Are you spiritual, religious, or irreligious?

[Muffled]

I said irreligious, not atheistic.

An atheist can be religious. My son can go through the motions in order to accomodate family menbers.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

An atheist can be religious. My son can go through the motions in order to accomodate family menbers.

I thought that Christians considered bearing false witness to be a sin, no?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I would say both given both. However, being religious is spiritual in itself and practicing your spirituality makes one religious. So if someone says they are spiritual and not religious how are they living out their faith? If someone says they are religious and not spiritual, is that person's heart really into the prayers they say at Church?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

True. Some atheist with religious family members may still celebrate and do ritual activities and deeds they are accustomed to and are raised with. For example, setting offerings in from of the deceased one's birthday. While an atheist may not believe in God; He still may believe in the offering as respect to his or her family member or loved one.

An atheist can be religious. My son can go through the motions in order to accomodate family menbers.

 

[Gambit]

I would say both given both. However, being religious is spiritual in itself and practicing your spirituality makes one religious. So if someone says they are spiritual and not religious how are they living out their faith? If someone says they are religious and not spiritual, is that person's heart really into the prayers they say at Church?

The "spiritual but not religious" is a growing demographic.

 

[Gambit]

An atheist can be religious. My son can go through the motions in order to accomodate family menbers.

"Going through the motions" is not being religious.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The "spiritual but not religious" is a growing demographic.

True. true.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The term "dharma" seems to be even more ambiguous.

Perhaps there is no term as clear as it. Just what is humane to do. Just what will help your family and your society. Steadfastly without caring for what happens later. Succinctly described in BhagawadGita 2.47:

"Karmany eva adhikarah te, ma phaleshu kadacana'
ma karma-phala-hetuh bhuh, ma te sangah tva akarmani."

Your right extends only to performance of your duty, not to the result of your action;
never think that you (alone) are the cause of the result, never be enamored of inaction.

 

[Aupmanyav]

"Going through the motions" is not being religious.

Is being inspired by what the scriptures say and following the way to live as indicated in them, religious (without the worship part)?

 

[LuisDantas]

True. Some atheist with religious family members may still celebrate and do ritual activities and deeds they are accustomed to and are raised with. For example, setting offerings in from of the deceased one's birthday. While an atheist may not believe in God; He still may believe in the offering as respect to his or her family member or loved one.

Does that count as spiritual, religious, both, neither, or depends on other factors?

I have something of a personal stake in the answer. I went through Catholic Eucharisty because no one saw fit to ask whether I felt like it.

It seems to me that it is misguided to call that either spiritual or religious. There are better, more direct words for such a state.

 

[LuisDantas]

"Going through the motions" is not being religious.

While I agree, that is not all that clear.

 

[Gambit]

Is being inspired by what the scriptures say and following the way to live as indicated in them, religious (without the worship part)?

Just for the sake of clarity Do you believe in Brahman and Atman are one?

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do and strongly so.

 

[Gambit]

I do and strongly so.

Then why do you present yourself as a strong atheist?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Because I do not consider Brahman, what constitutes everything in the universe, as God. Physical energy is the Brahman of Hinduism. I too am the same. In Sanskrit, our books said 'Ayam atma Brahman' (This 'self' is Brahman).

 

[Gambit]

Because I do not consider Brahman, what constitutes everything in the universe, as God. Physical energy is the Brahman of Hinduism. I too am the same. In Sanskrit, our books said 'Ayam atma Brahman' (This 'self' is Brahman).

Do you believe Brahman is consciousness?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Brahman, sure, has its ways (and its mysteries). I had a long discussion about that in one forum. One can either term it as 'properties' or as 'consciousness'. What would you prefer? Where does energy arise from?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

"Going through the motions" is not being religious.

Depends whether the religion is based on orthodoxy or orthopraxy. It varies.

 

[Gnostic Seeker]

Are you spiritual, religious, or irreligious?

I'd say spiritual because I don't really follow one religion, but rather what I find meaningful in all of them. I pray in a non-structured way, simply saying what I feel. Sometimes I like to feel ritualistic, so I borrow from many traditions like Hindu mantra or the Islamic salat, and do my own structured service.

I also like positive music and meditation.

 

[Gambit]

Brahman, sure, has its ways (and its mysteries). I had a long discussion about that in one forum. One can either term it as 'properties' or as 'consciousness'. What would you prefer? Where does energy arise from?

So, is this the same consciousness by which you, I, and everyone else observes the world?