I stumbled across
this article about achieving happiness without religion, and I believe it also applies to spirituality as a whole.
What do you think? Is spirituality a requirement for happiness? Is non-spiritual happiness any more or less rewarding than spiritually-fueled happiness? What is it about spirituality that provides happiness? And when does spirituality lead away from happiness?
Madigan answers some of these questions in his essay, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
My view is that I've been far happier since leaving behind my Catholic beliefs. Leaving behind fear of eternal damnation was incredibly liberating. I've encountered many spiritual beliefs since then, though none of them have been adopted, but they have reinforced those aspect of my Christian upbringing which I haven't left behind; i.e., compassion, conscientiousness, generosity, etc. None of which are necessarily spiritual in nature.