’m consider myself spiritual as a mother fucker and I certainly don’t believe in any higher being

@darthfaja

JUST as spiritual as a motherfucker? That is REALLY spiritual.

@darthfaja What do you mean by spiritual? There are five definitions of spiritual in my dictionary and they all refer to deitie, god or religion. Maybe there vis a better word to describe what you mean.

@Casey07 possibly, but I’m good with this one.
I’m not worried about how others feel about me. I’m very comfortable.

@darthfaja Are you a believer or non believer?

@zblaze could always read my profile if you want to know

Why is being deeply aware of the magnificence, mystery and beauty of reality and the inexplicable enigma of consciousness considered "spiritual"??? What does it have to do with 'spirits'?

To me spirit is breath, or to breathe. If you breathe you are spiritual. Everyone alive is spiritual in that sense.

All other descriptions of spirit or spiritual are tied in with religious beliefs like souls, metaphorical hearts, ghosts, and after lives.

I agree, it's a cop out.

@zblaze I don’t agree with your limited meaning for “spirit”. Spirit has many meanings besides ghosts or religious connotations.

But even if you are correct, words are just labels or symbols. Call it whatever you like. And even if spirituality is a sort of religion, what of it? Where’s the cop-out? You are basically trying to psychoanalyze spiritual people. It’s not a good argument IMO.

Sir Arthur Eddington:

The universe is of the nature of a thought or sensation in a universal Mind... To put the conclusion crudely — the stuff of the world is mind-stuff.

We are no longer tempted to condemn the spiritual aspects of our nature as illusory because of their lack of concreteness.

The scientific answer is relevant so far as concerns the sense-impressions... For the rest the human spirit must turn to the unseen world to which it itself belongs.

@WilliamFleming It is a cop out because of the holier than attitude that adherents inevitably adapt.

"being deeply aware of the magnificence, mystery and beauty of reality and the inexplicable enigma of consciousness" is just one example.

The "universal Mind" is complete bullshit, and I would ask you to define 'human spirit' if you would.
I think it's a lot of 'Hot Air".

@zblaze Eddington was a very astute physicist, and most of his colleagues expressed similar opinions. They were not talking about magic or supernatural stuff, but we’re going where logic led them.

Through contemplation anyone can develop awareness of the staggering implications of existence. It’s a simple choice of opening your eyes or continuing to wear a blindfold.

Excellent.

Interesting point of view.
I believe to say "I don't know" is a responsible position sometimes. Making up stories about possibilities and believing them is wishy washy.
I identify as an atheist which answers the question of belief; "do you believe a God exists?"
Agnosticism is about knowing. "Do you know whether or not a God exists?"

I don't believe a God exists but I'm not asserting a God does not exist.

That’s not true about being agnostic
Some of us just don’t give a shit if there is or is not

@darthfaja I'm glad you said "some" because over my many years of life I've met more 'fence-sitting' Agnostics that I care to mention.

@Triphid - my ex called himself agnostic, as he did not believe that there was a god, but he really did not care one way or the other. He was firmly a fence sitter, but now that his number two wife (can't help the double entendre) is religious, he has apparently changed his tune. I will continue to maintain that he is going into early-onset dementia, and this further supports my allegations (actually based upon fact, but this really sounds too good to give it a pass!)...

I agree that it's much better than the dogma which has ruined so much and so many.

I do get his point about people being on the fence and not dismissing the idea of a God, as religions created him (in the form of their personal preference too).

@Athena Yes it can be a bit wishy washy and meaningless. a bit too "new age" for me.

Then they are neither atheist or agnostic. They are "believers".

@Casey07

I agree. I believe the article has been misinterpreted by some. Also, I'm surprised at how many people describe themselves as spiritual here, in the context of a higher power existing in a non denominational form.
Spiritual is, as Sam Harris would agree, not a great word to use to describe a human path of consciousness, but the best word we have so far.
His reluctance to use it has to do with its connection to a higher power. For me, anything having to do with a spirit is a concept I don't understand.

@Casey07
@Allamanda

Allamanda described a concept of spiritualism I'm very comfortable with.

"This rather leaves out those who don't and possibly never have, believed in a higher power or a god, but do think that however you express it (the collective unconscious, the soul/spirit, that which makes us human...) can be worked on/with (by practicing meditation, by living a good life, or otherwise) to effect a higher level of (reason, resonance, humanity, enlightenment). Usually without the involvement of other people, or the need to talk about it!"

@Casey07 Are people who love and also practice science "believers" because some of them also believe energy is "God", and not in the traditional sense of the term. Context matters. I think they're in another category.

@Piece2YourPuzzle - Yes, but "believers" is so much more succinct than saying "believers in a god, and all the trappings, and lies, and stories that go with all that the powers (of the churches) have told you in order to bring order to their religious doctrines"....

Maybe they could be considered "new age' or "'"new thought" but more likely they are copping out when using the term. There just are not that many "new agers" out there.