Is Spirituality a Crutch?

[SalixIncendium]

No one has told me it, I think so, because all people are weak. For example, if you would not get food, you would be miserable and die. If would face natural catastrophe, you could be very weak next to it...

And if a tornado did not have warm air at the surface and cool air aloft, it would weaken and die. Does this make all tornadoes weak?

But, I think it is interesting that Bible tells, when one is weak, he is powerful.

For when I may be weak, then I am powerful.
2 Cor. 12:10

Often it seems, those who appear strong are actually the weakest.

So what's the take-away here? People that appear weak are strong, and people that appear strong are weak?

Are we trying to be paradoxical here? Because to me, it just seems counterintuitive.

 

[Audie]

It was obviously a joke. Just Google “pity the fool” if you don’t get the reference.

Not that I ever saw American TV shows as a child
or that 30 yr old references to them are obvious wotld wide.

But as I said earlier there's little obvious humour in a counterfeit version of a very typical theist insult.

 

[Rival]

Not that I ever saw American TV shows as a child
or that 30 yr old references to them are obvious wotld wide
them.
But as I said earlier there's little obvious humour in a counterfeit version of a very typical theist insult.

You know Augustus is an atheist?

 

[Augustus]

Not that I ever saw American TV shows as a child
or that 30 yr old references to them are obvious wotld wide.

But as I said earlier there's little obvious humour in a counterfeit version of a very typical theist insult.

Many people may not get the reference, but it was a reply to an obvious joke (marked with a joking emoji) and marked with a joking emoji so perhaps not entirely indecipherable…

Anyway, Parody of typical prejudice is a staple of humour.

Given many atheists think theists are delusional, sky daddy worshiping lackwits, and many theists think atheists are sin loving, immoral nihilists all could do with being a bit less precious sometimes.

I spent much of my life living where publicly advocating my atheism could have ended up in prison or worse. Being able to joke about religion or lack thereof is a great thing.

 

[Audie]

Many people may not get the reference, but it was a reply to an obvious joke (marked with a joking emoji) and marked with a joking emoji so perhaps not entirely indecipherable…

Anyway, Parody of typical prejudice is a staple of humour.

Given many atheists think theists are delusional, sky daddy worshiping lackwits, and many theists think atheists are sin loving, immoral nihilists all could do with being a bit less precious sometimes.

I spent much of my life living where publicly advocating my atheism could have ended up in prison or worse. Being able to joke about religion or lack thereof is a great thing.

I will accept that there's two comparably
valid pov on this.

 

[danieldemol]

I think spirituality can be a crutch.

If you can walk on your own legs it is rare to use a crutch.

If you can create meaning on your own I dare speculate that it is rare to insist you need someone else to tell you what the meaning of life is for example.

Some people may need spirituality to press forward in life, others don't.

 

[Rival]

A lot of folks here seem to be assuming people are using religion/spirituality for something.

As far as we are concerned, this is just reality, the same way the solar system is reality. It's up to you whether you bother acknowledging it and what you do with that knowledge. The solar system isn't a 'need' for people to find meaning, it just is. The Gods, spirits, etc. are just a reality for many people, which they may or may not choose to interact with, just as some people may choose to become astronomers, while others couldn't give less of a damn about the solar system.

Saying 'spirituality is a crutch' is like saying the Moon is a crutch.

It's bizarre.

 

[sun rise]

practicing religion comes with challenges and hardships and is definitely NOT just some magic happiness blanket.

For those that are serious (and not all are of course) about the spiritual path, it is said in many different ways. Here's one:

 

[sun rise]

Another one that I first heard on an album by Richard Alpert (Baba Ram Dass) from Kabir:

Friend, please tell me what I can do about this world I hold to, and keep spinning out
I gave up sewn clothes, and wore a robe,but I noticed one day the cloth was well woven
So I bought some burlap, but I still throw it elegantly over my shoulder.
I pulled back my sexual longings, and now I discover that I’m angry a lot.
I gave up rage, and now I notice that I am greedy all day.
I worked hard at dissolving my greed, and now I am proud of myself.
When the mind wants to break its link with the world it still holds on to one thing.
Kabir says: Listen, my friend, there are very few that find the path!

 

[danieldemol]

A lot of folks here seem to be assuming people are using religion/spirituality for something.

Its not an assumption in my view, it is listening to what they tell us like when that dude who used to post here said without religion he would commit suicide (he has since deleted the post but you may remember it).

He is essentially saying (paraphrasing) *religion fills some need without which I couldn't continue to live*

If you can't remember that one, how about this post, "I also have hope in my own life because I have faith in God and I believe I am protected and guided by God. If I had to rely solely upon myself, I would have no hope for the future"

Source: My faith and hope are in God

It is using religion for hope for the future in this life in my view.

 

[Rival]

Its not an assumption in my view, it is listening to what they tell us like when that dude who used to post here said without religion he would commit suicide (he has since deleted the post but you may remember it).

He is essentially saying (paraphrasing) *religion fills some need without which I couldn't continue to live*

If you can't remember that one, how about this post, "I also have hope in my own life because I have faith in God and I believe I am protected and guided by God. If I had to rely solely upon myself, I would have no hope for the future"

Source: My faith and hope are in God

It is using religion for hope for the future in this life in my view.

Yes, these people are taking advantage of something they see as a reality.

Or for some it's the same as saying 'I can't live without air, because I'd die.'

People take different approaches.

 

[danieldemol]

Yes, these people are taking advantage of something they see as a reality.

Just like people who use a crutch see the crutch as real in my view.

Or for some it's the same as saying 'I can't live without air, because I'd die.'

People take different approaches.

Exactly, people take different approaches, and the approach of some is to use religion to get by - which in my view is using it as a crutch.

 

[Rival]

Just like people who use a crutch see the crutch as real in my view.

Exactly, people take different approaches, and the approach of some is to use religion to get by - which in my view is using it as a crutch.

So... what?

I mean, is this a problem?

Everyone relies on something to give him meaning and purpose in life. Personally I think going all in for a 'career' is stupid, selfish and consumerist, but it's what many people find meaning in. I guess their career is their crutch, making money is a crutch, taking part in things you enjoy...

It becomes a bit silly.

 

[danieldemol]

So... what?

I mean, is this a problem?

Everyone relies on something to give him meaning and purpose in life. Personally I think going all in for a 'career' is stupid, selfish and consumerist, but it's what many people find meaning in. I guess their career is their crutch, making money is a crutch, taking part in things you enjoy...

It becomes a bit silly.

I wouldn't see it as a problem so much as seeing it as a thing that some people can evidently do without in my opinion.

 

[stvdv]

A crutch is a device used for support when one is incapable of walking on one’s two feet

Is Spirituality a Crutch?​

Well with that definition of "Crutch" Spirituality is definitely not a Crutch, because you need not walk to "walk" the Spiritual Journey...

ShavAsana is perfectly fine when "walking" the Spiritual Journey

 

[PearlSeeker]

Or for some it's the same as saying 'I can't live without air, because I'd die.'

Yet there is an essential difference between physical and mental survival. Religion/faith can be something unreal/untrue (like Santa and tooth fairy) and it will still work. If you just imagine oxygen in your mind (and don't breath real air) it wouldn't work.

 

[Rival]

Yet there is an essential difference between physical and mental survival. Religion/faith can be something unreal/untrue (like Santa and tooth fairy) and it will still work. If you just imagine oxygen in your mind (and don't breath real air) it wouldn't work.

Without God there would be no existence at all.

God isn't a mental concept.

Wtf.

 

[PearlSeeker]

Without God there would be no existence at all.

God isn't a mental concept.

Wtf.

How do you know there would "be" no existence?

 

[Rival]

How do you know there would "be" no existence?

God is the basis of all existence.

It's the most basic theological concept. Whether you believe nature itself is God, or you believe in a transcendent being, without either there would be no existence.

God is life.

 

[ajay0]

Authentic spirituality helps to get rid of the psychological crutches.

The teaching of impermanence in Buddhism and other traditions helps one to realize the eternal nature of change and enables one to be detached from transient objects, people or events, no matter how pleasurable they are.

Those attached or addicted however will have to rely on their crutches.