After speaking with him, I agree. It's an interesting revelation.

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Atheistic agnostic, political independent,polyamorist
Polyamory FAQ Relationships

But I do agree that spiritual =/= religious, or even theist.

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Rule 16
I'm so sick of atheists trying to convert me to science.

But who knows.

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The less time we have, the more we accomplish, the more we end up doing.
Love is the same

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if you do not believe in spirits, you're not spiritual

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Collins English Dictionary:

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1. relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible
2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) of, relating to, or characteristic of sacred things, the Church, religion, etc.
3. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) standing in a relationship based on communication between the souls or minds of the persons involved a spiritual father
4. having a mind or emotions of a high and delicately refined quality

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Also remember that "spirit" need not refer to the supernatural at all. For example, when people speak of "the spirit of the law vs the letter of the letter of the law", no one is referring to the supernatural.

When people speak of a "spiritual successor" they do not refer to the supernatural either.

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Atheistic agnostic, political independent,polyamorist
Polyamory FAQ Relationships

I associate the concept with a drooling gullibility for all things New Age, a smug and ill-informed disdain for organised religion, and cretinous pedantry clothed in intellectual pretentiousness; but I have been known to judge too harshly.

If someone could provide a concise definition I would appreciate it greatly.

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I've never really understood what "spiritual" means, in the context of "I'm spiritual, but not religious".  

I associate the concept with a drooling gullibility for all things New Age, a smug and ill-informed disdain for organised religion, and cretinous pedantry clothed in intellectual pretentiousness; but I have been known to judge too harshly.  

If someone could provide a concise definition I would appreciate it greatly.

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I'm not sure I'm in a position to give a concise definition, but I can give the sense that I'm using it in:
Essentially, a stronger focus on less tangible aspects of human interaction, materialistic yet viewing the world as a set of emergent properties.
A high level of self-analysis that allows me to understand myself reciprocally; contemplative/meditative.

Post edited at 11:34 am on Nov. 24, 2009 by Stormblazer

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Atheistic agnostic, political independent,polyamorist
Polyamory FAQ Relationships

i prefer to go by etymologies

"spirit of the law" as i use/understand it is a metaphorical use, the metaphore being if the law was a being with a physical body (the letter) then it would also have a spirit (the spirit of the law)

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"Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable." Franz Kafka

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i have issues with dictionary definitions, i find that when stupid people misuse words consistently enough, dictionaries, after a couple decades, adapt to them  

i prefer to go by etymologies  

"spirit of the law" as i use/understand it is a metaphorical use, the metaphore being if the law was a being with a physical body (the letter) then it would also have a spirit (the spirit of the law)

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"Spirit of the law" refers to the intention of the law, it's clear enough that no twisting of metaphors is necessary. I'd also like to add that words are perfectly capable of having multiple distinct meanings.

Post edited at 11:54 am on Nov. 24, 2009 by Stormblazer

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Atheistic agnostic, political independent,polyamorist
Polyamory FAQ Relationships

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Quote: from rivedi at 12:01 pm on Nov. 24, 2009

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if you do not believe in spirits, you're not spiritual

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That would be contrary to most definitions of spiritual, even the religious connotations.

Collins English Dictionary:

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1. relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible
2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) of, relating to, or characteristic of sacred things, the Church, religion, etc.
3. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) standing in a relationship based on communication between the souls or minds of the persons involved a spiritual father
4. having a mind or emotions of a high and delicately refined quality

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Also remember that "spirit" need not refer to the supernatural at all. For example, when people speak of "the spirit of the law vs the letter of the letter of the law", no one is referring to the supernatural.

When people speak of a "spiritual successor" they do not refer to the supernatural either.

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Ah, didn't know about that last definition.

Guess you are spiritual.

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Rule 16
I'm so sick of atheists trying to convert me to science.

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Though I may be called spiritual, given my interest in the human mind, the deep issues and questions of the universe, and my interest in mathematics (which is essentially spiritual by nature, as it is just a bunch of theorems, etc.), I would not want to be called that, as MOST people will think it means that I believe in the Abrahamic God.

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Post edited at 2:26 pm on Nov. 24, 2009 by Stormblazer

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Atheistic agnostic, political independent,polyamorist
Polyamory FAQ Relationships

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Quote: from Rickenbacker at 3:25 pm on Nov. 24, 2009

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Though I may be called spiritual, given my interest in the human mind, the deep issues and questions of the universe, and my interest in mathematics (which is essentially spiritual by nature, as it is just a bunch of theorems, etc.), I would not want to be called that, as MOST people will think it means that I believe in the Abrahamic God.

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Actually, you're FAR more at risk for being thought as New Age than being at risk for believing in any god, let alone an abrahamic one.

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I resonate very much with Buddhism in that I believe in following a middle path in life; simplicity and contentment with whatever life throws at me.

I am not too crazy about New Age philosohpies. Though I do believe that us human beings, as well as everything around us, have an essence that makes us sacred; life is sacred.  I'm drawn to everything esoteric; but not the fluffy New Age doctrines.  I see a lot of Magick as being an internal art; a means of making changes in your unconsious.  

But what it all boils down to for me is living a fulfilling life, not judging other, cultivating compassion and acceptence.  A lot of this means letting go of notions about yourself and others. Live and let live.

The Buddhists talk a lot about the spiritual path like this;  You come with high expectations and end up leaving with less than you came with originally.