Can you be spiritual without believing in GOD

[abcbac]

Title is self explanatory

[Anagogy]

Depends on what one understands spirituality to be.

If one's spirituality is dependent upon becoming closer to God, then no.

If one's spirituality does not depend on the concept of God at all, then yes.

We don't have an absolute and universally applicable definition of what spirituality is, so of course the answer will a subjective one.

[Reefs]

No. Because spirituality needs concepts it can refer to.

[wstein]

That depends entirely on your definitions.

As I define spirituality, relation of self to not-self, no ‘god’ is required per se. Even if there is a god, you may not be capable of perceiving it, this does not invalidate your spirituality, merely indicates a limit on your progress.

If by ‘god’ you simply mean the totality of everything, then god is pretty hard to avoid. If you mean ‘god’ as in some powerful being that created and controls existence, then there is no need for god.

Spirituality is a path, a way of being. Some never get far enough to grapple with ‘god’ directly. For those people, god or lack of god never plays a direct role in their spirituality. For the more spirituality ‘advanced’ the ‘god’ question will be encountered. Depending on your understanding and ability you may reach a conclusion about the existence of god. There are many spiritual people on this site and there is no agreement on the answer to that question.

[ButterflyWoman]

The question I would ponder is this: What is this god-thing you either "believe in" or "don't believe in", and what does "believe in" even mean in this context?

[ChrisGinsburg]

What is 'be spiritual'?

[LibGuide]

I see that God (in whatever form you choose ) is a part of the Universe, but that the Universe expands beyond God. God is a concept that allows us to to ourselves in some context; it shores up our belief system, but it doesn't define us in totality.

[downthesun]

No, Buddhists don't believe in god. Buddhist monks in particular are some of the most spiritual people you can find, they do it for a living!

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by downthesun

spiritual people

Again, not particularly at you but is there some sort of realm of being spiritual and not being spiritual? Is the guy who never contemplates life but spends every day completely in the moment doing what he needs to do any less spiritual?

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by ChrisGinsburg

is there some sort of realm of being spiritual and not being spiritual?

Yes, exactly. Where does the "spiritual" begin and the "not spiritual" end? How do you draw that line? What does it even mean for something to be "not spiritual" or "spiritual"? Is there really a division at all, or is that an illusion, an arbitrary context created by the individual?

[Andras]

Buddhist do not believe in a personal god, but I think they do believe in an orderly universe. Certainly they are not atheists. Evangelical Christians label Buddhist as non-believers of god because their form of god is different, non-anthropomorphic being.

Originally Posted by downthesun

No, Buddhists don't believe in god. Buddhist monks in particular are some of the most spiritual people you can find, they do it for a living!

[pianoperformer]

God is just another concept. I frequently use that concept, especially when communicating with people who invest a lot into that concept, but it's just a concept in the end.

I see God as what is, as pure being. I see God as what we are when we are not in the past and not in the future, but fully present to ourselves.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by abcbac

Title is self explanatory

Yep. It's called Buddhism.

[SkylightMT]

Yes, of course you can. You can be a Humanist, or a Buddhist, or a modified pagan... or anything you want.

I think I read this book, or maybe it was another one with a similar title. Anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/Spirituality-W.../dp/1595261419

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by SkylightMT

a modified pagan

All the pagans (or neo-pagans, really) that I know address and honour and may well be said to "believe in" one or more gods. That's still believing in a god (just not the one people in the west normally think of when they hear the word "god").

Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with that, only that you can't really put paganism in the "doesn't believe in a god" category, unless it's some pantheistic form that only recognises things like elemental energies, I suppose. (But all the neo-pagans I know are theistic, and that seems to be the norm.)

[Darky]

Yes. But deeper and deeper you go, the more obvious it will be that God indeed exist.

[SkylightMT]

Originally Posted by CaterpillarWoman

All the pagans (or neo-pagans, really) that I know address and honour and may well be said to "believe in" one or more gods. That's still believing in a god (just not the one people in the west normally think of when they hear the word "god").

Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with that, only that you can't really put paganism in the "doesn't believe in a god" category, unless it's some pantheistic form that only recognises things like elemental energies, I suppose. (But all the neo-pagans I know are theistic, and that seems to be the norm.)

That's why I clarified with "modified" pagan. Being one myself. Don't know if god has to be part of paganism or if worshipping the seasons and the life force in nature without calling it god is acceptable to still be called a pagan. Maybe worship isn't the right word; maybe its more, for me, about appreciating the awesomeness.

I suppose even a humanist can be said to have a god: humans. I guess it comes down to how one defines god.

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by SkylightMT

I guess it comes down to how one defines god.

Well, yes. That's what it comes down to, I think.

[qwertyportne]

We're probably not taking a poll here, but I agree with those who believe it depends on how each of us define spirituality. Here are a few "definitions" I have encountered over the years that have given me food for thought...

“Live fully, love well and let go…” Jack Kornfield

Spirituality says 'May the heavens open up and angels bless everyone with their own light.' but religion says 'Only Jesus got the light, you're full of ♥♥♥♥, and in the dark. We're the only ones that got it, so you've gotta go through us to get it.' Man, in this life, the only thing that is holy is your relationship with your heart, your family and the air you breath... -- Carlos Santana

“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about god while one is peeling potatoes. In Zen, spirituality is simply to peel the potatoes…” -- Alan Watts

Bill

[evolutionarypathways]

Originally Posted by Reefs

No. Because spirituality needs concepts it can refer to.

I think you mean 'concepts it can reefer to', no?

[Reefs]

Originally Posted by evolutionarypathways

I think you mean 'concepts it can reefer to', no?

No. No concepts, no evolution. No evolution, no pathways.

[evolutionarypathways]

Originally Posted by Reefs

No. No concepts, no evolution. No evolution, no pathways.

Of course not.

But you still need to walk don't you? This is where you fall short.

[Reefs]

Originally Posted by evolutionarypathways

Of course not.

But you still need to walk don't you?

Walking happens.

[evolutionarypathways]

Originally Posted by Reefs

Walking happens.

And that's when the path appears.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by evolutionarypathways

And that's when the path appears.

Can you live it? Can you dig it?

[nothuman]

Talk the walk or walk the walk?

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by nothuman

Talk the walk or walk the walk?

Purple haze all in my brain!

[Reefs]

Originally Posted by evolutionarypathways

And that's when the path appears.

When you start conceptualizing the path appears. Has nothing to do with merely walking. If there is only walking, then there is only a body moving over the dirt on the ground.

But when there is conceptualizing accompanying the walking, then there is suddenly a story to tell, there is EP in his body walking on a path from somewhere to nowhere, a path that can be retraced by following the footsteps he left behind over the years. And it's important to keep a record because he somehow has to measure his progress. And no progress would mean a meaningless existence. And suddenly the story telling gets more important than the whole walking.

[evolutionarypathways]

Originally Posted by Reefs

When you start conceptualizing the path appears. Has nothing to do with merely walking. If there is only walking, then there is only a body moving over the dirt on the ground.

The step and the path are one. They happen together. Conceptualizing comes after. Don't confuse the order of the two.

Originally Posted by Reefs

But when there is conceptualizing accompanying the walking, then there is suddenly a story to tell, there is EP in his body walking on a path from somewhere to nowhere, a path that can be retraced by following the footsteps he left behind over the years. And it's important to keep a record because he somehow has to measure his progress. And no progress would mean a meaningless existence.

This is the conceptualizing that accompanies the walking, I agree. Yet, how important is it? Sure, I measure my 'progress'. Sure, I give my existence meaning in the way I see fit. What else would you have me do?

Originally Posted by Reefs

And suddenly the story telling gets more important than the whole walking.

Love it. You are on to something here. When this happens your life is based on illusion instead of truth.

[qwertyportne]

The wandering begets wondering and versa vice--a kind of symbiotic journey...