Atheist scientists 'spiritual but not religious'

[Engyo]

More than one in five atheists scientists are also spiritual
About 20 percent of natural and social scientists consider themselves spiritual. (Fotolia)


Even atheists in academia aren’t opposed to asking the “big questions” and seeking the beyond: More than one in five atheist scientists also identifies as “spiritual,” according to recent research at Rice University.

“There’s spirituality among even the most secular scientists,” said Elaine Howard Ecklund, the lead author of the study, which will be published in the June issue of Sociology of Religion. “Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought. It’s not an either/or. This challenges the idea that scientists, and other groups we typically deem as secular, are devoid of those big ‘Why am I here?’ questions. They too have these basic human questions and a desire to find meaning.”

Of the 275 natural and social scientists interviewed, 72 said they have a spirituality that is consistent with science, although they are not formally religious. They described their spiritual beliefs as “individual, personal and personally constructed” rather than religious, which they considered “organized, communal, unified and collective.”

“Our results show that scientists hold religion and spirituality as being qualitatively different kinds of constructs,” said Ecklund. “These spiritual atheist scientists are seeking a core sense of truth through spirituality — one that is generated by and consistent with the work they do as scientists.”

Despite the spiritual atheists that make up about 20 percent of scientists at American universities, most believe that religion isn’t welcome in the classroom, laboratory or research facility, with more than half worried that religion could hurt academia and science. Ecklund’s research, rather than focusing on the most religious scientists or the most anti-religious scientists, has revealed a better picture of the complex personal and professional lives of the people who fall in between. These people might be Christians who “closet” their faith at work or atheists who seek a spiritual practice.

balance at:
More than one in five atheists scientists are also spiritual | Believe It or Not | a Chron.com blog

 

[The Wizard]

What kind of views makes an atheist spiritual? I am assuming this leaves out a spirit world and spirits, so I am assuming they are talking about some type of seculiar scientific type of spiritual. But, I have no idea what that could be without one compromising his/her own principles of atheism. What is a spiritual atheist? I don't get it.... IMO.

 

[Skwim]

I hate articles like this, particularly when they come from supposedly educated sources.


The headline says, "More than 20 percent of atheist scientists are spiritual."

Then looking for the meat backing up this claim it cites a survey done only of "natural" and social scientists. There are a heck of a lot more scientists around than just natural" and social scientists. So why cite the 20% figure?

And while the article cites the number of "natural" and social scientists interviewed and the number that "have a spirituality," which comes out to 26% it never mentions the source of the 20%, or its relevancy to the study.

Then, speaking of the scientists, the article says "Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought." "Spirituality pervades their thought"? I highly doubt that.

 

[Yerda]

Spiritualiy invades my thought. Normlly when I'm trying to ascertain what the person using the term means. It's all so vague.

 

[Penumbra]

What kind of views makes an atheist spiritual? I am assuming this leaves out a spirit world and spirits, so I am assuming they are talking about some type of seculiar scientific type of spiritual. But, I have no idea what that could be without one compromising his/her own principles of atheism. What is a spiritual atheist? I don't get it.... IMO.

I knew an atheist once that consider himself to be spiritual.

I viewed it as being rather contradictory, and had several discussions/debates with him on it. I must say now that I accept his view as rational and not a contradiction; atheists can be spiritual.

This particular atheist used "spirit" in the somewhat common notion of referring to the rather poetical concept of self, such as "the spirit of man", or "high-spirited" and so forth. He viewed himself as being spiritual in the sense that he has rather poetic outlooks on life, finds value in mythology, and strives for continued self improvement of his conscious state.

I assume atheists, and particularly scientific atheists, that view themselves as spiritual mean it in the sense that they have a rather poetic and philosophical outlook in regards to their self, and/or mean it in the sense that they have emotional experiences, such as being filled with awe, when contemplating the universe and the myriad of facets and details contained within it.

It can be a way to dispel the notion that atheists or scientists are out to destroy the creativity and dreams of others. It sort of shows them in another light, and reveals a passionate side.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I hate articles like this, particularly when they come from supposedly educated sources.

It does say that most of them believe that religion must stay out of the classroom, studies, and so on. If 26% of Natural and Social scientist consider themselves spiritual, so what?

 

[Alceste]

What kind of views makes an atheist spiritual? I am assuming this leaves out a spirit world and spirits, so I am assuming they are talking about some type of seculiar scientific type of spiritual. But, I have no idea what that could be without one compromising his/her own principles of atheism. What is a spiritual atheist? I don't get it.... IMO.

A Buddhist.

 

[Skwim]

It does say that most of them believe that religion must stay out of the classroom, studies, and so on. If 26% of Natural and Social scientist consider themselves spiritual, so what?

Another statistic to be noted, filed away, and forgotten.

 

[AfterGlow]

It doesn't surprise me as it correlates with my experiences. Scientists are thinkers don't forget, they get into science to discover things, to figure out how the world works. That they also contemplate subjects beyond the mundane and materialistic matters of everyday existence should come as no surprise.

A spiritual atheist is simply someone who doesn't believe in God but also thinks there is more to life than sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Spirituality doesn't have to mean prayers of supplication and ritual sacrifice, it can simply mean searching for meaning within rather than in the empty artifacts that surround us.

 

[Noaidi]

A spiritual atheist is simply someone who doesn't believe in God but also thinks there is more to life than sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Spirituality doesn't have to mean prayers of supplication and ritual sacrifice, it can simply mean searching for meaning within rather than in the empty artifacts that surround us.

I agree. To me, spirituality is the sense of connection I have with the world I live in. Reading Carl Sagan indicates that he appears to have had some sort of spirituality based on the sheer 'awesomeness' of the universe.

The problem with the term is that it is loaded with religious connotations, but it shouldn't necessarily be so.

 

[Thief]

okay....spirituality in this life....would be social....or introspective.

But without discussion to spirit....in spiritual form.....?

 

[AfterGlow]

okay....spirituality in this life....would be social....or introspective.

But without discussion to spirit....in spiritual form.....?

Could you perhaps phrase that in a less disjointed way please?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

“There’s spirituality among even the most secular scientists,” said Elaine Howard Ecklund, the lead author of the study, which will be published in the June issue of Sociology of Religion. “Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought. It’s not an either/or. This challenges the idea that scientists, and other groups we typically deem as secular, are devoid of those big ‘Why am I here?’ questions. They too have these basic human questions and a desire to find meaning.”

I wouldn't consider the "big questions" to be necessarily "spiritual". I think about those sorts of things, but don't label myself "spiritual" at all.

Personally, I think that "spiritual" is a vague, useless weasel-word in these sorts of contexts. IMO, it's an attempt to whitewash philosophy - a valid, valuable endeavour much of the time - with "woo".

It doesn't surprise me as it correlates with my experiences. Scientists are thinkers don't forget, they get into science to discover things, to figure out how the world works. That they also contemplate subjects beyond the mundane and materialistic matters of everyday existence should come as no surprise.

A spiritual atheist is simply someone who doesn't believe in God but also thinks there is more to life than sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Spirituality doesn't have to mean prayers of supplication and ritual sacrifice, it can simply mean searching for meaning within rather than in the empty artifacts that surround us.

So "spiritual" just means something like "deep thinker"?

The implication here is that "not spiritual" implies "shallow" on some level. Is that your intent?

 

[AfterGlow]

So "spiritual" just means something like "deep thinker"?

The implication here is that "not spiritual" implies "shallow" on some level. Is that your intent?

Depends on your use of the word spiritual. You find it to be some kind of wishy washy alternative to the word philosophy, I don't share your opinion.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Depends on your use of the word spiritual. You find it to be some kind of wishy washy alternative to the word philosophy, I don't share your opinion.

Then what does it mean?

Edit: I can also see it applying to certain beliefs about the supernatural, but if we're talking about a sort of "spirituality" held by atheists, then that's probably not what we're talking about.

 

[AfterGlow]

Then what does it mean?

I refer you back to post #9.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I refer you back to post #9.

From your post #9, in summary:

- "contemplating subjects beyond the mundane and materialistic matters of everyday existence" is "spiritual"
- "searching for meaning within rather than in the empty artifacts that surround us" is "spiritual"

This is exactly what I'm talking about. It sounds like the sort of "spirituality" you describe is just philosophy with a coat of woo.

 

[AfterGlow]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. It sounds like the sort of "spirituality" you describe is just philosophy with a coat of woo.

You're entitled to your opinion.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

You're entitled to your opinion.

Well, what in what you describe doesn't simply fall under the umbrella of philosophy... without bringing the woo into it?

 

[K.Venugopal]

When the word spiritual is used as distinguished from religious, the distinction often indicates a movement beyond beliefs into the realm of experience where the laboratory is one's own consciousness – something scientists feel at home with as it involves experimentation and personal verification. Scientists do not like to stop at received truths and accept it blindly. They want to verify it for themselves and when they do, they move from being religious to being spiritual. It must also be said that one cannot quite bypass religion and become spiritual because religion is the home to the truths that allow us to become spiritual, though they are often written enigmatically or abstrusely. Religions are the stepping stones to spirituality.