Religion

eqfan592

(5,963 posts)

19. Why on earth would an atheist have to do that?

Mon Aug 20, 2012, 07:01 PM

Aug 2012

You assume that a sense of spirituality is limited to those who believe in supernatural things. This is not the case. I do not know of a secular word to describe the sorts of feelings associated with spirituality, but I can tell you that leaving my religion and faith behind has not prevented me from still having those same feelings.

EDIT: I went back and looked at the article again, and while the study did restrict itself to those of particular faiths, nothing there stated that the feeling of oneness with the universe described in the article was restricted to people of faith. So exactly where was there a requirement for me to question my belief there?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

104 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Spirituality correlates to better mental health regardless of religion: researchers [View all] rug Aug 2012 OP

Missouri U- what a surprise independentpiney Aug 2012 #1

It's a state school with a medical school, isn't it? cbayer Aug 2012 #2

It's from the Religious studies department- what does a medical school have to do with it? independentpiney Aug 2012 #5

It's not actually. It's from the Department of Health Psychology. cbayer Aug 2012 #10

That's if you believe being delusional "better" mental health! nt Walk away Aug 2012 #3

I suppose the exclamation point denotes wit. rug Aug 2012 #6

That's a broadbrush statement that really has not basis in fact. cbayer Aug 2012 #7

It can just as easily be said that the atheistic POV is "delusional." The term is nothing humblebum Aug 2012 #25

What delusions do atheist hold edhopper Aug 2012 #30

Concerning those strong atheists who think that humblebum Aug 2012 #31

No atheist says that edhopper Aug 2012 #38

Actually you confirmed my point. I never said any "atheist says that" however, thinking is humblebum Aug 2012 #41

You're talking about gnostic atheists. eqfan592 Aug 2012 #43

Your argument here is really a red herring. humblebum Aug 2012 #46

Try doing a bit of research. No red hearing's here. eqfan592 Aug 2012 #48

I am quite aware of your findings. Nonetheless, empirical humblebum Aug 2012 #49

The problem is that intuition isn't a "sense," at least not in the way you are trying to use it here eqfan592 Aug 2012 #50

I never said it was. And I agree that it cannot yield objective proof. humblebum Aug 2012 #51

Proprioception is how I did it, the other senses is how I verified it. eqfan592 Aug 2012 #52

Nonetheless, we are still talking about those senses that yield empirical, objective proof. humblebum Aug 2012 #53

How do you know atheists think that edhopper Aug 2012 #94

Anytime an atheist refers to something as being empirically proven, or humblebum Aug 2012 #104

so you are calling me delusional? madrchsod Aug 2012 #61

The concept of spirituality as a personality trait is interesting. cbayer Aug 2012 #4

The article sources the paper but I can't seem to pull the article out of the Journal. rug Aug 2012 #9

Here's a link to the abstract. cbayer Aug 2012 #11

Ah, thank you. rug Aug 2012 #13

The atheist will be working over time... Speck Tater Aug 2012 #8

Humanity will end with the last two on earth plummeting over a cliff screaming "You're wrong!" rug Aug 2012 #12

hehe. Too true. nt Speck Tater Aug 2012 #14

I suppose the exclamation point denotes wit. mr blur Aug 2012 #47

No, it denotes excitement, as in, plummeting over a cliff. rug Aug 2012 #57

Should I question whether the number pi is transcendent? 2ndAmForComputers Aug 2012 #15

Beyond irrational is psychotic, not transcendent. Speck Tater Aug 2012 #16

Why on earth would an atheist have to do that? eqfan592 Aug 2012 #19

Yes, I agree. Speck Tater Aug 2012 #20

Fair enough. (nt) eqfan592 Aug 2012 #33

nothing there stated that the feeling of oneness with the universe described in the article ... AlbertCat Aug 2012 #73

Why? No atheists were included in the study. nt dmallind Aug 2012 #21

Which atheist? n/t trotsky Aug 2012 #26

Well, if more atheists followed Alex Rosenberg's advice, that might change. Jim__ Aug 2012 #17

Great. A philosopher recommending a psychiatric medication. cbayer Aug 2012 #18

Spiritualism, eh? MineralMan Aug 2012 #22

I agree that there needs to be a secular word for that emotional state. eqfan592 Aug 2012 #34

Being awed and amazed by the MineralMan Aug 2012 #39

I'm in complete agreement. eqfan592 Aug 2012 #44

Heh, a study of spiritualism by Mu YankeyMCC Aug 2012 #23

I asked above, but did not get an answer, as to why this is significant. cbayer Aug 2012 #24

Yeah, I was making a Zen joke YankeyMCC Aug 2012 #28

A Zen joke. That in and of itself is funny. cbayer Aug 2012 #29

Way to knead a simple fact into a goofy one Scootaloo Aug 2012 #27

I can't imagine Ayn Rand saying this. rug Aug 2012 #32

That's because Ayn Rand wasn't really interested in anyone's psychological well-being Scootaloo Aug 2012 #36

Then you may want to qualify your post. rug Aug 2012 #37

Clearly there isn't anything in Catholicism to require it either. trotsky Aug 2012 #40

It does require it. rug Aug 2012 #55

Prove it Goblinmonger Aug 2012 #58

Are you serious? rug Aug 2012 #62

So I guess you aren't a Catholic, rug? trotsky Aug 2012 #65

Oh I am, but not a very good one. rug Aug 2012 #67

You said Catholics were *required* to love their neighbor. trotsky Aug 2012 #69

That is correct. And if people were perfect, there'd be no need for religion, rug Aug 2012 #70

Why do people need religion to compensate for their imperfection? trotsky Aug 2012 #71

People don't need it. Yet it offers it. rug Aug 2012 #72

Please explain your contradictory statements. trotsky Aug 2012 #92

Humans are imperfect and have no need to be perfect. rug Aug 2012 #93

So humans DO need religion to be perfect, in your opinion. trotsky Aug 2012 #95

No, you don't get it. rug Aug 2012 #96

No, I understand quite well. trotsky Aug 2012 #97

That's essentially what I wrote. rug Aug 2012 #98

Oh those two things are closer in meaning than you think. trotsky Aug 2012 #99

As a matter of fact, the difference is a core human issue. rug Aug 2012 #100

But not really in the topic of this thread. trotsky Aug 2012 #101

I'm glad you agree. rug Aug 2012 #102

I asked you to point out what I said that you believe to be an attack on your religion. trotsky Aug 2012 #103

Of course it's truly stupid to expect a term like "psychological well being" to show up... eqfan592 Aug 2012 #66

It's his question. rug Aug 2012 #68

Hmmmm jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #54

Good for them but you can't attribute it to atheism. rug Aug 2012 #56

I don't attribute it to atheism. jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #59

The atheist's motives "are more noble"? rug Aug 2012 #60

Did I stutter? jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #64

No but "noble" is a rather odd term to use. rug Aug 2012 #75

Do you agree with my last statement or not? jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #78

I do but I think that is rarely the case, whether one believes or not. rug Aug 2012 #86

I think the assumption that religious people only do good works in anticipation cbayer Aug 2012 #79

I agree that good people come in many persuasions. jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #80

There is much to be said about acts that are wholly altruistic, but religious motivations cbayer Aug 2012 #81

So you're saying jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #82

No, I didn't say that. cbayer Aug 2012 #83

Yes you did. jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #84

Then I was not clear. What one hears is not always what has been said or intended. cbayer Aug 2012 #85

I'll buy that. jaded_old_cynic Aug 2012 #88

And I have no qualms with you, joc. cbayer Aug 2012 #89

I can't imagine Ayn Rand saying this. AlbertCat Aug 2012 #74

Why would anyone lump all atheists in a single sentence? rug Aug 2012 #76

Why would anyone lump all atheists in a single sentence? AlbertCat Aug 2012 #77

"Atheists coulda told you this long ago" rug Aug 2012 #87

"Atheists coulda told you this long ago" AlbertCat Aug 2012 #90

So does owning pets... Act_of_Reparation Aug 2012 #35

Meh. Still doesn't mean god exists. Evoman Aug 2012 #42

Hello Evoman. Nice to see you back. cbayer Aug 2012 #45

yup.... but i do know one thing.. madrchsod Aug 2012 #63

That calls for a song.. Fumesucker Aug 2012 #91